Which work set-up?

[RenovationNation]

I'm being deliberately vague around what these careers are, as both are pretty niche and very small communities in my area.

I retrained a few years ago and started up my own business in my new career. My business has been doing well, it has peaks and troughs, with a tendency to be quieter over the summer holidays but very busy through autumn and winter.

My old job has been offering me some self-employed work, covering for ex-colleagues when they are on annual leave. This has worked really well in the summer when things are quieter in my own business.

My old job have now offered me one day a week of work from now until the end of 2024. Obviously this would be steady, guaranteed work, however autumn is my new businesses busiest time.

Both jobs pay pretty much the same on an hourly basis, but I have overheads with my business.

So my options are:

1- accept the day a week at my old job and work the other 4 days in my business.
Pro - financial security and maintaining my skills and connections in old career.
Con - I would limiting the amount of work I can take on in my new business during its busiest time.

2- work 5 days a week in my new business and decline offer of working in old role.
Pro - more time to work in business, market it, focus on its growth and the growth of my newer skills.
Con - although autumn has been very busy for me for the last few years and is busy across the whole industry I cannot be certain of how busy it will be.

I would appreciate any insights!

We're moving this thread to our Business founders / Entrepreneurs topic, at the OP's request.

Both jobs pay pretty much the same on an hourly basis
Sounds like you aren't charging enough!

one day a week of work from now until the end of 2024.
This isn't very long. I wouldn't tie myself in knots for such a short period.

I don't think that I would take the one-day-a-week, employed option. Just carry on as per the summer: be available (though insist on advance warning of XXX days) but also able to decline if it doesn't suit.

I would take the one day a week - guaranteed income for a few months - and work an extra day in my own business if it needed it (says someone who used to work 7 days in their own business in peak time and 5 in the quieter times driving trade into the business).

So the work in my old job would be on a self-employed basis and so the rate would be time and a half the usual rate. I was well paid in my old job so it translates into decent money.

I charge a fraction more than most in my area in my new business.

Thanks for your input, I will think about what you've said.

I get where you're coming from with this, but I have a young family and already work a couple of late nights a week to align with client demand. I definitely don't want to start working weekends.