Leaving your corporate job for a solopreneur path is a bold move—and it can feel terrifying. But as long as you’re prepared, it can be a smart move, especially in the current rocky job market.

I worked at one corporate job for 15 years. Then I pivoted to a new career in marketing. Eighteen months later, I was working for myself as a full-time freelance writer. Within two months of going solo, I had replaced my salary at a marketing agency, but I’d also taken a lot of baby steps in advance of making the switch.

You can make the transition to solopreneurship easier if you build a safety net before you walk out the corporate door. Here’s how.

Calculate how much income you’ll need

The first step is to be brutally honest with yourself: How much of a reduction in pay can you stand?

Odds are

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