This is so frustrating. I typed this long post and then I lost everything! URG. Anyhow, here it is again:

I created a business plan. I finally decided on a company name, I have a host for my website, and I'm on my way. My business cards and logo will be ready next week. 1 problem: I don't know when the right time to tell my bosses that I'll be leaving.

I work for a company owned by a married couple. There are 9 FT employees total. I have been with them for over a year now and they have told me many times, they don't know what they would do if I left them. Recently they booked their vacation and asked me if I'd be around to run the office for the week and a half while they are gone. (July). Needless to say I said that it was fine, and I feel so very guilty.

I need some advise here. When is a good time to let them know I'm beginning my own venture? I would definatly offer to stay on with them until they return from vacation if they'll have me, but I don't want to short any potential clients I may find.

How did everyone here transition from their FT job?

Mary Lou

My first thought in reading your post is..."Can you take them on as your first client?" Find a way that it would benefit them and sell your services to them...of course, I'm assuming that your current position entails something that you would perform in your VA practice.

On the other hand, an age old saying going something like this "Don't quit your current job, until you have another one to take it's place", if you can plan it out that way. I would start small if it's not an urgent reason why I'm looking to leave...if you can launch your practice and work for another 3-6 months (full-time) until it can at least replace what you are bringing in now, then all the better. But you want to build your clientèle first.

That's just my 2 cents (and what I'm currently doing ).

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I know you are right. I have to have patience. I'm so excited about doing this that I just want to let everyone know!

I can def do some of this stuff from home and offer them these services. The problem with that is, I'll have to convince them. It's been convenient for them to have me there. They don't offer 401K or profit sharing and my health insurance is covered by my husband's job. I think I'll just have to type them a business plan!!!

I am an office manager... for a promotional apparel and items company. I would love to let them in and tell them what my plans are! We have our own graphic artist and he could create all kinds of marketing stuff for me!

I'm just worried that if I show my cards too soon, they may look for someone else, and leave me without a FT paycheck.

ML

Piece of cake...take note of all the things you do on a daily basis, at work, jotting down the tools that you need to do them with...

Come home and find tools on how you can do the same things for them from home virtually...(for instance, if 50% of the time you are answering the phone, there are services that would forward calls to you and you could forward them back to anyone at the office). Give them a proposal for the work (just as you would bid on another project from anyone else) and in your proposal make sure to stress the fact that they will save money, because they don't have to pay for any lag time that you may find you have for a week (take note of that also as you are doing your on-the-job assessment). You can also throw in a "special offer" for them being your current employer and your first client.

This could turn out great if they already recognize that you are an asset to their company. Of course, do this when you are ready to show them your cards...don't rush to do it.

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Great advice here! I wish I had something to offer on this but I started my practice while on what was going to be a semi-permanent vacation so didn't have that sticky transition to deal with.

I'm cheering for you though and I know you'll make the right decision at the right time!

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I agree.......!!!!!!!!!! Present a proposal or plan that works for you and them and go get em! Perfect timing!!!! It looks like you have your first client in the bag.........if you play your words right!!!

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Thank you all very much. I know you are right. Thanks for the advise. I really do appreciate it, Delady. I really am so happy I found this site.

Great advice! I'm going to be in your shoes very soon Mary Lou, and I'm glad you asked this question!

Originally Posted by marylocke

Thank you all very much. I know you are right. Thanks for the advise. I really do appreciate it, Delady. I really am so happy I found this site.

No problem at all...this is only the beginning to your excitement, I've learned so much from this forum it's great!

Keep us updated on when you launch your website and your first Press Release (of which I've been stalling on...lol!)

Much success to you!

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Mary Lou,

Please don't think that I want to discourage you. I'll be in your boat too. The difference is I'm in a large corporation with hundreds of employees. People come and go frequently. I've worked for very small companies too and similarly you are in what sounds to be a very small group. When a group is that small things tend to be very intimate and accomodating. That being said please be prepared for your employers to be shocked and angry along with possibly hurt and betrayed.

You are excited because you are on a new road. They may possibly feel they've hit a huge road block...even with you standing there solutions in hand. If betrayal is on their emotions list they may not even want you to stay out a full two weeks, let alone continue to work for them!

Along with solutions on how to work your job virtually you might want to have, as a back up plan if they won't let you stay, a plan to work contractually to get a new person up to speed with what you do in your position. With options like this on the table and well thought out, once their emotions run the course I think they'll see you do have their best interests at heart!

Should things head south the main objective is to stay on YOUR plan. If they don't want to hire you virtually then immediately discuss staying on until they hire someone to replace you. Willingly doing this will put YOU on THEIR schedule. If they drag their feet on hiring someone new you'll feel stuck. So have ground rules ready of how long you'll stay - period. After that you are out and when they hire someone you'll fulfill your end of training someone on a contract basis.

Now, I'm not saying that your deadline is the rule to die by. If you see that they are actively seeking and a candidate with the right skills hasn't shown up then give more time. That is understandable. However, if your deadline is a week away and they haven't even begun looking - stay strong!

Either way it goes I can see the relationship change ending on a positive note. Good luck and remember...if you are stong enough and determined enough to START YOUR OWN BUSINESS then this should be just a pebble in the road!

You'll do great!

Sundi

Perhaps you can even offer them some on site assistance in the beginning while blending in the virtual part. Then you can slowly taper off making the adjustment easier for everyone! I know a VA doesn't want to get in the habit of going on site, but since this is an empoyer, it may be worth a shot?

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Doreen R. Patrick, MVA, ACS, CIVA
www.virtualbusinesspartners.net

Excellent Idea. I was actually considering on-site work for those clients who need the help, can't afford to pay someone steady... AND doesnt all that much trust the web. For instance.. I was thinking of charging for commuter time - the first 20 miles / minutes. What do you think?

I'm in the same boat, as well. I started my business last July (technically June 25) and now have 5 clients BUT my 9-5 employer has NO IDEA that I am doing this. I work for a 'very' small company - we went from 11 employees when I started 3 years ago to the current 3! I am in a financial/family position that I have to stay here with my FT paycheck for several more years. So...

I will continue to do Goddess work from 6-8am & 7-9pm M-F and 8-noon Saturdays and keep my client list down to work that will accomodate those hours. At the point that I can leave jobland, I will present a proposal to my boss showing how I can do this work for him PT and partly from home (he will NEVER accept complete virtual). I expect, knowing him, that he will feel betrayed and prefer I stay just long enough to replace me. We'll see...

In the meantime, I will continue to build my business on the side and keep him "out of the loop." It is REALLY HARD, however, because I am SO EXCITED about Goddess and where it is going already!

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Hi Mary Lou,

In my personal opinion, I think you should keep your business endeavors to yourself until you're more established and could handle losing your full-time job if your employers get upset. Hopefully that won't happen, but it may be best to play it safe.

I know how frustrating it can be to be so excited about your new business but have to keep it quiet; there are only 25 people in my office, so we're a pretty tight-knit group. It's so tough not to tell them all about my new venture, but I just can't risk losing my full-time income right now. I work for an ad agency and would love to utilize the expertise of the graphic artists, marketing gurus, and PR professionals that I work with on a daily basis, but I would also feel bad asking them to keep my secret from the higher-ups until I'm ready to quit my J O B.

Good luck to you!

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Sundi,

In reference to your first paragraph... I totally agree and am prepared. I have gone over and over in my mind the different responses I might get. They are very cautious and mistrusting people too. I kind of know what kind of reaction I'm going to get, so I totally get what you are saying.


Second Paragraph... I think they wil be very hurt and first reaction and private conversation between them will be..."let's let her go". I think though, once they think it through they will allow me to stay for as long as I can or the very least, until they hire someone to take my place.

Third... I agree and that's great advise.

Sundi, you have offered great advise. I hope you copy and paste your advise for anyone who will, in the future, ask the same question I have in this post.

Thanks for taking the time to post.

Mary Lou