Starting a Business During Uncertain Times: A Few Things Worth Thinking About
Layoffs are unsettling. Even when you know they are not personal, they still land that way. Along with the fear and uncertainty, though, these moments often create space. Space to reassess, to rethink priorities, and for some people, to seriously consider building something of their own.
Starting a business does not have to mean jumping off a cliff without a parachute. It can be deliberate, incremental, and grounded. If you are exploring that path, here are a few practical things worth thinking through early on.
1. What problem are you actually solving?
Before paperwork or logos or websites, get clear on the value you are offering. Who is this for? What problem are you helping them solve? If you cannot explain that simply, it is usually a sign you need to refine the idea, not abandon it.
2. Choosing the right entity structure
Sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation. There is no universal right answer. The right structure depends on your risk tolerance, how you plan to operate, and whether you expect to bring on partners or investors down the road. This is a foundational decision, but it is also one that can often be changed later with proper planning.
3. Separating business and personal finances early
Opening a separate bank account and keeping clean records from day one is not glamorous, but it matters. It protects you legally, makes taxes easier, and helps you actually understand whether the business is working.
4. Insurance is not optional
Many new founders overlook this. General liability, professional liability, or industry specific coverage can be critical. Insurance is not about expecting things to go wrong. It is about making sure one bad moment does not derail everything you are building.
5. How you will get paid and how you will charge
Pricing is emotional for a lot of people, especially early on. Think carefully about how you charge, when you invoice, and what happens if someone does not pay. Clear terms upfront reduce stress later and set the tone for professional relationships.
6. Whether outside investment fits your goals
Not every business needs outside capital, and not every founder wants it. Investment can accelerate growth, but it also changes control, expectations, and pressure. Be honest with yourself about what you want your business to look like before you invite others into it.
7. Contracts are part of your product
Your customer agreements, vendor contracts, and policies reflect how you operate. Sloppy or borrowed documents often create more risk than they solve. You do not need perfection on day one, but you do need documents that match how you actually do business.
8. You do not have to do everything at once
This may be the most important point. Starting a business is not a single leap, it is a series of small, manageable steps. Many successful businesses begin as side projects, consulting arrangements, or pilot ideas tested over time.
9. How fast you want to grow and who you actually need
Growth is not just a revenue question. It is an operational one. Before you scale, it helps to think about how fast you truly want to grow and what that growth looks like in practice.
Do you want to stay lean and flexible for a while, or are you aiming to build a team quickly? Hiring brings leverage, but it also brings responsibility, cost, and management time. Sometimes the right first step is not a full-time employee at all, but a trusted independent contractor who can help you test demand without locking you into long-term overhead. It is worth being thoughtful here, since the line between employees and independent contractors matters legally, and getting it wrong can create problems that show up later, not sooner.
Thinking about these questions early helps avoid rushed hiring decisions later and ensures your growth supports the life and business you actually want to build.
If you are facing a layoff or just lived through one, it is normal to feel overwhelmed. But it is also a moment when new paths become visible. Building a business is not about having all the answers upfront. It is about asking the right questions and getting the right support as you go.
If you are considering this path and want a practical sounding board, I’d be happy to listen. That is often the best first step.
Letsgo@cruxterra.com
