I ran my business for a good 6 months on the side while working a full time job just to see if it would go. I also did this work on the side long before i started my business legitimitly too. So really it took me several yrs to get the ball rolling to the point that i was comfortable enough to resign from my job. This whole time i rolled most if not all the money i made back into the business so i would have less debt when starting out. I still took out a loan about 6 months before leaving to buy the bigger things like my enclosed trailer, equipment trailer and used mini-ex. Regardless what you do you will be in debt, nervous and wondering if you will make it. I have been on my own for 1.5yrs now and i still worry if i will make it or not.