re: Business owners- when did you make the decision?

I'm 8 months in here. Have not left my full time job. Work several hours per week on average over the course of the month. On pace to generate 15-20% of my current annual salary over the first year.

I'm fairly certain that with the right marketing (I've spent $20 grand total so far in advertising) and time invested via dedicating to my biz FT I could generate the same income I experience now. But the Retirement & Insurance benefits I receive are huge factors that put any notion of striking out totally on my own a few years away. At least.

I look at it as a way to increase my take home pay, lower my taxable income for the first few years and allows us to pay off debt. There may be a time to discuss a plan to make it something I currently don't view it as (my only job as opposed to my side hustle or 2nd job). But sticking with a conservative outlook, I don't see that time in the near future, like I said before.