HI @gblueprint   

All I have to draw on is my own experience.  I hope this does not get too wordy; I’ll try to keep it short. 

I worked a full time job for five years and ran an online business part time back when – 1992 to 1997. In early 1998 I left the full time day job and concentrated on the part-time online and local biz. Five years is not that long (it may sound like it though) and I certainly learned a lot during that time.  By the time I went full time with my part-time biz I was making more on the part time than I was on the full time. So it made sense for me, at the time.

Here is the problem though, if you have a bad month, can you pay your bills, insurance, auto responsibilities, etc, etc, etc.?  If you can’t; if you don’t have a nest egg, you will tear your hair out trying to figure out where your next meal is coming from, not to mention all the obligations you have signed on for. 

You have to really strive to make it all work for you.  Here is the thing — the MAIN thing — that was a different time on the web.  I was doing biz online four years before Google was and before MSN & before MS was making servers, so I had (have) a distinct advantage over most everyone who’s still around from that time.

I don’t know exactly what advice to give you because it’s been so long ago for me. I see so many people now deciding to “open business on the web” and all I can do for them (unless they hire me) is to say “good luck.” 

Yes, there were some frustrating times, back then, but as a programmer, organizer, project manager, I knew what I was getting myself into.  I don’t believe that most people now do know what they’re in for.  It was an exciting time then, as the web was new (not so the internet; another story) and so pushing forward was not just to build a biz but to learn about the web (I had already been on the internet since the 70′s in a variety of positions through mainframe systems) so the atmosphere was very different than it is now. 

Crapola – I’ve already gotten too wordy and have not said a darn thing to help you.  All I can say at this point is to hang in there. Do you have any uh, more specific questions?

Eileen

@rich-brooks that’s exactly where I am now, full time to pay the bills and part time to build the business…become good at re-inventing yourself.  It takes xxx times longer and $$$ more than you think….

when its  your only income  it  gives every decision  and   plan  it a  different  dimension…. 

 we had a  2  yr  bridge, which  really helped……it  gave i us a little  back up   before we had  to  depend on   our   new  business for  everything… we lived  pretty  cheap  for a few  years after that…………

i knew  a janitor  once who   never  got the nerve to  quit, every year it  got harder because  she  made  so much money….but hated it….

@gblueprint  I have worked with a number of graphic designers over the years that were in the same position you find yourself in.   I advocated that they utilize all the potential funding sources available to them (savings, loans, etc) and go full time.  

I have a friend who began in her apartment.  Her best years have been the last two and she now has an office in the business district of her city.  Yep, she has done very well during a terrible economic times. 

What is her formula?  She works hard at getting clients. If she is not designing for a client, she is making sales calls.  Lots of sales calls!

There is no clear cut formula to creating a successful small business.  I know many people who had vast financial resources and they failed.  I know more people who were underfunded and are in running a successful business today.

Put together a business plan, find a mentor and go for it!  Try not to listen to the naysayers.  

Go for it!

GO FOR IT… imho this  kind of  idea is   great and  dangerous….  the main thing is the  value of your idea,  if it   is  wanted /if  the market  is  demanding it.you  might have a chance……  you  can  go go go  with the  wrong   idea and never  get there……   i think    its about  your basic  concept and ability  to connect  with the  buyers   as  much as  your marketing…

.the  sad  facts   on  opening a business and  surviving are out there….  and its pretty  brutal.. we did it   i think  by  totally  paying  attention to our  customers  and absorbing   what was actually   wanted and  at what price….  also we had the  luck of a failed  business  behind us  which   gave us  deep  respect [fear] for and  of   the   marketplace!!  lol…. in other words   its all about them…not  us/you…

@stevecurran Thank you for the advice! I will be sure to take some of this in.