Anyone gone from employed to self employed?

Nicecuppatea2025 · 16/01/2025 01:00

Yes I am self employed. I was successful in my previous career, and set up a small business in the same field. It has been moderately successful at times - and absolutely amazing to be able to flex my work around the children when they were wee - but also sometimes very hard, especially over the past 5 years. And the last 6 months of trading have unfortunately been particularly difficult indeed.

There have been external challenges I couldn’t have foreseen. My DH becoming seriously ill (also self employed), two bereavements, business flatlining over lockdown, going through the menopause, losing motivation to ‘go again’, missing an office environment … so much that has impacted. A lot of that I would have gone through anyway but a salary behind me would have given me a cushion.

Being self employed has not brought me the financial peace or feelings of achievement I had hoped. Quite the opposite, unfortunately. To outsiders I probably look successful but it’s been a bit grim at times.

I’m not sure I would do it again but I had no choice at the time, as I was managed out of my last job when I became a parent. Motherhood penalty right there!

Hopefully someone will come along with a rosier picture!

anonny55 · 16/01/2025 01:42

Nicecuppatea2025 · 16/01/2025 01:00

Yes I am self employed. I was successful in my previous career, and set up a small business in the same field. It has been moderately successful at times - and absolutely amazing to be able to flex my work around the children when they were wee - but also sometimes very hard, especially over the past 5 years. And the last 6 months of trading have unfortunately been particularly difficult indeed.

There have been external challenges I couldn’t have foreseen. My DH becoming seriously ill (also self employed), two bereavements, business flatlining over lockdown, going through the menopause, losing motivation to ‘go again’, missing an office environment … so much that has impacted. A lot of that I would have gone through anyway but a salary behind me would have given me a cushion.

Being self employed has not brought me the financial peace or feelings of achievement I had hoped. Quite the opposite, unfortunately. To outsiders I probably look successful but it’s been a bit grim at times.

I’m not sure I would do it again but I had no choice at the time, as I was managed out of my last job when I became a parent. Motherhood penalty right there!

Hopefully someone will come along with a rosier picture!

Same experience for me. Also feel like I don't have a work/life balance like I did before

JacquesHarlow · 16/01/2025 01:55

Daydreaming about being self-employed but not even sure what I'd do

what do you currently do @Whoareyouanyway and can you become self-employed in that?

If you can’t, then what are you willing to retrain as?

Or do you have a side hustle that’s ready to bring in at least 70 to 80% of what you currently earn, if you gave it your full attention?

sorry but without the answer to these questions … then it’s one of millions of dreams that don’t get the airtime to be spoken aloud on here.

Prisonbreak · 16/01/2025 01:57

I’ve been self employed for 6 years. I own and run 2 successful businesses. A common saying is
“I didn’t want to work 9 to 5 so I went self employed and now I work 24/7”

Original poster

Whoareyouanyway · 16/01/2025 08:14

Sorry should've said, I'm a qualified teacher so I'd be considering doing it in tutoring, can tutor both primary and secondary age.

OP posts:

Joeydoesntsharefood25 · 14/09/2025 18:15

I left the NHs and set up on my own after doing some additional training. Luckily we have a small mortgage and my husband has a decent salary. It's been life-changing for us as a family. I work school hours 3 days a week and a couple of evenings. Kids don't have to be in childcare, I can cook decent food as not rushed for time. I take holidays off to be with them and can take 3 weeks or more off in the summer. I haven't started saving into a private pension yet and we are definitely not as financially well off but the trade off is so worth it. Im not stressed, I love Mondays.