This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Heather Schoonover, owner of Painting With a Twist in Boise. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Three years ago, my husband Levi got a call from family. His uncle had died, and the family was preparing to sell his business, which produced trophies and medals. They just wanted to be rid of it and were going to sell it for about $40,000.
That was less than the truck we were considering purchasing. And unlike a truck, the business was something we hoped would appreciate in value. So, Levi and I loaded into a half-finished 1957 Airstream trailer and moved seven hours from our home in northern Idaho to Boise, where the business was located.
We parked the Airstream inside the warehouse for the trophy business and lived there for a year. Sometimes we wondered what we had done, especially since the first year, the trophy business only netted about $35,000. But the year after that, we doubled our profits, then doubled again. That’s when we started to think we had made the right decision.
We decided to open a paint and sip studio since there wasn’t one
When we moved to Boise, we were eager to make new friends. I have a background working at paint-and-sip art studios, and we thought that would be a great place to meet people. We were surprised to learn that there wasn’t a paint-and-sip in Boise.
Gradually, we met others, and I started hosting paint-and-sip events right in the warehouse, next to our airstream. I was only charging for materials, not making any money, but people loved it. We could immediately see another business opportunity.
Having a franchise was helpful when I had a baby
We were still in the trenches of resuscitating the trophy business, so we decided to look into franchises. Ultimately, we thought that would help us have more flexibility. We wanted to own the paint-and-sip business without being tied to working there every day. Having a proven model seemed to be the option that would get us to that goal the fastest.
It was definitely the right choice. Finding a location in Boise took longer than we wanted, but our franchise company, Painting With A Twist, helped us stay focused on finding the right space and then negotiating a lease once we found it.
I found out I was pregnant the day before the grand opening. Because we had the franchise’s resources, we were able to stay open and even continue making money during my maternity leave. Having a baby and a new business in the same year would have been a million times more stressful if we were on our own.
Owning businesses gives us more control over our time
For Levi and me, success means owning our own time. Running two businesses — plus rental properties — demands a lot of time, but also gives us freedom. We can get lunch together. Before our daughter was born, Levi would bartend at paint-and-sip nights just so we could spend time together.
Having freedom in how we spend time has become even more important now that we have a baby. Our businesses have complementary schedules, so I often watch the baby while Levi works at the trophy business during the day, then I head to Painting With A Twist at night while he’s home with her.
We want our daughter to know it’s OK to take risks. We went from working stable jobs and living in a nice house to running our own businesses while living in a half-finished trailer with two big dogs. Although it wasn’t glamorous, it led to opportunities and a community we love here in Boise.
We never want to look back and think “we wish we tried that.” We’d rather take the leap and try to figure it out together.
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