I'm not a business owner but it sure is neat reading about the members here and what they do for a living, good stuff!

32 years in the cabinetmaking business. started out in a small duplex garage right after I got married. Just couldn't stand working for someone else. I even made it on the cover of cabinetmaker magazine in 2000.




https://www.houzz.com/pro/raybly/ray-bly-cabinetry

My wife and I are on a second careers (law enforcement and airline industry being our firsts)

We currently own a grooming salon. While I am a co-owner, I'm actually in a semi-retired state and only go in 2-3 days each week. My wife also does obedience training at the business.

We are doing good and happy to be "the bosses!"

Well, I own...oh, c'mon, you guys already know what I do.

We are going on 32 years of making guns pretty again

My wife and I own a small woodturning business, our primary market is fine art shows around the country. It's much more involved than just putting our work on a table and collecting the bucks. Shows are very competitive, high quality digital images of my work are required, it is always a juried show, often competing for as few as 12 spots for wood in general out of over 1,000 other applicants.

We get to pick what part of the country we want to see and pray that we get in. It has been very rewarding, I was featured in the Food Network Magazine in 2010 with Guy Fieri who has my work along with Bobby Flay, Paula Dean, Giada De Laurentiis and Jacques Pepin & his daughter Claudine. Actually several of the SF members have some of my salt and pepper grinders !

We are now slowing way down on the show circuit and focusing on making cremation urns primarily for pets. I can see a karma sometime in the near future.

Federally licensed dealer in firearms other than destructive devices (01 FFL).

Environmental consulting related to the intersection of military munitions, military ranges, and environmental sustainability, currently supporting an Army program.

I am majority owner of a custom home company. I am qualifying agent, and home designer. Self taught on the software I use. We started right in the middle of the housing crisis, and are now doing about 8-9 million dollars a year. Goals are for 12 million next year.

I design, budget, and generate all construction related documentation for the company. I also hold the licensing for the State.

My brother and I have a ice cream manufacturing company, and a few retail stores.

Started my first business in 1965. A Gulf service station. Sales manager for national building products company for several years and refused to transfer to Florida in 1972 and have operated my own business since, until my wife retired last year. Multiple pawn shop-jewelry stores. 400 tax office affiliates around the US. Several restaurant/clubs. Commercial surplus and salvage business for 10 years. Many times more than 1 business at a time. I can't picture a better life even with all the ups and downs and employee aggravation. Both my kids are also successfully self-employed.

21 years ago, I opened a Barber Shop in half our our two-car garage. My dream job! I jokingly tell people I spend eight hours a day rendering unlicensed medical and legal opinions, but I am paid to cut hair. guys are always bringing guns in to show. Classic cars, too. I feature both on the shop facebook page. Love it!

I'm new to this scene but working on my 07 FFL (interview complete) for eventually manufacturing silencers. Also trying to get into laser engraving for a whole variety of things.

My full time job is as a machinist at a power plant.

I was working as a trainer for General Motors, training dealer techs and engineers. I loved my job but the travel was too much with small kids.

One day, the lady that cleaned our house, my wife had a more than full time job as well, told me she was quitting because her husband had to be closer to U of M for medical stuff(he is still around). They had a parking lot sweeping business. I asked her what they were going to do with the equipment and she said part it out. In passing I said she would make more money if they sold it as a business. That night he called.

My wife and I talked it over. On one of their trips to Ann Arbor we had them drop off a copy of their books to our accountant. He studied them and told me we could make it work. That was 23 years ago.

Our first year we did about double the gross the old owners had done. Later it was up to five times as much.

There were two sides to the company. One did construction and government work and the other did commercial sweeping(think Walmart etc.) This past May we sold the company and retired! I may go into something else depending on how I adjust. LIFE IS GOOD!

Jim

After 42 years in law enforcement and being the largest hay producer in the area, I retired from all that and 5 years ago my son and I started a Private Investigation and Firearms Training business. Trying to teach back what I know and stay relevant.

Not me, but my wife is a bit over a year into her own women's fashion boutique.

She started as an independent retailer with a large women's clothing company & did that for 2 years (my part was financing the investment).
She got out as the upper-level structure started changing from how things were when we got in.

Went back to being her own boss, with her own shop & does pretty well with it.

Single-person computer/network consultancy in the DC area, founded in 1996.

My clients are (mostly) Fed. Govt. technology contractors, and not-for-profits, both of which thickly infest the DC area. Prior to stepping out on my own, I was VP at one of these contractors. Got fired (for a valid cause, I was too bored to do my job well), and two days later I had my first client, a major NYC bank. I learned that flying to NYC every Monday morning and back home every Friday evening was not the lifestyle I was looking for, but it didn't take too long to find clients in town, one of which I have worked with continuously since that time.

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
hey Dave

Started a company back in June of 2002 with two partners

we held our first meetings at a Bickfords restaurant on Fridays

all three of us were named Greg

we hired our first CPA and attorney

both of them were named..you guessed it...Greg

we started with one office in NH, and grew into a company of 68 employees and twelve offices around the country

we are the largest provider of what we do in the United States

Greg, I've always enjoyed our lunch/dinner meetings and you've told me 1000 times what you do but it always goes over my head. Congratulations on your success my friend!

I love reading these stories. Please continue!

My primary business is medical equipment, And a separate company that is medical manufacturers shared National Sales Management firm. I have two small hobby businesses A) knives and gun accessories B) A high end line of skincare products for problem areas I.E. dryness, eczema and rosacea as well as anti-aging creams.
I am looking for a partner for these small businesses that can run all the digital advertising/social media posts.

Wife and I got sick of working for law firms and started a Real Estate Law Firm / Title Company in 2004. Ran the market up and then down and then back up again. I love helping people and making deals happen. So for the last 14 years I have been self-employed / self-unemployed depends on how the month is going. Wouldn't change it for a thing. My kids are 10 and 9 it has given me the opportunity to spend tons of time with them, which is what my trip around this rock is all about.

www.alliantfl.com