CJ... let me throw in my thoughts too. If you're indeed making less than $400 a week, then there's just no way for you to try and set up shop on your own "cold turkey." Why not this... take repair jobs on the weekends. You LITERALLY can double your weekly pay every Saturday by doing a simple floor repair in somebody's bathroom. Put out fliers, print some cards and put them on community bulletin boards, but if you're a personable guy, just walk around in Lowe's and talk to people who look like they have absolutely no idea what they are doing there. Go to the commercial sales desk and introduce yourself to the guy working there. If he's not a complete jerk, and you can create some kind of connection with him, he may hand out your number. Offer to give him a few bucks. Remember... he's working by the hour too, and $50 for a referral on a $1,000 job is nothing for you, but it's an entire week's lunches for him.
If you're making $400 a week, how big is $400 for Sat. and Sunday? ..or $800? And it won't cost you a dime in start up costs or rent, or electricity. I'm gonna say this too about haning around Lowe's or Home Depot trying to drum up business. If you're not willing to do something like that, you're very likely not gonna make it in business, because people won't just start lining up at your door offering you work just because you put a sign on it.... Good luck, I hope you find success.