The most important thing that my wife and I needed before going solo was to know that we had a safety net in case things didn't work out. So having some good companies that I know would give me a chance at an interview if I needed to get a regular job was important. Also reducing and eliminating debt and having a good amount of savings around. And the fact that I had worked the last 4 years on the side to develop a passive income also really helped ease our concern that this wasn't going to work out, or I wouldn't have time to build up something and start earning money.