Just a few pointers from my view point, you are correct to look at the opportunity cost of trading, what you could get else where.
For example if you could earn £60k in the year and would be able to do the same in the subsequent years you need to take this all into account.
You have also seemingly just divided what you earn now to work out what you need to make from trading, but are you also taking into account things such as pension, holiday leave, sick leave (Betfair don't pay you when you are ill
), the impact on your employability/cv etc. All these need to be factored in.Then there is the elephant in the room, you need to think about the Premium Charge and what that impact could have on you.
As to what others think about it/you, if it really bothers you that much spend time thinking about it but if they are true friends they should support you once you have made your decision but do take what they say on board. Don't just ignore it, they will be saying with the best of intentions but as for the others, your energy would be better spent thinking about the trading, not what others think of you. It is amazing how people's opinions change if you make a success of it.
Also think about x years down the line or when you are on your death bed, will you be lying there thinking I wonder what would have happened had I given it a go, or, at least I didn't take the safe option and gave it a good go for good or bad.
As for the label of professional, forget about it it is just an ego thing, people seemingly want to stick a label on everything.
Good luck in whatever you decide, just remember you could only make the decision at the time with the facts that were available at the time, not those that were available after the event.
