Maybe you've been demoted. Or you are working more but earning less. Or you may have lost your job or are fearful of losing it. Whatever the reason, starting a business may be looking pretty good these days.
Before plunging into entrepreneurship, you should do some serious soul-searching and prep work, says John Cerasani, author of "Paid Training," who left his corporate job in 2005 to start an insurance business in Chicago.
"While I encourage people to take the leap, they do need to be prepared," he says. While you may have the skills needed to create your own company, there's more to starting a business than knowing your job and industry.
Before handing in your resignation letter and starting a small business, here are five things to consider first.