Its hard. If you are not 100% sure you are going to make it, don’t do it, because once you are in there is no going back.

Keep your day job, start on the side if possible.

No one is going to lend you money at first but when things are picking up investment will come. It depends what you want. I chose to be independent for now.

Don’t borrow money from friends and family if you want to keep them that way. Ask them for referrals but don’t take their business.

Don’t say yes to everything. Pick your battles. Say no when you have to.

Don’t take a project if you can’t deliver or you don’t know what the requirement or scope is.

Take an advance, bill in stages, collect on deliverables. If payments stops, work stops. Move on.

Stick to your core skills, don’t get distracted by what others are doing.

Hire the best team possible.