How to Finally Quit Your Corporate Job in 5 Steps (+When)

Want to quit your corporate job…but feel stuck, scared, or unsure where to start?

You’re not alone. For most people, the hardest part isn’t deciding whether to leave. It’s figuring out how to do it without burning bridges, draining your savings, or making a move you’ll regret.

I’ve been there. I quit my corporate job after growing a six-figure business on the side—and since then, I’ve helped 3,500+ people make the leap, too.

In this guide, you’ll get a clear plan to quit your job the smart way, so you can finally take control of your time, income, and future.

Let’s dive in.

Key takeaways

• One of the smartest ways to quit your corporate job is by building your own business even before you leave.
• The most practical and profitable business models for beginners are coaching and consulting, especially if you want to start fast with low overhead.
• You don’t need a “big idea” to launch a business. In fact, the best place to start is by packaging and selling the skills you already have.

How to quit your corporate job

Let’s start with a myth that holds a lot of people back.

You don’t have to quit your job overnight, risk everything, or “burn the bridges.” That makes for a great story, but it’s not how most people do it (or should).

In fact, I’ve seen plenty of people leap too soon… only to end up right back in a job they hated.

That’s not what we’re doing here. I’m going to walk you through a smart, strategic way to leave, so you can quit with confidence, build income on your terms, and transition into the freedom you’re really after.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

1. What you can do instead of your corporate job 

When you leave your corporate job, what are you going to do next? 

The best alternative?

Start a Freedom Business. 

A Freedom Business is a business that gives you flexibility, freedom, and profit. 

Examples include: 

• Coaching
• Consulting
• Online courses

Take coaching/consulting. 

This type of business one of the best alternatives to your corporate job because you can get started right away with the skills you have. The upfront costs are low as you offer a service that you yourself perform. 

And it’s one of the most profitable businesses you can start. 

My student Mara at Top Law School Consulting is a great example. She is a former lawyer who now runs a consulting business helping students get into law school. Mara was able to quit her job and replace it with a profitable business teaching the knowledge she gained from getting into law school herself.

And there’s a coaching niche for everyone. You just have to find an audience that wants to learn what you already know.

But here’s the big question: Are you sure you want to quit your corporate career?

Or are you quitting for the wrong reasons?

Let’s find out.

Action steps:

✅ Make a list of at least 10 skills you’ve learned through your job or in your free time that you could potentially monetize

✅ Narrow down your list to 1-2 skills and research them online – is there a market for your skills? How much do people pay for them?

2. Don’t quit for the wrong reasons 

Entrepreneurship has blown up in the past few years with one in six Americans wanting to leave their corporate jobs too. 

But is that the right move for YOU?

Here’s what they don’t tell you: Building a business is HARD. 

It takes time, effort, and energy to change course. And there are downsides to everything. 

For example, being an entrepreneur requires a lot of discipline to get things done. There will always be things you don’t want to do. If you’re procrastinating now, that’s not going to change when you leave your corporate job. 

So ask yourself:

• What specifically do I dislike about this job?
• Would this job be better if I was at a different company with a better culture? 
• Could I speak to my manager about adjusting the role to fit my priorities?
• Am I just burnt out and need a break? 

Now, maybe after diving into these questions, you still want to quit your job. 

That’s great! 

I knew quitting was the right move for me because I dreamed about owning a business and being my own boss.

Then tragedy happened and it confirmed that entrepreneurship was for me.

In the space of just a year, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, my sister had a snowball accident, and my Dad had major heart surgery. 

And guess what? Because I had no PTO left, I couldn’t be there for them. 

Thankfully, they were all okay. But that disappointment made me realize how much I needed flexibility in my life.

That was the final thing that pushed me away from my cushy 9-5 to become an entrepreneur. 

But I didn’t walk out straight away like they do in the movies. 

You shouldn’t either.

Next, we’ll talk about how you can build your new business alongside your current job. 

Action steps:

✅ Journal on why you want to quit your job to understand your underlying motivation

✅ Make a list with action steps for whatever route you decide to take

3. Start building your business or learning new skills on the side 

Truth: Walking away without a backup plan doesn’t make you a “real” entrepreneur. 

That approach rarely works for anyone. And it’s one of the most stressful things you can do to yourself.

Why? Well, like I said, building a business is hard. 

Your current job gives you the financial freedom to focus on your next steps without worry. 

Without that, you could end up burning out or taking on work you don’t want to do just to pay bills. 

And you can’t make good decisions about your future when you’re in that fight or flight mode.

The solution? Plan out how you’re going to build your business on the side of your corporate job. 

You can create an offer and find your first paying clients in your free time. 

And you can leverage your salary to invest in services, courses, and tools that might help you. 

Now, you’re probably wondering: How will I find the time to work on this and my day job?  

My advice? Get clear on your schedule and figure out the things that will make the biggest difference. 

In business, I call these “sales activities.” Those are the tasks that bring in clients. 

Want to know more about driving more clients to your business, this video will help:

Then, set daily appointments to work on your business. Even if you only have 20 minutes a day, it adds up. Use your “why” to motivate you to get the work done in the time that you have.

Ultimately, you need to make time to get it all done (for example, use your lunch breaks or commutes). As harsh as it might sound, building a business takes work and sacrifices. 

If you don’t have the motivation to work on your new business now, you won’t find it once you’ve left your job. 

Next, let’s talk numbers. 

Action steps:

✅ Set a goal (such as getting your first paying clients) and identify 1-3 activities you need to take every day to achieve your goal

✅ Schedule those activities in your calendar

4. Make a plan 

Scared that you’ll run out of money if you quit your corporate job?

You’re not alone. Maybe, like it was the case for me, your corporate job earns a great salary and a quality of life you don’t want to let go of. 

Well, good news. You don’t have to let them go.

Because you’re building your business or learning new skills on the side, you’ll have your salary to fall back on. 

BUT your financial plan still has to change if you want to take the leap. 

First, figure out how you can cut expenses. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a life. It just means cutting any unnecessary spending.

Listen: I’m sure my goofy German Shepherd Falco would be upset if he didn’t get his weekly gourmet treats. But they aren’t necessities, so I’d be happy to cut back on them.  

In fact, I was super conservative with my finances while I built my business. For a whole year, I lowered my expenses so I could save more. 

Tip: Think about how you can cut back so you can give yourself as much runway as possible. 

Because here’s the thing: This is a marathon. NOT a sprint. 

It takes time to build the foundations you need to quit your corporate job with confidence.

And trust me, I was calling my mom all of the time saying that I was going to walk out. 

Thankfully, she stopped me. Ultimately, I was able to make over $100,000 before quitting my corporate career, had clients lined up to work with me, and never looked back.

Do you need to wait to make six-figures before you quit too? It depends. 

Let’s talk about it.

Action steps:

✅ Sit down and map out a plan for how you’ll cover your expenses after you quit your job

✅ Make a list of unnecessary expenses you can cut back on when you quit your job

5. When to hand in your notice 

So you’ve been building your business for a while.

How do you know when it’s time to leave?

For entrepreneurs, here’s what I call the 321 rule: 

• 3 – Have at least 3 months of consistent sales in your business
• 2 – Make at least 2X your expenses from your business 
• 1 – Save 1 year of living expenses

Just one of these set up will increase your chances of success after quitting your job.

In my case, I focused on consistent sales and 2X expenses. At that time, saving one year of living expenses was way too daunting. 

But if you have all three, you’re in the best position to quit. 

I talk more about the money side of things in this video:

And that’s it! You’re ready to hand in your notice.

Action steps:

✅ Estimate your overall expenses so that you understand how much money you’ll need to make once you quit your job

✅ Think through your options to understand what route you want to take to quit your job

Reasons for quitting your corporate job

In the previous section, we talked about leaving for the wrong reasons. 

And I get it. When I decided I wanted to quit my job, I wanted to hand in my notice every week. 

But here’s the thing: Taking as long as I did made me really think about why I wanted to be an entrepreneur. 

Here are some common reasons why you might want to quit your job:

1. You feel undervalued

Maybe you’ve been playing small for some time. 

You’re in a role that doesn’t challenge or stretch you. You know you have so much more to give and your current company isn’t helping you fulfill your potential.

If you want more impact, becoming an entrepreneur could be the right fit for you. 

Because as an entrepreneur, there’s no limit to your reach and impact. 

You can give so much value to the world. 

For example, as a coach, you can help people transform their lives with skills you already have.

2. You want more flexibility and freedom 

Maybe you’re tired of having limited PTO… Or your 9-5 schedule doesn’t work with your other commitments, like having enough time for your family. 

Building a business can give you more flexibility.

Now, I’m not saying being a business owner doesn’t come with any obligations.

There are plenty! BUT if you want to…

…Build your business from anywhere

…Work 7am to 3pm

…Work four days a week

And so on, you can. 

That flexibility and freedom means you can focus on your priorities. 

Whether that’s traveling, volunteering, or spending time with family.

3. You’re ready to take control of your income

You’re tired of waiting for your next raise… only to get a 3% bump that barely covers inflation.

You know your work is worth more, but in your current role, there’s a ceiling. And you’re done letting someone else decide what you earn.

Starting a business puts you in the driver’s seat. You control how much you make.

Whether it’s landing one high-paying coaching client or building up to six-figure months, becoming an entrepreneur gives you the ability to earn based on the value you deliver, not just the hours you work.

🚀 Want to learn EXACTLY how I grew a six-figure business in just 4 months – from home? Get my step-by-step case study here!

Next steps

There you have it! Everything you need to know so you can quit your corporate job and live your dream life.

If you want to become an entrepreneur, listen up. You can realize that dream this year with my signature course Employee to Entrepreneur. 

Several students who have taken the course now have flexible, profitable businesses. So if you want a step-by-step guide to building a Freedom Business that will help you leave your corporate career, this course is for you.

Sign up now!