Working World

For 10 years I managed the tax division of a patriarch-owned financial services firm. I recently decided to start my own company, offering bookkeeping, tax and payroll services to contractors, plumbers, etc. It will take time to find enough clients, but I am committed to being self-employed.

Now my old boss is knocking on my door to see if I will work part time. I like the idea of a base income, but don’t want to lose momentum or endanger my ability to find my own clients. To complicate things even more, the people I used to supervise have fantasies of jumping the patriarch's ship and working for my new company. But I'm not there yet.

You have a highly marketable skill that many people need January through April. But that's only one-third of the year. As you set up your business, you don't want to be hamstrung in any way soliciting your own clients. That's especially true of a new non-compete agreement with the patriarch, which he'd almost certainly ask for if you'd interact with former clients.

It's too soon for your former colleagues to imagine you'd be able to support them as well as yourself. But meet with them away from the office to get a sense of what they need.

Mull carefully. Then send the patriarch an email reminding him of your qualifications, and saying what you’re willing to do: no more than X hours a week, at $Y an hour. Ask for more than your reserve salary so he can negotiate you down and feel like he won. Offer to be in the background doing quality control or to meet with clients as he chooses. But be clear that you’re starting your own business and will not sign a non-compete. If he doesn’t meet your terms, pick a different option for tax season. Then aggressively start advertising your new business.