For years, you have worked for someone else and have spent many hours commuting to an office and back home. While you have enjoyed your work overall, you have always had this nagging feeling that you are meant to be your own boss.

After saving up a bit of money, you are now ready to take the plunge and open your own business. You have a passion for health and beauty products, so you are hoping to launch something in one of these industries.

In order to fulfill your dream of being your own boss and enjoying the freedoms and flexibility that this path may bring, please consider the following tips:

Learn as Much as You Can About Being Your Own Boss

One of the best ways to learn about owning your own business is to speak with like-minded entrepreneurs who have already taken the plunge. Attend any local networking events that you can for small business owners. If you know anyone who has successfully made the switch from working a traditional 9 to 5 job to owning a business, offer to take him or her out to lunch. Come prepared with a number of questions-most self-made bosses are happy to share advice.

You can also listen to peoples' stories online; for instance, this YouTube video by Amway is filled with advice from entrepreneurs like you, including the do's and don'ts when first starting out. When partnered with Amway, Independent Business Owners can run their own business with the help of an established brand behind them. If you have been wondering "How does Amway work, anyway?" you might be pleasantly surprised to learn that you would be a great fit for this company.

Look at Your Options

While you know you want to open a business that relates to health, beauty or both, you definitely want to do your research to determine the specific path you want to take. For instance, there are a number of ways to work for yourself in the beauty industry; this includes opening up a salon, freelancing in the film or TV industry and working at private events like wedding and birthday parties. In the healthy industry, you could become a personal trainer through a program like NASM, open up a yoga or dance studio, or create and sell your own line of workout gear. The possibilities are endless-you simply need to take your time and really evaluate your skills, your strengths and what your local market could support. For instance, if you already have 10 yoga studios in your town but nowhere to dance, you might pursue the latter option rather than the former.

Make the Switch, Gradually

Despite saving up some money ahead of time-which is definitely a good idea-it may still be wise to make the change from working for someone else to being your own boss very gradually. You might feel stretched very thin during this time, especially as you toil away on evenings and weekends to get your new business off the ground while still working a full-time job. But knowing you have income to pay your bills will alleviate these stressful feelings, and as your new company starts to take off, you can give notice at your current job and spend all of your time and energy on your business.

You've Got This!

Opening a new business is excited and stressful, all at once. But through some careful planning, learning from others, pinpointing exactly what you want to do and making a gradual switch, you should find that the path to being an entrepreneur can be filled with hard work, satisfaction and success.