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Started By
Message
Tough career decision
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:24 pm
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:24 pm
Currently in sales at a Fortune 500 corporation (in b4 fast food 
), have been there a little over 3 years, and now have the opportunity to become the operations manager for a small business (8 full time employees, some contract workers).
I'm 28, married but no kids, only bills are my mortgage, and I have any 8 months of living expenses in an emergency fund so I can take a risk.
The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.
Pros are a ton of opportunity for future growth, the chance to have a lot of effect on the company, and it's a majority work from home position.
Starting pay would be basically the same.
I enjoy what I do now and like the people I work with but the challenge of helping build a business sounds very intriguing to me. I like the owner well and we seem to have similar views and thought processes about the future direction of the company.
Any advice from those who have been in similar circumstances?
), have been there a little over 3 years, and now have the opportunity to become the operations manager for a small business (8 full time employees, some contract workers). I'm 28, married but no kids, only bills are my mortgage, and I have any 8 months of living expenses in an emergency fund so I can take a risk.
The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.
Pros are a ton of opportunity for future growth, the chance to have a lot of effect on the company, and it's a majority work from home position.
Starting pay would be basically the same.
I enjoy what I do now and like the people I work with but the challenge of helping build a business sounds very intriguing to me. I like the owner well and we seem to have similar views and thought processes about the future direction of the company.
Any advice from those who have been in similar circumstances?
52
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:27 pm to SidewalkTiger
Does your wife have health benefits, assuming she works.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:28 pm to LSUBogeyMan
No, she doesn't work
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to SidewalkTiger
What’s your new secretary look like?
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to SidewalkTiger
You’re young. Trust yourself to grow that company and change the trajectory for your family. Big companies don’t give a shite about employees. Only shareholder return, public or private.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.
We're the same age and in the same financial situation, and this is enough for me to swerve it and stay where I am. But I'm risk averse when it comes to stuff like that. It's up to you to decide if it's worth chancing it. Even if it doesn't work out, you're so young you have time to change paths again.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:29 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
Starting pay would be basically the same.
quote:
The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.
Nope
quote:
majority work from home position
Your answer should basically come down to how much you value this
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:30 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
No, she doesn't work
No health insurance would be a deal breaker for me with the same salary.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:30 pm to SidewalkTiger
Put her to work man. No kids, she should be employed.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:30 pm to SidewalkTiger
Stick with your sales career unless you hate it. At 28 in sales your earning potential is massive and will increase sharply. As an operations manager at a small time company your growth is tied to the company's growth, and most don't blast off.
I say this having no clue about the business the small company is in, but in your position the more stable bet makes more sense.
I say this having no clue about the business the small company is in, but in your position the more stable bet makes more sense.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:30 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
she doesn't work
no benefits and 1 income could leave you in a pickle
What happens if you, or her, God forbid are hospitalized (or worse). No Health Ins., No STD, No LTD, maybe you have life insurance independent of your job?
This post was edited on 1/14/22 at 7:36 pm
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:31 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.
Are they giving you a percentage should they grow/sell?
If not, for same pay… I wouldn’t personally
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:31 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:Nope.
The cons are no benefits, newish company, a lot of uncertainty.
Starting pay would be basically the same
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:32 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
The cons are no benefits
What exactly do you mean by “no benefits”?
Unless your wife has a job with decent benefits, this might be a deal breaker.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:33 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
The cons are no benefits
quote:
Starting pay would be basically the same.
No health insurance means a pay cut of about $1000 a month or $12,000 a year
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:33 pm to memphis tiger
quote:
What exactly do you mean by “no benefits”?
There is PTO and paid holidays but no insurance or IRA/401k.
The owner says they're working toward offering those things but obviously not there yet.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:34 pm to SidewalkTiger
So I’ve done the reverse of what you’re talking about. Small company to Fortune 500.
My initial thoughts…just some questions to ask.
1.) which job offers long term pay increases? Smaller companies might but with this small of a company you probably won’t make more than the owner.
2.) Is smaller company an opportunity for future ownership either of that company or on your own? People that I’ve seen do this we’re more entrepreneurs at heart and this was the step to get there.
3.) You’re young…benefits may not seem like much but missing out on 401k match ops etc early in your life could set you back LOTS of opportunity for compounding interest. Second, once you have kids those health benefits are huge. Make sure they pay you accordingly. Factor in 401k match and cost of benefits to what they pay you. Tactfully negotiate it if you can.
My initial thoughts…just some questions to ask.
1.) which job offers long term pay increases? Smaller companies might but with this small of a company you probably won’t make more than the owner.
2.) Is smaller company an opportunity for future ownership either of that company or on your own? People that I’ve seen do this we’re more entrepreneurs at heart and this was the step to get there.
3.) You’re young…benefits may not seem like much but missing out on 401k match ops etc early in your life could set you back LOTS of opportunity for compounding interest. Second, once you have kids those health benefits are huge. Make sure they pay you accordingly. Factor in 401k match and cost of benefits to what they pay you. Tactfully negotiate it if you can.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:34 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
There is PTO and paid holidays but no insurance or IRA/401k.
The owner says they're working toward offering those things but obviously not there yet.
Nope. I'd stay where I am.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:34 pm to weadjust
quote:
No health insurance means a pay cut of about $1000 a month or $12,000 a year
And a lot more if they have a kid. I think our insurance (including what my employer pays) is like 24k per year. That's health insurance only.
Posted on 1/14/22 at 7:35 pm to SidewalkTiger
quote:
married but no kid
quote:
No, she doesn't work
lol
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