Please hear me loud and clear: I wholeheartedly support your dreams! And obviously, I (and the whole team here at UGC Club) think that becoming a UGC creator is one of the best jobs in the world. I wouldn’t have an entire blog about it otherwise.
But I know it can be scary to start doing it full-time. You want to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you’re making the right decision for you. I get it.
After all, I can tell you all day about how you’ve got this (you do!) and how much I believe that the UGC market is just starting to heat up (it is!).
But I also realize that my optimism doesn’t pay your bills.
So, in this article, I will shoot it to you straight. You already know the benefits. I want to help you understand the risks and the signs that indicate you’re ready to quit your day job and do this thing full-time.
You may get to the end of this article and think, “It sounds like I’m ready!” If so, GREAT! That’s what I’m hoping for. But I want that to be because I gave you accurate info that you used to weigh the pros and cons.
So, excuse me if I’m a little more serious than expected. Let’s weigh the cons of becoming a full-time UGC creator.
What should I consider if I quit my 9 to 5 to become a full-time creator?
Again, I don’t want to discourage you, but most of the articles you’ll find online are big on showing the PERKS of content creation: traveling, enjoying life, relaxing, etc… All of the aesthetic images you see are real. They’re part of being a UGC creator, for sure.
But they’re not the whole story. And the whole story is precisely what I want you to have before you turn in your two weeks’ notice.
So, that’s what we’ll discuss in this section of the article–some things to consider before you quit. Some of them will happen immediately and inevitably when you go out alone. Others simply *might* happen. It’s worth being aware of them so you can plan to address them if/when they arise.
Your income might vary from month to month
Don’t get scared–I’m not saying you’ll always be broke! But, varying income is a risk, just like any self-employed entrepreneur. Sometimes, your content business will go super well, and you’ll make bank. In other months, it’ll be a bit slower.
Securing jobs regularly takes effort, and no one is pushing you to do it–no one will tell you to stop watching YouTube and apply to work with more brands. You’ll need to take the initiative and be proactive–that’ll determine how many jobs you’ll get.
And yes, if this sounds familiar, we’ve talked about this on the blog before. But instead of making you read that whole article again, here’s what you need to know about landing jobs:
Compared to 9 to 5 jobs where you have a consistent, reliable income, being a full-time content creator is a lot less predictable. You often won’t know how much money you will make that month or if your clients will pay on time.
So, it pays to be prepared. It’s a good idea to save a bit of a buffer BEFORE you quit so you have money to cover extra expenses or emergencies. It just gives you some peace of mind, you know?
You might get slightly more stressed
Speaking of peace of mind, you might have less of it when working on UGC full-time. A BIG part of that is the variable paychecks.
Obviously, this depends on the person, but for most of us, losing a steady source of income does create stress, at least until you get acclimated to your new way of doing things. But if money really makes you feel safe (or if you struggle with anxiety), this could be a big hurdle for you when you first go out on your own–and it doesn’t help that anxiety can make you less motivated!
And it depends, too, on how much you like your current 9 to 5. For example, if your current job is horrible and is already weighing on your mental health, then the stress of a changing income probably won’t be too bad.
So, now that you know this could be a problem, there are two ways you can proactively reduce your potential stress:
- One is to save the buffer we discussed in the last section. Having some money stashed away will help you feel more confident about making the leap to full-time.
- The second is what we’ll discuss next: Secure gigs beforehand, so you aren’t making zero dollars when you quit!
You might need to grind a bit MORE (at least at the beginning)
Listen, I am NOT advocating for overwork or burnout. But think about it: in your current job, you KNOW how things work: the processes, goals, timelines, etc. You’re comfortable with the system, so it doesn’t require much extra mental energy.
(This does, of course, depend on your job and the level of responsibility you have).
But when you quit, you’ll need to try to find work constantly. You must enter grind mode to improve your content creation skills, find work, deliver content, and repeat. You may want to take this slowly, but sometimes, diving in and figuring it out as you go is best.
Sometimes, having the extra pressure of going all-in will force you to learn quickly because you don’t have anywhere else to go. But this is very situational! There are PLENTY of people who can’t simply quit their jobs out of nowhere to do content full-time.
Look at this article through the lens of your circumstances–if easing into content creation is a better move for you, do that. If not, you’re the best judge of that.
You’ll be alone more often
If you’re used to going into an office, laughing and joking with co-workers, meeting up for drinks, and socializing afterward, making UGC content might feel lonely, especially at first. For some people (and you’ll know if this is you), this is a BIG deal–because when you work for yourself, there are no office chats or after-work parties.
Sure, there are groups and events you can join to give yourself some socializing time, but you’ll spend a lot of time alone, shooting videos and pitching brands.
If you live in a big city, you can mitigate this nicely with a big creator community that you can join to do things throughout the week. You’ll also have your friends, so it’s not like you’ll always be alone.
It’s just a change–you’ll be around people less unless you develop creative ways to get that social interaction while you finish your work. Just keep this in mind as you think about going full-time!
When is the right time to quit and focus full-time on content creation?
Okay, disclaimer–this is my opinion on what I would do right now if I had to choose. Your circumstances might be different, so please consider that before making your own decision.
For example–if you’re a parent in your 30s, it might not be easy to quit your job to focus on a new source of income that varies from month to month. After all, you have other mouths to feed, right? But if you’re in your twenties and just graduated–you have much less to risk, so you might be willing to take a more significant risk right now. So please, keep that in mind!
That said, I’d say it’s the right time to quit when you…
Have at least a few months of consistent income
What a “few” means will depend on who you are. Some people are happy when they get three months of consistent income. Others need at LEAST six to feel comfortable. There’s no magic number–you do what works for you. But having at least a few months of recurring income is a good sign you’re onto something. You got that money based on something, right?
And psst–that something is your skills!
You delivered, brands were happy, wanted more, and now you have consistent work and income. This is a great predictor for the future: If you’ve already secured consistent, recurring income, you’ll probably be able to do it again.
So, take a moment to consider how consistent your current income from UGC is and weigh that against how consistent you need it to be once it’s your only source of income.
Have a certain level of your expenses covered
Of course, it’s not just about having a consistent income. That income has to cover your living expenses, too. So figure out how much you need to live (Rent + food + transport at a bare minimum). After that, you have your discretionary things like going out, random subscriptions, etc–worry about those later.
You may be able to reduce your expenses if you’re willing to get creative with your living arrangements. For example, if you’re in your twenties and don’t mind moving back in with your parents until you get your feet under you… Well, say hi to your old bedroom–if they agree to take you back, of course! 😉 (That was a joke, to be clear 😂)
So take a minute to write down your expenses–what you need to cover your MINIMUM living expenses and what you tend to spend every month. Look at the costs you can reduce, and figure out if you can live on what you make as a content creator.
Are tired of juggling your full-time job and content creation
I wouldn’t say this reason stands on its own–but it will probably naturally happen due to the first two. If brands are constantly reaching out or responding to your pitches, and you’re super busy making content during your off-work hours, you’ll make good enough money at UGC that there’s no need to stay in your other job. That’s extra stress you don’t need!
But again–it’s more of a symptom that the first two reasons are happening than a reason you can just take on your own.
Bottom line
I didn’t write this article to discourage you from becoming a full-time content creator–just the opposite! When you do it, I want you to succeed. That’s why you need to know what I covered in this article.
From my perspective, all of these obstacles are overcomeable. And the benefits of becoming a UGC creator far outweigh the downsides. But it’s not for everyone–and you’ll have to decide if it’s the right choice. That’s why I wanted to be super transparent about the obstacles!
If you’re reading this article to the end, though, I guess you’ll probably end up feeling the same way that I do: The perks are so good that it’s more than worth the risks and stress you encounter along the way!
I’d love to hear your thoughts if you’ve recently leaped into full-time UGC! Did I miss anything? Let me know so I can add it!
