[buffington]

Why do you feel like it's important to tell them?

When you hire landscapers, or a plumber, or handyman, do you think those contractors have some sort of duty to tell you about how they bartend in the evenings? I doubt it. I doubt you even care. It's really none of your business.

I was a freelancer once, and I'd frequently have a half dozen projects in progress for the half dozen companies that hired me. Sometimes I hired help. Sometimes I pulled all nighters. That I had other projects wasn't relevant. The work got done early or on time at or under budget.

Unless you have a contract that explicitly prohibits you from taking on other contract work you don't have to say anything.

Edit: it's also not relevant that you've been contracting for them for years. In the US, depending on the state, it's even illegal. Company's love hiring contractors because they're not employees, and don't have any of the rights an employee has. If they haven't hired you in those 2 years, you most certainly don't owe them an explanation when you end up leaving.

[7hr0w2w2y9988]

I appreciate the feedback, you bring up great points.

[buffington]

I just re-read your post more carefully and realized I missed a big part.

I missed the part about you wanting to shift towards working less at the day job.

That conversation could be as simple as "starting on [some future date] my availability will be reduced to [x hours] per week. Let's figure out how to make that work with the least amount of disruption."

I've had similar conversations. In one case, the company wasn't happy, and I figured out a way to hire someone to do the other gigs so that I could stay 100% on the project.

That's also an easy way to start a business with actual employees. In my case, I hired two people, and the company was delighted because now they had a trusted partner, didn't have to do payroll, worry about benefits, or anything, and still get what they wanted (for cheaper). Don't underestimate how much a company might be willing to do to help make your goals a reality so that they can further their own.