Should I quit my job to start an online business?
I'm 28, I make $55K a year as an accountant, and I've been thinking about quitting to start an e-commerce store. I've been researching for 6 months and I have a product idea I think could work. I have about $15K in savings. My girlfriend thinks I'm crazy. My parents think I should stay. I hate my job but I'm scared of failing and losing everything. What would you do?
1 Answer(s)
I've seen this exact situation play out dozens of times. Here's my brutally honest take:
**Don't quit yet.** Here's why: $15K in savings with no income is about 3-4 months of runway. That's not enough. Most e-commerce businesses take 6-12 months to become profitable, and many never do.
Instead, do this:
1. Start your business on the side while keeping your job. Work evenings and weekends. Test your product idea with real customers before you spend serious money.
2. Set a revenue milestone. Don't quit until your side business makes at least 50% of your salary for 3 consecutive months. That's your green light.
3. Validate before you invest. Run $500 in Facebook ads to test demand. If you can't get customers to buy at that scale, scaling up won't fix it.
4. Build 6 months of expenses in savings before you quit. That's $30K minimum for you.
The people who succeed at this don't leap—they build a bridge. Your girlfriend and parents aren't wrong to be cautious. Prove them wrong with results, not a resignation letter.