Sue.....tell us about your business....?

We did own a small business and were self employed for about 15 years. DH retired just a little over a year ago. A very hard decision for him. The age was right but he really enjoyed his work. Our tech was experiencing some health issues, training someone new would take 6 months or better and it didn't seem great timing to begin that. It was the right decision, but he misses it some days.

Sue, my husband has had his own business for years. They make ground support equipment for aircraft.

Both Dh and I have our own businesses. He is a commercial roofing contractor and I have a manufacturing firm.

I'm retired now, but trained as an audiologist. I was self-employed the last half of my career and had a hearing aid dispensing practice. I do not miss the stress of that work.

Not me. Unless you count my side "business" of making scented wax cubes,candles,and sprays. SO is an owner/operator (truck driver) and is self employed. His trucking company consists of his truck and himself. I wouldn't have the nerve to strike out on my own doing anything I don't think.

Yes, self employed, restaurant and catering. Never thought that this is what I'd end up doing. I typically sign about 40+ paychecks including many part time.

My husband was a self employed commercial shrimper. He hasn't worked but a few days in the past couple of years. I wish he would sell the boat, but he thinks he will work again. I don't think so. His health is too bad now. He has pulmonary fibrosis. He doesn't need to be out in the dampness of the bay.

I was self employed for many years and loved every second of it. My work took me all over the Lowcountry, plus allowed me the freedom to volunteer for city and county development boards, to travel for speaking engagements, and to do other fun projects in my field.

I had a freelance interior design business for about 25 years. But it was always a part-time business and my husband’s job supported the family. MIne was “extra”.

My husband just retired in December, after running his home repair business for 17 years. He swung the hammer, I managed the business side. I also manage our small rental operation. We will soon turn that over to a property manager. I am so looking forward to not shuffling paper!!

Over fifty years ago my husband started our business and in a few years I will close it and put the building with a big warehouse up for sale. For a long time it was wholesale, retail, installation and repair. Now it is mostly just retail. Two way radio. It was started way back when you had to buy a license to use a CB radio. Now you don't. Almost every truck on the road has one to keep in touch, they have cell phones too, but unless you have a person's cell phone number you can not communicate, with two way you can.

Sue

Retired from owning a technology business. Just keeping current was a full time endeavor.

I owned a hair salon for forty years and, in that time frame, I bought the building.

Working in high tech, we were always being sold, computer programs moved to the parent companies central location, then closed. Time to change trades! In 2013, I quit my job having purchased a coworkers home, with the idea we could remodel it then flip or rent it. We opened an LLC. Hired a property manager who is also our realtor, purchasing more properties.

I’ve been a kitchen designer for almost 25 years. Most of that time I worked for a few showrooms in my area but in 2016 I went on my own as an independent, designing kitchens and selling cabinets. It has been going very well – I’m not rich but I’m paying my bills. I’ve built up a good reputation over the years and all my business comes from referrals from contractors and past customers. I’m single, so there’s no husband’s income to fall back on and I consider myself very fortunate that I can support myself by working basically part-time. No more sitting in a showroom on Saturday; now I’m by appointment only, and other opportunities that I never even thought possible have come to me. Taking that leap from a full-time job was scary, but my last employer did not offer health insurance or paid time off so it wasn’t as much a risk as leaving a job with full benefits. I’m so glad I did that jump -- I still have all the same job stress and issues, but now I don’t also have a boss to please.

In 2 months I’m on Medicare and I can’t wait! My Health Insurance bills will be 1/3 of what they are now. I’m not sure how long I will keep my business going once I’m full retirement age but for now I see no reason to stop.

Although I met my DH when he was an oil company executive, he later had several independent businesses: first, management consulting with his stepfather in CT, then he owned a chemical company in NJ, and finally the tofu/soyfoods business here in PA. I did freelance writing for some time, and still do some of it (had a story published in Woman's World last summer), but I don't put the time in like I used to.

Interesting to read about all your experiences!

I was a partner (part owner) of a rather large, unincorporated professional services firm. Legally, I was self-employed and not an employee. I had lots of freedom/leeway to do as I wanted but not the same as if I were the owner of a small business. Given alternatives, which might have included smaller firms, I was happiest and more suited to be in a bigger organization that could hire qualified pros to follow the direction of partners to attend to the uninteresting aspects of running a business.

I forgot at one time we owned a very large antique mall in a brick two story old school house built in 1896 I think. Anyway we worked on that for a year getting it ready. My daughters and I worked in it each day. We finally sold it and now they sell books from it online. Rare books I believe and they also live in it. There were 4 rooms on two floors plus two cloak rooms and each of the big rooms were 20 by 30. Full basement too.

I was a partner/owner for most of my self-employment years from 1983 to 2014.

The majority of my years were spent in home improvement, remodeling, new house construction, painting and decorating. We also operated two wholesale building supply locations specializing in kitchens, baths, floors, prime doors and wood windows.

From 2014 to 2019 I managed a few commercial office buildings along with a some related small business of my own.

I'm currently retired from the busyness of businesses and babysit our two rental condos.