My husband quit his job today (I began writing this on 4/29). Because God is leading him, actually us, into a new direction. He's starting a business. Very soon, obviously. He didn't quit today, he gave his notice. Thursday, May 7th will be the last day. Six days away. Friday will be a celebration with family and friends at an amusement park. That wasn't intentional, but it worked out that way.My dear husband has worked on RVs for over 23 years now. He's exceptionally good at it. There's really not much he can't do or figure out. During that time, he's worked for nine RV dealerships or service centers. I'm sure that there are plenty of other businesses for whom it can be difficult to work, but I must say that it's been quite the ride with every one of these companies. For probably 21 of the 23 years, he has periodically done work on the side for people. Friends, family, and friends of both. We began discussing the idea of him having his own RV service business many, many years ago. Somewhere around 20 years ago. But it didn't happen. It was just a dream.
Eight years ago, the dream became a reality. A very short-lived reality. He did start a mobile RV service business. Naturally, there are those issues you can't anticipate until you're there. We learned some things. Things that we would handle differently if we ever ventured down this path again. In the meantime, he was offered a position with his previous employer. A position with a promotion and a nice raise. Money was running low, so he accepted. At least we had tried. And we had experience.
January of 2008, we began considering the possibility of him starting his business again. Instead of mobile service, we began looking at facilities. Something with a couple of bays and some office space. Nothing big or fancy. We found a place that looked like it might work. And then we got the $400 utility bill at home that took us down a different path. The path to buying a house. When you are self-employed, you have to be in business, and be profitable, for quite some time to qualify to buy a house. So the business went on the back burner while we spent months looking for a house.
Recently, the thoughts of a business came to the forefront again. We knew it would be a better time of year (last time we started in January - a little early in the season). He already has people wanting him to do work for him right now. There's been a lot of stress for him with his current employer. Enough to make him stay home sick in bed about once a month.
Last week, we sat down and more purposefully discussed the issues at hand. What would we have to do, specifically, to start the business up again? Not really all that much. We had done much of the groundwork eight years ago. We jotted some tasks and numbers. We'd been praying. It seemed that this was the direction God was taking us.
As He is ever so gracious to do, God began to open the doors and lead the way. We were listening to Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope last week. One of the questions? Is this a bad time to start a business? No, not really. Dave actually believes that it's a very good time to start. Because many businesses have already failed, there is less competition. He shared a number of people who began their businesses either near the end of a recession or just following. Companies that have become very successful. It was encouraging to hear.
Update: Today was it. The last day working for someone else. I just wanted to wait and post this after he was officially done there. It just seemed the right thing to do.
We've filed our reincorporation papers, changed the address on our federal tax id, begun the process of getting insurance, printed biz cards, and created a web site (sort of - I just used existing templates. I don't know how to create a web site). We have a couple other things to wrap up on Monday or Tuesday. And he's ready to roll.
Here we go, leaping off the cliff. Into the plans of God.
While out and about this morning (in cyberspace), I visited 
