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Everyone knows business is built on relationships. And what better relationships to build your new business upon than the ones you’ve cultivated at your existing employer?
While these contacts are valuable, there are dos and don’t to making a successful transition to working for yourself while maintaining your network. Check out this advice.
Do Leave Your Job on Good Terms
To be a successful consultant, you must maintain a strong network. Your former colleagues and bosses can pass you leads about customers and bring you in to work on projects being done by your former company.
Do Plan Your Departure
Planning is another key to success. You will want to plan and schedule how you will find business after you've left your job. Start creating your own files about clients and other contacts so you can use them once you are on your own. You can also take this time to create marketing materials to circulate immediately after you have left your employer.
Most importantly, start saving money before you leave your job; it may take awhile before your first invoice is paid. Have enough saved to be able to support yourself for the first six months to a year of your new career. Having this cushion will reduce your stress level and let you devote your full attention to getting your business off the ground.
Do Have Your Noncompete Agreement Reviewed by a Lawyer
Taking your customers may pose legal problems if you have already signed a noncompete agreement or one forbidding soliciting your former employer's customers. However, some agreements are not enforceable, and others provide loopholes that allow you to work for your former employer's customers in certain instances. Having a business lawyer review your agreement will give you the information you need to steer clear of legal troubles.
Do Notify Clients You Are Departing
Once you have given notice, let your best clients know you will be leaving. What you intend on doing will inevitably come up. This is a good time to explain your plan and ask if you can keep in touch with your former client.
Do Immediately Get in Touch with Former Clients
Now that you are on your own and have your marketing materials, call your former clients as soon as possible. Since little time has passed, they will gladly take your phone call, but the longer you wait, the less likely they will remember you. Ask to take your client to lunch or make an appointment to bring your new materials. If your client was happy with your work, you may get a project to work on right away.
Don't Solicit Customers While Still Employed with Your Employer
While soliciting customers as an independent consultant is viewed as business competition, soliciting your employer's customers on company time is considered stealing. First, if your boss finds out, you will be fired. Second, some clients will look at your solicitation as disloyal. You will be viewed as unprofessional and unscrupulous. You could risk a client telling your company what you are doing, resulting in your immediate termination. Third, after firing you, your former company could sue you for stealing clients.
Don't Badmouth Your Former Employer
It is important for you to appeal to clients on what you do right rather than what your former employer does wrong. While badmouthing might be effective with some clients, most will view it as immature and petty. They want to hire consultants who are professional and produce quality products. Emphasize your strengths rather than your competitor's weaknesses.
Don't Take Your Former Employer's Customer Lists
Customer lists, pricing formulas and copyrighted materials should stay with your former employer, because they are considered trade secrets under the law. Taking such documents from your former employer will bring legal problems, including the possibility of being arrested for theft.
Don't Be Impatient
Don't keep calling the same customers to check. It will be viewed as a harassing tactic and spoil any chances of future work. Continue to work on getting assignments from a variety of contacts. It may take a while to find your first assignment. If you have saved money and planned ahead, you will have enough living expenses to continue your search for work worry-free.
