The Financial Times Guide to Business Start Up 2016

CHAPTER 8

LESS THAN 100 PER CENT

Businesses don’t have to be all-consuming. Many self-employed and small businesses are run on a part-time or less than full-time basis. The increase in the number of these types of enterprise reflects the restructuring in society and the economy that has occurred over the past two or three decades. There are a number of typical scenarios.

First, you might have some sort of business idea but be uncertain whether you want to give up your relatively secure paid employment to commit yourself to surviving on the idea. It may strike you as sensible to test the water a little bit in your spare time or to find out more about the idea before you commit yourself further.

Second, you could be a permanent toe-dipper. Perhaps ...