The Smart Way to Test Your Business Idea While Employed

---

BECOMING AN ENTREPRENEUR™ Professional’s Guide to Monetizing Expertise

Buy Now

---

Welcome back to the Becoming An Entrepreneur Newsletter!

Last week, we tackled How to Build a Business That Generates Income Before You Quit Your Job, and this week, we’re continuing the journey with a strategy that’s absolutely crucial for risk-aware professionals: how to test your business idea smartly while you’re still employed.

“What if I leave my job and the business idea doesn’t work?”

That question has probably kept you up at night more than once. And it’s a valid fear. You’ve worked hard to get where you are. You’re responsible. You don’t want to burn through your savings or start from scratch again.

You don’t have to leap blindly. There’s a smarter way to do this. And it starts with testing.

The Real Problem Most Professionals Overlook

When most professionals decide they want to start a business, they make one of two costly mistakes:

1. They jump in without testing the market.

2. They over-research but never take action.

Both paths lead to the same place: stuck.

I get it. I was once exactly where you are now.

When I founded SME Digital, I was still working full-time managing construction and facilities projects. I’d spend my early mornings and late evenings working on my idea. But before I went all-in, I built and tested small versions of what SME Digital could be. 

I offered coaching sessions on evenings. I created free resources and observed what got attention. I watched who was asking for help, what questions they were asking, and what they were willing to pay for.

That testing phase gave me clarity. Not just about the idea but about my customer, my pricing, and my message. And it gave me confidence to grow.

Why Most Popular Advice Doesn’t Work

You’ve probably heard this advice: “Just start” or “Take the leap.”

The problem? That advice assumes everyone has a financial safety net, no dependents, no bills, and nothing to lose. That’s not realistic for professionals like us.

Other times, people will tell you to spend months building the perfect product before you launch. That’s a recipe for burnout. You’ll spend time, money, and energy building something no one may actually want.

You don’t need a business plan thicker than a novel. You need a smart test. A low-risk, feedback-driven test that helps you learn fast and adapt even faster.

The Smart Test Strategy I Recommend

Here’s the business coach truth: Testing your idea while employed is not just smart, it’s strategic. You have built-in stability, which gives you leverage.

Try this 5-step Smart Test Strategy:

1. Define a Tiny Offer: What’s the simplest version of your business idea you can offer in exchange for money, time, or attention?

   
   

2. Create a “Test & Learn” Window: Commit to testing it over 4 to 6 weeks while tracking your results: sales, signups, inquiries, and engagement.

   
   

3. Talk to Your Target Customer: Host informal interviews or surveys. Get on calls. Watch what problems people complain about most.

   
   

4. Launch Before It’s Perfect: Don’t wait for your website, logo, or tech stack to be perfect. Use email, DMs, or free tools to start.

   
   

5. Use Real Feedback to Refine: What are people clicking on? What do they keep asking about? Use this to adjust and grow.

This is exactly how I built SME Digital’s first offer. It wasn’t a full coaching program. It was a 1-hour call that helped professionals organize their business ideas. 

That’s it. And it sold. From there, I expanded the offer into a full coaching system.

My Lesson: Clarity Comes from Creation, Not Overthinking

When I was still leading project teams, I remember waking up early just to write blog posts and answer DMs from people who saw my content. Those early responses were my real-world market test.

They showed me what my audience wanted more of, what language they used, and what transformation they were craving.

Without those small steps, I would’ve made the wrong offer to the wrong audience.

You Don’t Need a Perfect Idea. You Need Proof

If you’re waiting for clarity before you act, let me challenge you: Clarity comes from action.

Your job isn’t to figure out everything. Your job is to get your idea into the world in the smallest, fastest way possible, then learn from the data.

You don’t have to build a perfect business overnight. You just need to prove that someone wants what you’re building and that they’re willing to pay for it.

Final Word: Build It While You’re Employed But Build It With Intention

Testing while employed means:

• You get to experiment with less pressure.

• You can fail safely and adjust.

• You get to build with real insight.

That’s not a fallback plan. It’s a smart launch plan.

---

Whenever you are ready, there are more ways that I can help you:

Get My Book: The Ultimate Guide for Aspiring and New Entrepreneurs. "Becoming An Entrepreneur: Beginners Guide" is your essential roadmap, packed with insights, strategies, and real-world advice to turn your business aspirations into reality. Download FREE on my Website or Buy on Amazon

1:1 Business Coaching Accelerator: Chart Your Path to Entrepreneurship with Clarity and Confidence. “Becoming An Entrepreneur 1:1 Business Coaching Accelerator” is a 3-month individualized business coaching accelerator to help professionals build, launch, and grow a successful business. Learn More Here

---

Join Me On YouTube

My latest video series, Coaching in the Car, is now available on YouTube. Check out the playlist below. Make sure to like, share, and subscribe to the channel.

In this video, I’m diving into one of the most important (and often overlooked) skills every entrepreneur needs. Selling.

---

Not Yet Subscribed to this Newsletter?

Join my weekly newsletter with strategies, guides, and tactics that help high-performing professionals save money, time, and stress launching successful businesses.

Learn How Professionals Move Successfully into Entrepreneurship

JOIN HERE