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- What type of company did you start? - How did your employer take it when you left? - Where is the company at now? - And any helpful advice you could offer someone trying to do the same thing?
My advice would be to say upfront and declare what you're doing, and if possible get in writing that this is something you'll own (and not them).
Yes, I started http://visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/ when I was employed as R&D engineer. I told them way before and the business interests wasn't competing. The company is doing quite well. My advice would be to say upfront and declare what you're doing, and if possible get in writing that this is something you'll own (and not them).
While employed, I spent some evenings and weekends trying to find clients. I quit my job when I got my first paying client.
The company I started isn't around anymore -- but here I am 18 years later still happily self-employed and doing well. So I'd say it was a success.
Edit: Last month I gave a convocation address at Syracuse University graduation where I talk about how I got started as an entrepreneur:
One advice I could have used when I started: It is unnecessary to worry about your current employer. The truth is: "current employer" is a blanket name for only a handful of people and most often they don't care very much as long as what you do isn't affecting them adversely. Have non-compete agreements sorted out and always be honest and upfront about your venture.
Do what's best for your customers and for yourself. Ultimately, that's the only thing that matters.
Btw, my then boss was very supportive and we are now doing business with each other.
- Software consultancy business;
- actively supported me
- still alive in it's 5th re-incarnation or so (or should I say 'pivot'?)
- Helpful advice (well, if it is helpful or not time will tell):
If you feel you can trust your boss then be open about it.
Make sure you show that post 'quitting' time you're still available to hold up your end if need be, offer them a (small) discount over your regular rates.
Build relationships, that starts when you're still employed and will carry over into the future when you're acting for your own shop. Deliver quality, don't lower your price in order to get jobs, know your value. Work harder than your competitors, charge the same and show your work.
Under no circumstance should you compete with your former employer for customers they already had while you were working there.
Be sure to stay in contact with the industry you left, including your old firm, stop by for a cup of coffee without being on the lookout to score jobs.
Be honorable. It may take a bit longer to 'get there' but it is a lot more sure than cutting corners and making money over other peoples misfortune.
best of luck!
Yes, I started http://visualwebsiteoptimizer.com/ when I was employed as R&D engineer. I told them way before and the business interests wasn't competing. The company is doing quite well. My advice would be to say upfront and declare what you're doing, and if possible get in writing that this is something you'll own (and not them).
Any way, whether or not you tell your employee about your startup depends upon how well you know him/her, how comfortable are you with him/her and what your contract says.
Can you convince your boss that the duration for which you work in his organization would be as productive as it were before? Can you convince him that you are not just gathering funds just so you can leave and work full time on your own stuff when you are ready? Even if you have the very best of intentions it is hard to convince others of the fact.
At least my thinking is that there is no need to say anything to anyone in your organization unless you absolutely need to. During the early stages of your startup I suppose even you are not sure if you can be successful with it. Keep it under the wraps see how far you can go with it and then take a decision.
If you start a company whilst employed/contracted elsewhere you will need to have your IP ownership and origin well-documented.
If you cannot get a document from your employer acknowledging that they have no claim to any IP in your company, then you will need to consider providing warranties to the new company that you accept liability for any subsequent claim, etc.
Basically, go speak to a lawyer, but you want to make sure that you don't act in a way now that gives your employer some claim on the company you are starting.
Do no actual work, whilst still employed, until this is resolved.
I started my first company while employed as a project manager at a web design shop. I started a (smaller) web design shop. While employed, I spent some evenings and weekends trying to find clients. I quit my job when I got my first paying client. The company I started isn't around anymore -- but here I am 18 years later still happily self-employed and doing well. So I'd say it was a success. Edit: Last month I gave…
Thank you! (Great talk, and nice dash of humour)
And I also like the "advice" of being prolific, rather to "focus" like we hear often on Hacker News.
What has worked for me in the past (here comes a story, not an advice) is trying many personal projects until I found one that worked on many aspects (financial / personal lifestyle choices / meaning / etc...).
Having too many projects at the same time was very stressful to me, so I found that I could work on one main project and a new side project every month at the same time.
In the end, it is one of the side projects that started to work better than the others.
This week, I am going to be working full-time on it and I am happy about it :)