How to Quit Your Day Job Gracefully

Congratulations! You've decided to leave your job and hang your own shingle. But first, there's much to consider. You'd probably like to stay on good terms with your former employer. You may have signed a noncompete agreement. And it wouldn't hurt to take some customers with you. Here's what you need to know to navigate the transition from working for someone else to being your own boss.

After working at the same salon for eight years, Seattle aestheticians Stephanie Carroll and Heather Allison decided to open a skincare studio of their own. It's not uncommon for beauty professionals to retain their clientele when they jump ship, but Carroll and Allison were intent on doing so without burning bridges.

Six months before their departure from the salon, the pair began quietly collecting contact information from nearly 300 clients. After securing a lease on a storefront in which to operate their own business, they gave notice, offering to stay three weeks but