Had a dozen or so conversations behind closed doors with clients of the large MSP. Clients that I was the lead Engineer for and that I had a fantastic relationship with the PoC. I let them know I was going out on my own and that I’d love for them to be my client when their existing contract expired. Every single one of them were jumping at the bit to come with me. It was actually quite surprising to find out that their relationship with me and the support I had provided over the years was what mattered more than the relationship with the company. So over the course of a year and a half now they’ve all come to my company and there are a few that are still waiting for the existing contract to expire. I’ve also been really lucky with referrals during this time frame. Being as I still worked at the full time gig until about 6 months ago I couldn’t advertise my business publicly. I’ve started advertising now but not with my name attached to it. Just the business name.
So if you’re going to do it this way you just have to be careful and you have to accept that if anything becomes known you’ll get fired from the full time gig. Also, depending on how your non compete is worded you may need to consult an attorney. My first clients was actually an attorneys office and they reviewed the non compete and were positive I had nothing to worry about as long as the clients came over after their existing contract expired.
In the end I decided I didn’t owe the MSP I worked for a damn thing. We had a symbiotic relationship. They paid me to do a job and I did it at a high level for 6 years. If they had ran their company better from an ownership perspective their clients wouldn’t be so ready to jump ship to me. It was also very apparent to me that the only way I was ever going to truly get ahead in life was to just take the chance and risk it. Best decision I’ve ever made!
A lot of people on here will be highly critical of me and I totally understand their point of view. I get it. However, it still doesn’t change anything. I still made the right decision for me. I have financial freedom for the first time in my life. My debts are almost fully paid off. I’m able to take my wife and kids on the vacations we’d always dreamed of. Im my own boss and run things the way I see fit. I get out of it exactly what I put into it. As long as you can do it, while not violating your non compete, and swing things financially if you got fired, then it’s a no brainer. THE GRASS IS GREENER!