Published on: 2025-04-30
Starting a Business on Instagram and WhatsApp: Testing and Strategies Without Leaving Your Job
Pros, cons, and strategies for starting a business on social media without quitting your current job.
Starting a business is an exciting idea that can energize anyone. However, the question many ask is: should I leave my job to start my own business? It's not an easy decision, and there's definitely no single answer for everyone. If you have a sales business on Instagram or WhatsApp, this text is for you. We're going to break down the pros and cons of leaving your current job to fully dedicate yourself to your business.
When you decide to start a business, the most important thing is to understand that every situation is unique. Some can afford to leave their job and dive into the world of entrepreneurship right away, while others may need a more gradual transition. Whatever your situation, it's crucial to consider the risk and rewards involved. We will guide you through the factors you should consider to make an informed decision aligned with your personal goals and circumstances.
We will evaluate the importance of reviewing your finances, the time you can dedicate to your business, and how you can start without giving up the security of your current job.
Evaluate Your Situation
Analyzing your personal situation is crucial before deciding to leave your job to start a business. This step varies depending on your individual circumstances. It's not the same if you are young, recently graduated, versus being a parent with financial and family commitments. This difference directly influences your risk tolerance and your ability to cope with periods without stable income.
Let's imagine three different scenarios. First, a young person in their twenties, recently graduated, living with their parents. This person can likely afford not to have a high income for a while, as they don't have the responsibility of supporting a family. This gives them greater flexibility to take risks and dedicate more time and resources to their venture without worrying too much about immediate household expenses.
In contrast, a mother or father with children and family responsibilities is in a very different situation. Here, risk tolerance is much lower, as there are dependents who rely on their income. In this case, family consensus becomes essential. It's crucial to discuss and agree with the family before making such significant decisions. If your income is essential for family support, diving fully into entrepreneurship without proper planning could jeopardize the household's stability. For these individuals, a gradual transition might be the most viable option, starting the business as a side activity until it reaches a point of stability that allows it to be considered the primary source of income.
The third scenario could be an older person, perhaps with a pension and no dependents. This person might have greater financial flexibility but may also value stability and security more, especially if they are close to retirement. Here too, the decision to start a business should be made cautiously, considering both potential benefits and risks.
Regardless of your situation, it's important to understand that starting a business doesn't necessarily mean quitting your job immediately. You can start developing your entrepreneurial activity alongside your current employment. This not only allows you to have a steady income stream while your business takes off but also gives you time to test and adjust your business model without the pressure of generating immediate income.
Validate Early
Before considering leaving your job to start a business, it is essential to validate your business idea. We all believe our ideas are great and that, with enough dedication, they will be a success. However, it's easy to fall in love with a solution instead of focusing on the problem we want to solve for our customers. This bias can lead us to invest time and resources in something that has no market.
Early validation is key to avoiding these mistakes. Validating means testing and adjusting your idea before fully committing. There are different validation methods, and one particularly effective in the digital age is outreach.
Outreach involves actively seeking potential customers instead of waiting for them to come to you. This can be more effective than inbound marketing (publishing content) in the initial phases of a business. For example, at T-Bit, we conducted an experiment with the real estate sector. Using numbers from various real estate agencies, we sent WhatsApp campaigns explaining how our appointment scheduling tool could improve their sales. We argued that responding immediately to inquiries was crucial for closing a sale and that many opportunities could be lost by not replying quickly.
This approach allowed us to get direct feedback and evaluate the real interest of customers without making a large investment. By testing your idea this way, you not only adjust your offering according to market needs but also gain the confidence that you are on the right track.
Once you have evidence that your idea has potential, you will be in a much stronger position to consider the full transition from your current job to your new business. Validating your idea digitally, through outreach strategies, can be a powerful tool to ensure your business has a solid foundation before committing more resources.
Is Your Job an Obstacle to Starting a Business?
Another important consideration is evaluating whether your current job is truly an obstacle to starting a business. This ranges from aspects like the time it takes to do your job, to whether it is in-person or remote. An in-person job can significantly limit the time you can dedicate to your business, as it involves daily commutes and fixed hours, which could restrict you to working on your venture only in the evenings and on weekends.
However, nowadays, there are tools and technologies that can help you manage your online sales business, even if you have a full-time job. For example, setting up an e-commerce store using platforms like Shopify, Instagram, or WhatsApp Business can automate many of the daily tasks of your business. These tools can handle sales for you, respond to customers, and manage orders, even when you are not available.
At T-Bit, we offer virtual agents that can automatically respond on channels like Instagram and WhatsApp. These agents can manage interactions with your customers, allowing you to stay on top of your business without needing to be constantly present. This means that even during those times when you are busy or at the office, your business continues to operate and serve your customers efficiently.
Furthermore, many of these technologies are accessible and affordable. Setting up a website on Shopify, opening a business account on Facebook, or using WhatsApp Business has a very low cost or is even free. These tools allow you to grow your business alongside your job, without needing large initial investments.
It is also essential to consider the value your current job provides. Not everything comes down to financial compensation. Many people find satisfaction in their work, enjoy the relationships they have built, and value the personal and professional growth they gain. These experiences can be crucial for developing useful skills for your venture.
Keeping your job while starting your business can offer you a safety net and a steady stream of income, giving you the necessary time to validate and grow your idea with less financial pressure. Use the digital tools at your disposal to automate and manage your business effectively, allowing you to start a business without neglecting your current job.
Before taking the leap, make sure to validate your idea. This is the most crucial step in the entire process. No matter how great you think your concept is, testing it on a small scale will give you the confidence and information needed to know if it truly has market potential. Early validation will allow you to adjust and improve your offering before committing significant resources.
Once you have evidence that your idea works, then you can evaluate your personal situation and consider whether your current job is an obstacle. These decisions can be addressed after having the certainty that your business has a solid foundation. Keeping your job while validating your idea can offer you a safety net and a steady stream of income, which is crucial while your venture takes off.
I hope these points have been helpful to you and that we can continue discussing this exciting topic in future articles. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to share them. Let's stay in touch and much success on your entrepreneurial journey! To read more articles, you can follow me on LinkedIn.
