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As it appears to be the case with most people here, I did the same thing - started while still employed. I started a cloud and security solutions company that

As it appears to be the case with most people here, I did the same thing - started while still employed. I started a cloud and security solutions company that mostly targets the government market, but also commercial to a degree. My employer was supportive. The government market is a little different, though, so if you work for a large company they sometimes see you as an opportunity to work on contracts that are targeted only for small business. For example, you can get these special "small business only" contracts and bring them to your (former) employer to work on as a subcontractor. You both win in this case. The company is currently growing steadily after about 9 months in operation. We're in this for the long term, so steady is better than a rapid ascent. We have about 5-6 employees and are generating enough to pay myself a large percentage of what I was making working for other employers (which was fairly substantial). My advice is don't burn bridges - meaning don't let your startup work impact your "day job" while you are doing both. Your employer can be a gateway to your first customers, so don't upset them. Also, there is no "ideal" time to make the leap, but when things are noticeably starting to take off (a couple solid, stable clients on decent-paying contracts) and you can pay yourself about 30-50% of what you were making in your full-time job it would be a good sign.

pokstad 12y ago
That sounds like a huge conflict of interest. At my company we have to sign a COI form to promise we don't engage in such behavior.
- fleitz 12y ago
  Similarly every company makes you sign non-poaching agreements, and then asks you to poach your former colleagues.
  - pokstad 12y ago
    Poaching employees is a purely private matter though. When a company contracted by the government agrees to subcontract to smaller "disadvantaged" companies, but then hires it's own employee's firm, that may borderline on fraud from the taxpayer's perspective.
    - USNetizen 12y ago
      It has nothing to do with hiring staff, and you can't be an employee subcontracting an employer, that doesn't make sense. I don't think I clearly explained that you bring work to your FORMER employer, whom you leverage as a relationship. You can't carry on as an employee while you have contracts to your name, that isn't allowed. But you can work on some of the relationship building while you are employed and make the leap once you are ready to get work.
      - pokstad 12y ago
        Depends on what you are doing to "relationship build": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darleen_Druyun#United_States_Air_Force_tanker_contract_controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darleen_Druyun#United_States_Ai... As a result, my company now does ethics training every year. "Relationship building" before changing ships is prohibited and can result in jail time.

pokstad 12y ago

That sounds like a huge conflict of interest. At my company we have to sign a COI form to promise we don't engage in such behavior.

fleitz 12y ago
Similarly every company makes you sign non-poaching agreements, and then asks you to poach your former colleagues.
- pokstad 12y ago
  Poaching employees is a purely private matter though. When a company contracted by the government agrees to subcontract to smaller "disadvantaged" companies, but then hires it's own employee's firm, that may borderline on fraud from the taxpayer's perspective.
  - USNetizen 12y ago
    It has nothing to do with hiring staff, and you can't be an employee subcontracting an employer, that doesn't make sense. I don't think I clearly explained that you bring work to your FORMER employer, whom you leverage as a relationship. You can't carry on as an employee while you have contracts to your name, that isn't allowed. But you can work on some of the relationship building while you are employed and make the leap once you are ready to get work.
    - pokstad 12y ago
      Depends on what you are doing to "relationship build": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darleen_Druyun#United_States_Air_Force_tanker_contract_controversy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darleen_Druyun#United_States_Ai... As a result, my company now does ethics training every year. "Relationship building" before changing ships is prohibited and can result in jail time.