to turn down the job?

[TigaWhicabim]

I took voluntary redundancy from my last company as it gave me a cushion to set up on my own - something I've always wanted to do as it enables me to work from home & flexibly around the kids/school holidays (primary school age). I'm working with an established business which is supposed to provide me with clients regularly for a split of the commission, however after the first week, the leads have dried up and if business continues as it is, I won't be making enough to pay the bills after I have run through my redundancy money. I am addressing this with them separately and have a business plan which I am working through to increase my own lead sources.

I have been headhunted by a large company in my sector who are setting up a remote arm - meaning home-working and flexible hours (to a point - core working hours). It's a better basic than my last job plus uncapped commission - with the higher expectations to match. The new company has been through some major changes recently and so their staff reviews are pretty rubbish online, however they were able to explain reasons behind some of the issues raised and where they are improving & headed to during the interviews.

On one side my brain is saying to take the job - it's better money, home-working & has some flexibility so could do school runs.

On the other side my heart is saying that I've only been self-employed for about 2 months so I don't feel like I've had chance to hit my stride yet and feel like I might be giving up on myself too quickly. Also, wonder what my family, friends & ex-colleagues will think - like I couldn't cut it on my own?

For background, DH is working full time at home (employed) - we could survive on his salary alone, but it would mean major lifestyle changes and cutting back on all fun things for the kids.

YABU - take the job
YANBU - stick out self-employment

I am conscious that lots of people have had a terrible time with losing jobs this last year, so am aware that this is a nice position to be in!

If you've got this far, thank you!

But you're not really self-employed, are you? You're relying on one company to provide you with leads. (And they're already failing at that...)

How is that so different from this new job?

Oh and don't bother with what other people will think, I doubt they're as invested in whether your employed or self-employed as you think they are Just tell 'em you got an offer you couldn't refuse!

I don't feel like I've had chance to hit my stride yet and feel like I might be giving up on myself too quickly

Or you could see it as trying out this new role while you've got relatively little to lose - it will be much harder to say yes to this kind of thing once you've invested more time and energy into building up your own client base.

And if you don't like the new role, you can leave knowing you've got the option of self-employment again.

Your business model isn’t developed enough or sustainable in its current incarnation.

I’d suggest taking the job and building up your client base alongside.

I would take the job: if it doesn’t work out then you can always become self employed again later.. However, if you don’t take it, and the self employment doesn’t go as well as you had hoped, then you can’t guarantee another job like this will come along when you need it. Depends upon your sector and how easy it is to pick up self employed work in the current financial climate though.

I would value a guaranteed base salary over the total flexibility of being self employed. Plus at the end of the day, it’s not your baby so you can switch off from work.

The way you are viewing all of this is very odd and concerning. Of course you should take the job. If it doesn't work out, no problem. Meanwhile continue the try and build the SE side of your business.

I'd give self employment a proper shot if it's your dream. It's early days. You can tweak the business model.

Tell them you were head hunted! They will be impressed not think you failed

I'm working with an established business which is supposed to provide me with clients regularly for a split of the commission, however after the first week, the leads have dried up and if business continues as it is, I won't be making enough to pay the bills after I have run through my redundancy money

Alarm bells ringing LOUD here!

Thanks for your views, just needed to hear outside opinions as I just keep flip flopping in my head today

Look, if you take the job there is nothing stopping you from returning to self employment any time you feel like it. Maybe find a better company to work with in the future, or more than one supply of business?

The question is, can you build a decent client base by yourself or through another company?
What's the general demand like for what you do?
How long would it take you to have a steady and decent income?
How likely is it, that you would be able to take a job like the new one, should the self employed thing not work out?

Only you can assess those risks for you.

Jobs which give you high performance based targets to meet can be either very inspiring or hugely draining, depending on where you’re at in your life. Setting aside practical questions of how much you need to live on etc. How do you instinctively feel about this opportunity? Are your fingers itching to get stuck into the challenge? Or does it make your heart sink?

I don't think another role like this will necessarily be available again in 6 months time, which is about the timescale I would expect to be earning a reasonable income in. I was with my last company for over ten years, and I have missed the team element that comes with that. I think I am going to take the job & continue to build up my savings & client base, so that if it doesn't work out, I can go self-employed again in the future. Thank you all for your posts! I was a bit nervous of posting on AIBU but needed the traffic to get opinions quickly so it is appreciated.

Giving it a go won't hurt you though, will it? and if you don't like it you can try going self-employed again but with a better model