Comments on: How to Avoid Getting Fired (and Sued) When Starting a Side Business

By: Ryan Robinson

Ryan Robinson — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:56:43 +0000

In reply to Chris.

Hey Chris, that’s a really good question! And while I’m not as well-versed on this topic as a lawyer would be, the main question I like to ask myself when evaluating a conflict of interest question would be… could making a wholesale deal with a roofing customer be at all in conflict with the business my employer (the roofing company) runs? And as you’re saying, if the roofing contract is being held up to wait and see if you’ll be able to do a wholesaling deal with the customer *first* then I think you might be in some questionable territory there. My advice would be to shift your approach to bringing up the possibility of wholesale deals after a roofing project is either complete or at least well under way. That should lessen the possibility of something going awry in the eyes of your employer.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 01:16:20 +0000

Hi Ryan,

My name is Chris and I have to say this article was very eye opening!
I desire to start a business of my own wholesaling real estate. I work for a roofing company as a commisson based employee. While I’m not at an appointment I will usually take snap shots of houses that I think would benefit my side hustle.
Sometimes I mention to roof customers that I could help them wholesale their house if it is an option for them. This doesn’t seem like its in direct competition with my current employer but I want to be safe than sorry. I have one customer in particular who is waiting on buying a roof from me to see if she might work with me on the wholesaling side. After reading this article that feels like a conflict of interest that I didn’t connect the dots on before. Would you mind helping me figure this out?

Thanks,
Chris

By: Ryan Robinson

Ryan Robinson — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 20:17:04 +0000

In reply to Walter.

Ah, well you’ve come to the right article Walter! Wishing you all the luck with your side business 🙂

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 20:16:05 +0000

very interesting ive learned something new today. Im Walter Makgosa based in south africa am employed and having a side business i need more tips to avoid getting fired while working for my side business

By: Susan Laura

Susan Laura — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 06:28:47 +0000

Nicely researched and then served to the audience. Not all bloggers do this. Thanx for delivering the genuine information.

By: Beard Guru

Beard Guru — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 17:46:06 +0000

Hello Ryan! I started my initial side business research and set up an email on my current FT employers laptop. I just ordered a Chromebook and plan to conduct all work from here on out on my Chromebook when I get it in a couple weeks and plan to do any remaining research on my phone (which I own). I logged out of the Gmail account I set up for my side business and shared all the Google drive documents with my business but partner. Are there any other precautions I should take. For example starting a new email account so none of the new information is traceable to what I created on my company’s laptop?

Thanks!

By: Betty

Betty — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:05:06 +0000

In reply to Nicky.

Be careful with this. I was doing the same (getting a RE business set up on the side) made a social media post, employer found out, now am on a final warning and was told to cease all RE activities. I would disclose if I were you.

By: Glenn Riley

Glenn Riley — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 14:04:39 +0000

Great article Rob and I felt the need to write as recently I was almost fired from my job. I was running a few side businesses, opening up online stores selling affiliate products from Amazon, Ali Express and EBay. I worked for the Swedish clothing retailer H&M and didn’t know at the time about the policies of my companies approach on setting up a side business. I spent a lot of hours on my businesses and this affected my timekeeping and absence. I was put in a disciplinary and had to confess my online activities. The verdict of the disciplinary was a final written warning. They told me to cease all online activities and close down my stores. They deemed my offence as misconduct and said I’d violated some of the terms in my contract. I was warned if I ever went down that path again, I would not only be fired but serious action would be taken against me. I did not know what that meant until I read this article. The thing is, I just dived head first into setting up my business because with the erratic unpredictability of our economy, I needed to createva safety net for my family. I think next time I plan on setting up a side business, I need to be more careful. Its a shame though that some companies put these agreements in place as to stop employees from being the best that they can be.

Glenn Riley

By: Nicky

Nicky — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 08:12:01 +0000

Thanks you so much for this
I’ve started a part time realty business but strickky after hours and weekends
My boss do t know yet as I feel I do this to sustain my family responsibility as the company is not paying me enough money
I do advertise my business on social media so they bound to find out