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Resignation Letter to Start a Business

Leaving to start your own company? Your old employer could become a client, a partner or a source of referrals, so this letter is warm and confident. It also handles the part people forget: making clear you'll respect your contract's confidentiality terms.

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[Your Name]

[Your Email] | [Your Phone]

[Date]

[Manager's Name]
[Company Name]

Re: Resignation – [Your Job Title]

Dear [Manager's Name],

Please accept this letter as notice that I am resigning from my role as [Your Job Title] at [Company Name]. My last working day will be [Last Working Day].

I've decided to leave to start my own business in [field, e.g. digital marketing for small retailers]. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, and much of what I've learned here, from you and from the team, has given me the confidence to take the step.

Until my last day I'll complete my current projects, prepare a full handover, and introduce my replacement to the clients I look after. I'll of course continue to respect my confidentiality obligations to [Company Name] after I leave.

Thank you for your guidance and trust. I'd be glad to stay in touch, and I hope our paths cross again.

With thanks,

[Your Name]

Template · fill in the [bracketed] parts

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[Your Name]
[Your Email] | [Your Phone]

[Date]
[Manager's Name]
[Company Name]

Subject: Resignation – [Your Job Title]

Dear [Manager's Name],

Please accept this letter as notice that I am resigning from my role as [Your Job Title] at [Company Name]. My last working day will be [Last Working Day].

I've decided to leave to start my own business in [field, e.g. digital marketing for small retailers]. It's something I've wanted to do for a long time, and much of what I've learned here, from you and from the team, has given me the confidence to take the step.

Until my last day I'll complete my current projects, prepare a full handover, and introduce my replacement to the clients I look after. I'll of course continue to respect my confidentiality obligations to [Company Name] after I leave.

Thank you for your guidance and trust. I'd be glad to stay in touch, and I hope our paths cross again.

With thanks,
[Your Name]

Replace every [bracketed] part before sending. Check your contract for your notice period.

Tips before you send it

  1. 01

    Read your contract before you announce

    Look for non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality and intellectual property clauses. If your business is close to your employer's, get legal advice before you resign.

  2. 02

    Take nothing with you

    Client lists, files, code and templates belong to your employer. Leave them behind, and don't forward work files to your personal email.

  3. 03

    Keep the business to one line

    A pitch in a resignation letter can look like you're preparing to win over their clients. Say what you'll do in a sentence, or keep it vague.

  4. 04

    Leave the relationship warm

    Former employers often become first customers or referrers. A good exit is your first piece of marketing.

The letter, part by part

The notice line

The formal start: you're resigning, your role, the company and your last working day. If you've set a launch date, make sure your last day still respects your full notice period.

Your reason, in one confident line

Say you're starting your own business and, if it doesn't compete, what it does. Crediting what you learned there is gracious and usually true; most founders draw on their last job.

The handover, including clients

If you manage clients, promise to introduce your replacement to them. It reassures your employer that you aren't planning to take those clients with you.

The confidentiality line

One sentence saying you'll respect your confidentiality obligations does a lot of work. It answers the question your manager is likely to have, without sounding defensive.

The close

Thank them and leave the door open. Save launch invitations and service offers for later, once you've left.

Other ways to word it

Competing field, kept vague

I've decided to leave to work on a venture of my own. It's a step I've been planning for some time, and I'm grateful for the experience I've gained here, which has prepared me for it.

Joining the family business

I'll be joining my family's business in [City] full-time and taking over its day-to-day running from my parents. It's a responsibility I've known was coming, and the management experience I've gained here will help more than I can say.

Going freelance

I've decided to go independent and work as a freelance [designer/consultant]. If it would help during the transition, I'd be happy to discuss supporting the team on a short contract after my last day.

A side project that grew

A project I started outside work has grown to the point where it needs my full attention, so I've decided to leave and run it full-time. Thank you for the flexibility and encouragement you've given me.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Pitching the business in the letter

    A paragraph about your product turns a resignation into a sales email and raises worries about poaching.

  • Taking files or contacts

    Downloading client lists or forwarding documents to a personal email can breach your contract and data protection law. Leave everything with the company.

  • Announcing on LinkedIn first

    Your manager should hear it from you, not from a launch post. Post after you've resigned and agreed how to tell the team.

  • Ignoring restrictive clauses

    Non-compete and non-solicitation terms differ by contract and country, and courts treat them differently. Read yours and get advice if your business is close to your employer's.

Key takeaways

  • Tell your manager in person, then send the letter.
  • Describe the business in one line, and keep it vague if it competes.
  • Promise a full handover, including client introductions.
  • Respect your contract's confidentiality and non-solicitation terms.

Questions

Should I say what my business does?
Briefly, if it doesn't compete with your employer. If it does, keep it vague, like "a venture of my own", and check your contract first.
Can I work on my business during my notice period?
Check your contract and company policy on outside work. Many employers expect you not to run a competing business while you're still employed, so if in doubt, plan the launch for after your last day.
Can I take clients with me?
Not if your contract has a non-solicitation clause, and taking client data is a problem almost everywhere. Let clients find you through your own marketing, and get advice if you're unsure where the line is.
Should I tell my manager before resigning?
Yes, in person or on a call. Explaining your plan yourself is far better than them hearing it from a colleague or on LinkedIn.
Can I offer my services to my old employer?
Not in the resignation letter. Once you've left and any restrictions in your contract have ended, a friendly note is fine.
What if the business doesn't work out?
A polite exit makes it easier to return or get a reference. Many companies rehire people who left to build something, and value what they learned.

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