Still Stuck in Your 9-to-5? How to make the move to Full-Time CIC & self employed

Thirteen year on from quitting my 9-5 job. Life in my sea side town running a successful CIC and LTD

I remember being in your shoes. I was a probation officer when I started my 4Elementz CIC in 2012, and honestly, I was terrified to quit my job. I had a mortgage, bills to pay, and leaving a professional career like that seemed absolutely crazy. No one around me understood. "How are you going to survive?" they’d ask. At first, I thought I could manage both, so I asked to go part-time and run my CIC as a side hustle. But my manager sat me down and said it was a conflict of interest. "At some point, you’ll need to choose," they told me. And they were right.

Most employers are like this. Just today, I spoke to one of my Gold students who told me her council job manager had sent her an email asking her to declare any side hustle or business she was running. I had to tell her the truth: you will need to leave. It just doesn’t work.

Here’s the thing—employers will hate it, your CIC won’t get the time it needs to be successful, and your mind and energy will always be divided. After mentoring CIC owners for over three years, I can confidently say this is the number one reason CICs fail. People don’t make the jump.

Now, I get it. Bills are rising at crazy rates. I couldn’t believe it when my council tax went up again, and my electric bill hit £300 this month. It’s insane. But here’s the truth: it was only because I quit and went all in that it worked for me. Straight away, I was earning more, using tax expense loops to cover more of my bills, and everything balanced out.

I know many of you lay awake at night worrying about money. You tell me, "I’ve only got £50 in my account." It’s heartbreaking. But here’s the reality: this won’t improve if you stay employed. Any crisis—your car breaks down, an unexpected funeral, or even needing a private operation because the NHS is struggling—can push you over the edge. I dont live like that no as if I am in a crisis I will just think 'Ok, i need to push my online sales.' It could be a run an offer or a paid workshop. Being self employed means you can hustle though a crisis.

I was so impressed by one of our Gold students who needed unexpectedly to move house. She needed a stack of cash quickly. So she promoted a retreat. It went well but she joked that her Tiktok shop selling nails actually raised more quickly! Think she said £6k in a flash sale. I mean thats crazy and a simple model. I have quickly added Abi to the CIC Tribe Expert zone for you to access her Tiktok knowledge by the way!

No raising a bit of cash it one thing of course but you are looking to quit he day job. Thats a bigger level.

So we all get it but how do you do it? How do you make the leap without falling flat?

If I had to start all over again with nothing, here’s exactly what I’d do:

1️⃣ Apply for all the grant funding you can. Submit 10+ applications while you’re still employed. Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it. You can use my new Grant Application zone to get this done quickly.

2️⃣ Set up online income streams that require no investment. Think print-on-demand merchandise, online courses, paid memberships, eBooks, or even publishing a book on KDP. I have lots of replays in the Membership on all of these.

3️⃣ Start running workshops and building your community. Without a community that wants your CIC to help them, you don’t have a CIC. Start a Facebook group, WhatsApp group, or host free workshops and Q&A sessions on social media.

4️⃣ Grow your email list. Offer something valuable, like a free eBook download or a masterclass, to get people to sign up. Then nurture that list with free tips and support. Once you have the community you can regularly send them affiliate links or sales emails.

5️⃣ Fundraise creatively. The easiest way to raise money for setup costs is by collecting clothes or items and selling them online. Host pre-loved sales or auctions regularly.

6️⃣ Launch a crowdfunding campaign. Offer sponsorship packages to encourage larger donations from companies.

7️⃣ Set up self-employed income streams alongside your CIC. This could be selling products or services to a paying customer group. Just remember to keep your paying customers separate from your CIC community, which will be receiving free support.

The truth is, you can do this. I know it feels overwhelming, but with the right strategy and support, it’s absolutely possible.

If you’re feeling stuck, here’s how we can help:

💡 Join our CIC Tribe membership for just £33/month, cancel anytime. We run live sessions and offer replay masterclasses to guide you through every step. www.kexx.co.uk/membership

✨ Or, if you want more, check out our new CIC Acceleration Package. It includes:

- A strategy call with me.

- An expert call with our impact assessors to help you create an impact report and visuals to promote your CIC.

- A 3-part live course training you on boosting your CIC income.

- A full year of CIC Tribe membership, including 3 live sessions a week!

- Access to the new grant application zone with over half a million pounds of grant funding guides.

This package is only £600 (down from £1500) and is available for the next 7 days. It’s a must for existing CIC owners who are ready to level up.

Check out the package

If you’re reading this after the offer ends, don’t worry. Join our membership or message us for the next intake.

You’ve got this. Let’s make it happen together. 💪

What’s your biggest fear about leaving your 9-to-5? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to help. 😊