Losing your job can be pretty stressful. Everything can feel a little bleak, but you could take this time to start a business. You have a lot of free time so that you can come up with something. The following are some steps you should take if you're thinking of taking a chance on that dream business.
Take Care Of Basic Expenses
Hopefully, you qualify for unemployment benefits. This should cover your expenses temporarily, but be sure to budget so that you can put some of that money away. Let that money cover your costs while you come up with a business plan, but remember that you might lose those benefits once you start your business. The sad truth is that many states won't support you after you start a full-time business. Be sure to consider a side hustle as soon as you start your business. You might need one even if you were able to save some of your employment checks.
Address Healthcare
America is one of the few developed countries where health insurance is often tied to your workplace, which puts you in a pickle if you lose your job. You don't need this hanging over your head because it can make it harder to think. You need all your mental power right now as you try to start a new business. What you can do is look for a fixed indemnity plan for medical coverage. With this plan, you can feel better knowing you can still go to any doctor should the need arise. Hopefully, nothing happens, and your business starts to pick up given enough time.
Put on More Hats
You're not going to have a lot of money to spend on your business. This means you have to get creative. Ideally, you can start a business that won't require too much to start, like an online consulting business where you mainly use your skills. With something like this, all you need to invest in is your site. The trick is to put on as many hats as you can. While on unemployment, try to learn more things that'll help you get your business off the ground. Learn online marketing, how to build a site on your own, and any other skill you can think of that you can do without any help to reduce your expenses.
Independent Contractors Route
You can try to put as many hats on as possible, but there are some things you won't be able to do yourself. You don't have to hire a staff to get some of these things done, nor do you need a subscription service. Sometimes, the best thing to do is work with an independent contractor or freelancer. They provide a service for a one-time fee, and that's all you have to worry about. In essence, you're just paying for what you need as you go without accumulating any monthly bills because you don't need that extra pressure right now since you are jobless.
Low-Cost Version
Most business ideas you can think of have a low-cost alternative, and you should consider that. The low-cost option doesn't require that you have thousands of dollars to start the business. For example, if you want to open up a restaurant, consider investing in a food truck or maybe a food cart. All of these don't require as much to start with. You can find some of these used. You can test out your skills, and if you make enough, you might be able to open up your restaurant. Find the low-cost alternative for your business to improve your chances of success.
It's scary to start something like this after losing your job, but you need stability, and this could give it to you. Be sure to create a thorough plan before you take this step so that you're ready.
