Best time in life to start a start up

my first bog post in while.. over a year!!!

Anyway was just thinking this morning and thought I'd share my thoughts on what I think a lot of people might be struggling with; the best time to quit your job and run your start-up. 

The way I see it there are 2 optimal points in life to try your hand at full time or full income start-up entrepreneurship (a large percentage of your earnings or time devoted to the venture).

The points below are by no means scientific and make major assumptions about what I feel someone a certain age may or may not have achieved.

Undergraduate or fresh graduate (16 – 26 or till you get married or have kids)

Pros

1. No dependents
2. lots of time
3. No major commitments.
4. Lots of energy, zeal, passion and drive.
5. Youth
6. If your business fails no bother, you can always try another venture or become an employee and try again later.

Cons

1. Lack of professional experience
2. Lack of strong professional networks
3. Lack of access to customer base
4. Lack of business management experience
5. Lack of access to capital
6. Possibly small idea mind-set simply because of lack of exposure to your own potentials

35 to 45 years

Pros

1. Fully developed professional experience
2. Strong professional networks
3. Possibly good understanding of business management
4. Greatly improved access to capital, perhaps from savings or business associates
5. Big idea mind-set
6. Likely leadership experience
7. Less risky if there is financial buffer saved over the years
8. If you have been continuing formal education, then more education form degrees, certifications etc.
9. If you have been running business gradually, business might be fully developed and self-sustaining or even very successful by this time
10. Possibly decent family life during the build-up to the switch to full time entrepreneurship, of course depending on how much time and money is devoted to business idea or business on the side.
11. Likely have created a decent life for family and set things on motion for a decent life through the initially risky entrepreneurship cut-over period
12. If your venture fails you can always go back to being an employee, you have the work experience to get you another job

Cons

1. Dependents
2. No time
3. Major commitments to family, friends, work etc.
4. Might watch several big opportunities go by
5. Very risky because failure will might adverse effect on family life.