Self Employed Professionals- How did you fund your startup

[berettafan]

Okay, i'm looking for share opportunities to see what's out there. A $20k savings on rent/cam in one year could be the difference between steak and ramen. Being in a small town it's a bit tricky doing the search but i will pursue this.

[Dueller]

It sounds as if you work for a firm now and being in a small town presents a tricky situation if you leave an take clients with you. I don't know the relationship with your current firm but at some point you will have to address it unless you do like some lawyers I know who have left firms literally in the middle of the night absconding with files and clients. Makes for some pretty tense confrontations and lawsuits. If at all possible you need to let your current employer know what your plans are within reason. Of course they will feel betrayed/used but if you exit on good terms with the assurance that there may be some work that you will not be able to handle and assure them you plan to refer work to them that is outside your expertise/interest that may soften the blow. YMMV

Since you plan to do small corp/sub S work and apparently have some clients that are going to "go with you" you may want to look around and see if they have a corporate office that has space. E.g., say you work for a construction company that has a "corporate headquarters" in an office complex away from their actual business site...they may have some space. But approach them with "I'm setting up my own firm...do you know of any available office space?" Or "How do you like your office space?" That gives them the opportunity to offer to sublet you some of their space and effectively have an in house CPA. However, be careful that you have your own autonomy so the public doesn't think you ARE only an inhouse CPA for them. Or perhaps you have clients that are actually in the business of commercial leasing. Or perhaps there is a commercial real estate broker that might have something...after all their clients would be looking at commercial props and your proximity may garner new start up companies as your clients.

Bottom line is think outside the box and keep your eyes open for something other than renting an office by yourself and hanging out a shingle.
Just a thought.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'm planning on using savings and living off my wife's salary until things get self-sustaining (probably on the order of 1-2 years from start). This is probably 2-3 years away for me.