5 Signs You’re Ready to Leave Your 9–5 and Start Coaching

Leaving the corporate world isn’t a decision you take lightly. For many people, the idea of starting their own coaching or consulting business sounds exciting. More freedom, more impact, more fulfillment. But the big question remains: “How do I know if I’m really ready?”

I asked myself that same question for years.

In my late 30s, I remember sitting in meetings thinking, “Is this it?” I had decent jobs, I enjoyed them enough, but I was never truly passionate about them. Deep down, I wondered if there was more I could be doing with my skills and experience. What would it feel like to actually bet on myself?

The truth is, I never made the leap on my own. It wasn’t until I was laid off at 43 years old (yep, seven years ago now) that I finally got the push out the door.

Looking back, that moment was scary but life-changing. Today, I run my own coaching and consulting businesses, and I can honestly say I wish I had started years sooner.

If you’re in a similar spot, here are 5 clear signs that you’re ready to leave your 9–5 and start your coaching journey.

1. You Feel Misaligned with Your Current Role

If you’re going through the motions, showing up to meetings, and secretly wondering if you’re wasting your best years, that’s a red flag.

This was me in my late 30s. I enjoyed the security of my jobs, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of misalignment. Solopreneurship is about purpose and alignment. In corporate, you often climb a ladder you don’t even want to be on. As a solopreneur, you get to design the ladder.

Does that excite you or scare you?

2. People Already Come to You for Guidance

Here’s the funny thing: before I even thought about “being a coach or consultant,” people were already treating me like one. Colleagues and friends constantly came to me for advice. They’d say things like:

• “You’re such a good listener.”

• “You always help me figure things out.”

At the time, I brushed it off as just part of being a leader and team player. In hindsight, that was coaching. If people naturally see you as a problem solver and communicator, that’s a huge clue you already have what it takes to thrive as a coach or consultant.

3. You Crave Impact More Than a Paycheck

Don’t get me wrong , money matters. But if you’re honest with yourself, does your corporate job give you that deep sense of impact?

For me, the answer was no. I liked what I did, but I never felt like I was changing lives. Coaching and consulting flipped that. Now, when I help a client (and individual or business) achieve a breakthrough, that feeling beats any annual bonus or performance review.

Does this sound familiar to you?

👉 Related Read: If this is resonating with you, check out my article on 5 Simple Steps to Go from Employee to Solopreneur Without Burning Out. It’s a practical guide to making the transition without overwhelming yourself.

4. You’re Willing to Bet on Yourself

This one is tough. In corporate, you’ve got the safety net of a salary, benefits, and structure. Solopreneurship flips that, you are the structure.

For years, I wasn’t willing to bet on myself. I coasted. I stuck with what was safe. It wasn’t until that layoff that I finally thought, “What if I actually put my skills and experience into building something of my own?”

That decision not only changed my career, it changed my personal growth trajectory. Once I launched my consulting business, I started investing in myself. Books, podcasts, courses, mentors. I feel like I have grown tremendously (both personally and professionally) in the past 7 years. Before that? I was on autopilot. Now, I wish I’d made that shift decades earlier.

Are you willing to bet on yourself?

5. You’ve Started Exploring Outside of Work

Here’s one of the biggest telltale signs: you’re curious. Maybe you’ve started listening to business podcasts. Maybe you’ve picked up a personal development book. Maybe you’re taking certifications in your free time. You're investing in yourself and you love it.

That curiosity is your inner coach knocking on the door. It’s often the final sign that you’re preparing (consciously or not) for your next chapter.

So, Are You Ready?

If you nodded your head to at least 3 of these 5 signs, chances are you’re ready (or very close) to making the leap.

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to quit your job tomorrow. You can start small, side hustle style, and validate your coaching or consulting idea before going all-in. That’s exactly what I wish I had done earlier.

Seven years after my layoff, I can honestly say I’m more fulfilled, more energized, and more impactful than I ever was in corporate. And if you’re seeing these signs in your own life, maybe it’s time to start planning your transition too.

Final Thoughts

Leaving corporate to start your coaching business isn’t just about freedom or money. It’s about alignment, impact, and growth.

So let me ask you, which of these 5 signs resonated with you the most? Feel free to reach out to me directly. I’d love to hear your story.

And if you’re ready to explore this path further, don’t forget to check out my related guide on going from employee to solopreneur without burning out.