Businesses take time and energy to grow. The more you have to invest in your company, the faster it will take off. So, just how do you know when it’s a good time to make a move and fully commit to your dream? Consider these important factors first to gain a more realistic opinion on whether you’re truly ready to quit your 9-5.

-Savings
You need to know how you will survive without the security of having a regular paycheck. You should have enough money saved up to support your current lifestyle and still pay all your everyday expenses, as well as have enough money to fund your new startup. Typically, it’s suggested that you have at least six months of expenses saved. But an even safer approach would be to have nine months up to one year of savings stashed away. That way, you can cover any unexpected costs or allow yourself to float by if your business doesn’t take off as soon as you had anticipated. The last thing you’d want is to find you’ve blown through your entire savings and are now forced to return to work at some mediocre job.

-High Demand
Are you finding more of your time needs to be directed towards your side hustle? Do you already have a comfortable number of loyal customers? While having a steady level of sales is essential, can you confidently say you expect that will not change any time soon? Suppose you are already producing regular sales and bringing in more income than you need to support the business. In that case, that’s a pretty good indicator that you’ll be more than okay with quitting your job to entirely focus on growing your business.

-Business Plan
Sure, it’s exciting to venture into this new phase, but you must have a realistic plan in place. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty of starting your own business, you may find it isn’t as exciting as you once expected. It requires much work. Write out your entire business plan so you’ll be mentally prepared for what’s to come.

-Support System
It’s always nice to have someone you can turn to in times of need. And there’s a real possibility that you’ll run into a situation or two when a support system will be beneficial. Even the best well, thought out plans can take a turn for the worse. Consider how you will handle financial matters if the business isn’t going so well. Or maybe you’ll need some moral support after a stressful week. Whether it comes from outside resources such as investors or through close friends and family members, it would be wise to have a support system included in your business plan.

After considering the above, do you feel comfortable knowing you have all these areas covered? If so, this strongly indicates that now is an excellent time to quit your full-time job and give 100% to your business!