Starting a business while working full time? Start with the week you actually have.

Dev blocks out the employed hours, commute, family commitments and sleep. What's left is the actual budget. Two evenings and part of Saturday might hold one repair, its supply run and the customer messages. It doesn't hold five repairs just because five would be exciting.

Try the same exercise. Include quoting, travel, buying supplies, cleanup and admin. The time someone pays you to work is only part of the time the business uses. Start with an offer small enough to deliver well inside the hours you have.

University of Wisconsin–Madison researchers Joseph Raffiee and Jie Feng studied people moving into self-employment. Their 2014 research found that those who first ran a business alongside paid employment, then moved into it full time, were less likely to leave self-employment than people who entered directly. (Wisconsin School of Business: research on starting while employed)

This was an observational study of US work histories, so it can't tell you that keeping your job causes success. People choose those paths for different reasons. It does challenge the idea that you have to go all in immediately to be taking a business seriously. (Wisconsin School of Business: research on starting while employed)

Write down essential monthly household costs, reliable income that would remain, and savings you can actually use. Keep the startup budget separate. The same dollar cannot buy tools and cover rent twice, however enthusiastic everyone is about the tools.

For example, a $3,200 monthly shortfall covered for six months requires $19,200, before startup spending and unexpected costs. That's arithmetic for an example, not a recommended savings target. Your health coverage, debt, dependents and seasonal income all change the calculation.

Talk it through with anyone whose life would change with the paycheck. Decide what you would review before leaving, such as reliable demand, delivery costs and a household cushion you both understand.

Review employment policies and any agreement covering outside work, conflicts, confidentiality or ownership of work you create. If something is unclear, get advice before using company equipment, taking a customer or building on an employer's material. Don't assume that doing it after dinner settles the question.

Write down what you need clarified and ask the appropriate person. For a contract or legal dispute, use an employment lawyer who can review the actual agreement and local law.

In Dev's example, the first month would reveal how long a repair actually takes, what the customer pays, and how the work fits at home. If the schedule is miserable, Dev could change the offer or reduce the bookings before taking on more.

Choose your own next review date. Bring the records, including the inconvenient bits. Keep the business pointed toward the life you want. Being the busiest person in the room isn't the goal.