The Courage to Quit: Making the Leap From Corporate Programmer to Micro SaaS Founder

Quitting your software developer job can be a daunting task. You may be afraid of quitting without having another job lined up, or of what your friends and family will think if you make a career change. But if you’re unhappy in your current job, it’s vital to take action and find a new career path that makes you happy.

Before quitting your software development job, planning your exit is essential. Make a list of the reasons why you want to leave your job, and brainstorm some ideas for what you’d like to do next.

It can also be helpful to talk to friends or family members about your plans and see if they have any recommendations for jobs or programs that could help you make a career change.

Once you’ve decided to quit your software development job, don’t just go ahead and blindly quit. Instead, give yourself time to prepare for the transition, and ensure you have everything in order before leaving. By planning ahead and staying positive, you can make the transition easier on yourself and find a new way of working that makes you happy.

As an ex-corporate software developer of 20 years, I can only recommend one move in the chess game of life. First, build up enough skills and income to start working for yourself on monetisable apps in your spare time. Then, do everything in your power to scale this up to replace your day job and when the time comes, enjoy the freedoms associated with being a SaaS founder.

Here are the steps I recommend for replacing your job with your own SaaS business:

· Talk to your Family
· Start Working on a Micro SaaS App in Your Spare Time
· Build up a Runway
· Build up the Recurring Income
· When to Hand in Your Notice
· Prepare Yourself Emotionally and Mentally for the Transition
· My Micro SaaS Journey
· Conclusion

Talk to your Family

Before diving deep into your side hustle, you must talk to your husband, wife, or partner about it.

You need to discuss with them the short-term lifestyle changes that will help lead to long-term gains. Your support system is crucial when it comes to making the jump to quitting your software developer job and starting your own business. If you’re lucky, you have a spouse or partner who is on board with your plans and is willing to help out in any way they can.

This support system can be essential in terms of being a positive force rather than a negative “told you so” person. They can be there as a sounding board to provide emotional support when things get tough, and maybe they’re able to take on more of the responsibilities around the house for a short period to allow you to focus on the end goal.

Start Working on a Micro SaaS App in Your Spare Time

When it comes to working on your side hustle, it’s vital to make the most of every spare moment you have. Early mornings, evenings, and weekends are a great time to get in some extra work on your Micro SaaS app.

Starting small and growing your side hustle slowly but surely is the best way to ensure success. Dedicate a few hours each week to working on your app, and make sure to keep track of your progress so you can see how you’re progressing.

If you stay dedicated and put in the hard work, you’ll be able to build a successful Micro SaaS business that can replace your day job.

If you’re struggling to find time to work on your side hustle, then you can check out my article on making more time for your side hustle.

Build up a Runway

Next, it’s going to be reassuring to have a safety net in place. One way to do this is by building up a runway — that is, having enough money saved up so you can live comfortably for at least six months without income from a job.

This is especially important if you’re not sure what you want to do next or if you’re worried about not being able to find another job quickly. By having a cushion of savings, you’ll be able to take the time you need to scale up your Micro SaaS app.

As such, try to minimise your outgoings temporarily when it comes to quitting your software developer job to work for yourself. I’d recommend cutting back on your spending and trying to save money from your day job income. At the same time, try not to spend any money generated from your side hustle.

This can be difficult, but staying focused on your long-term goal of quitting your job and starting your own business is essential.

Build up the Recurring Income

The importance of building up your side hustle’s monthly recurring income can’t be overstated. In addition to your runway, this monthly recurring income is your safety net in case something goes wrong, and you cannot find another job quickly.

By having a safety net of recurring income, you’ll be able to take the time you need to grow your Micro SaaS app. And if things go well, you can use this income to quit your software developer job and work for yourself full-time.

It can be tempting to try and sell lifetime deals to your customers, but this can be a risky move. By selling lifetime deals, you’re asking your customers to bet on your product or service — and if something goes wrong, they may not be able to get a refund.

Instead, focus on selling monthly and annual subscriptions. This way, you’re not asking your customers to make a big bet on your product or service, and they’ll be more likely to stay with you long-term.

By focusing on monthly and annual subscriptions, you’ll have more confidence to quit your job and ultimately, your business will be worth more in the long run too.

When to Hand in Your Notice

Before quitting, one of the most important things to consider is how well your Micro SaaS app is doing.

• Are you seeing a lot of traction and growth in your customer base?
• Is the monthly recurring income growing each month?
• If you’re not seeing any signs of the growth slowing down, then that’s a great indicator.

The right time to quit will be different for all of us based on how much you dislike your day job, how well your Micro SaaS is doing and what stage you’re at in life.

Personally, I would recommend the following as a minimum:

• Side hustle revenue is at least half your full-time job income.
• You have six months runway saved up.,
• Your Micro SaaS’s sales are trending upwards.
• Churn is low.
• You have a plan on how to acquire the next 100–1000 customers.

Prepare Yourself Emotionally and Mentally for the Transition

It can be challenging to make the switch from working in a busy office with people all around you to working on your own. One of the most significant benefits of working from home is having uninterrupted focus, leading to improved productivity.

However, one of the downsides is that there’s no one to chat with, and it can be easy to get lonely, especially if you’re not used to working from home.

To combat this, I’d recommend trying to find a co-working space or joining a mastermind group. A co-working space will allow you to work in an environment where there are other people around, and a mastermind group will give you access to other entrepreneurs who can provide you with advice and support.

Both of these options will help reduce the feelings of loneliness that can come with working from home all day every day.

My Micro SaaS Journey

From time and location freedom to a fresh sense of independence, there is a lot to gain by developing Micro SaaS applications.

For me personally, I’ve been able to:

- Earn multiple 6 figures in subscription income.
- Quit my life-sapping 9–5 job.
- Banish pointless meetings, office politics, chaos & firefighting.
- Work when I want.
- Work wherever and in whatever technologies I want.
- Spend more time with family.
- Have a better connection with the users of the apps I develop.
- Have way more financial stability
- Earn multiple 6 figures when I finally exited and sold my Micro SaaS apps.

If any of the above points resonate with you, then it’s worth imagining what your life could look like if you didn’t have to work the 9–5 and you had greater control of your life and more freedom. If that sounds good then read on and hopefully, I can help to show you a potential road to freedom.

If you’re interested in learning more about Micro SaaS, you can read my free guide to bootstrapped SaaS on my site or download your free copy. The handbook has 12 chapters covering everything you need to know from Idea to Exit.

Check it out at https://rickblyth.com/micro-saas

Conclusion

Quitting your job to start your own business is a big decision, but it’s an even bigger accomplishment when it’s done successfully. By following the steps I’ve outlined in this article, you’ll be able to increase your chances of success and make the transition from an employed software developer to a software entrepreneur easier and safer than ever.

Originally published at https://rickblyth.com.