How many of us own our own business?

[AhBee01]

We run Michael's Carpet Cleaning, and just reopened after a 10 year hiatus! My husband gave up his business to go to Chrysler, which he regrets! So since his plant is closing, he took the small buy out, and reopened his business. It is slow, some days are better, and every old customer that has called us back, has said they are so happy he is back in business!
I hope it picks up soon, getting our butt kicked on advertising, but we need to get his name back out there. The web site is up, just needs tweaked!
If you want check it and out let me know what you think! mikecleanscarpet.com!
This is a great thread!

 

[Lunachick]

DH is a CPA and CFP and owns his own business. I work with him managing the office etc. We don't work from home, we rent an office space a couple of towns over and employ another accountant. People have to pay their taxes. (well, some don't!) We've had our business here for more than 25 years, so we have a large cliental. Being a Certified Financial Planner, he also has a lot of clients with their money invested in different things. We get commissions with those investments.

Lately, there's been a few people that haven't paid us. We just wait it out til they can. We know most of them and understand it may take a while before we get paid. DH also dabbles in the market, he's good at it so we're doing OK.

 

[ams3651]

My mom and I have a sign rental business
< ------ see here

I also have an Etsy shop to sell handmade wreaths and hopefully more as I am able. And I just started selling Avon. If I cant find a job to fit my hours out of the home, I will make my own.

oh and next fall I want to have a field of pumpkins and gourds to sell. Next summer, watermelon and cantaloupe

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

We run a small poultry farm and also a mail order poultry products business. We sell chicks in season but just locally. We are continuing to expand and have just added 1400 new products to our availabilty dealing with larger farm animals. The economy and the cost of shipping has put a slight damper on the business but we are always looking for ways to save people money.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

We have an organic egg farm. I can't say the economy has affected us too much. Our military pensions cover the bills and the egg operation is something to keep us busy and less stressed out. We pulled most of our investments just before the market tanked to help buy this place so we didn't take too bad a hit there. Our oldest son is using my G.I. bill benefits to go to the University of Wisconsin while his college fund slowly recovers.

 

[SportTees]

I wish I owned my own business....

 

[backdoorchicken]

i do www.greensweeps.net

 

[baldie]

My DH is a plumber and works for himself. So far so good...we have good weeks and bad ones, but the good ones make up for the bad ones. I work with him some of the time. I also just opened a little country store, we make everything ourselves...so its taking time to get up and running but so far I am making the rent for the place so thats good. It helps because I sell our eggs and chicks out of there too.

We are calling it "The Henhouse"

 

[seismic wonder2]

Hale's Kitchen Personal Chef Services.
I provide home cooked meals to families that don't have time to cook real food for themselves. Also Nutritional Consultant Services for those trying to loose weight, Diabetic, cholesterol, heart problems etc...


When the economy took a dump, (January 20th hint, hint) I haven't gotten a SINGLE phone call.

 

[keeperofthehearth]

We run a Computer Service & Repair shop out of our home. DH is the Tech Expert/Owner & I'm a Partner & handle the books, answer phones etc. We've been in business since 2006 when DH lost his job after a liver transplant in 2002. He's on SSDI which helps pay the basic bills. Business has been good this year. Many of our Small Business Customers who are experiencing a downturn are calling us less often but our home user calls/customers have probably trippled. I'm responsible for about 95% of the "critter" maintenance and care around here so it all works out pretty nicely time wise. I have a lot more dirt & gross things to deal with than DH does, but then again, he has to deal more one on one w/people.