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Rainmaker
7,862,331
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Yes. I started my own company and opened my first office during the summer after I completed law school. 

Jun 12, 2015 11:03 PM
Rainmaker
1,466,257
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Debbie Reynolds Yes, and I did. It's a big financial responsibility and the break even point can be very high.

Jun 12, 2015 10:51 PM
Rainmaker
292,685
Jack Lewitz
Exit Strategy Realty - Evanston, IL

I decided to be my own boss about 8 years ago and love working out of my house with my dog as my assistant. Today he has the day off and is going to watch the Blackhawks game. Go Hawks

t

Jun 12, 2015 10:16 PM
Rainmaker
1,664,036
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Yes and I did it. 

Jun 12, 2015 09:40 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,328
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Hell, NO

Jun 12, 2015 08:29 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Yes I have and I am. Now I am building a business instead of owning a job.

Jun 12, 2015 06:41 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I have Debbie and watching Shark Tank gives me ideas. I want to do it soon. We have lots of ideas.

Jun 12, 2015 03:47 PM
Rainmaker
5,111,821
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

No, never... I am already essentially my own boss as an independent contractor and at this stage of my life don't want all the other hassles that come with making it complete your own company.

Jun 12, 2015 11:17 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Debbie,

All our life has been about owning our own business, and we continue to do so.  A

Jun 12, 2015 11:08 PM
Rainmaker
2,375,279
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

No - I am terrible with paperwork. Keller is great because it lets me have my team and that is enough for me! 

Jun 12, 2015 10:47 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Debbie. I have never worked for anyone in my life, but it would be great fun working for someone else, I think.

Make it a great weekend!

Jun 12, 2015 07:06 PM
Ambassador
6,416,169
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Yes, and I have been my own boss most of my life.

Jun 12, 2015 05:05 PM
Rainmaker
631,608
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

I did that for a long time.  It was a Mack Truck dealership. 40+ employees with a 2 million dollar + payroll. It is a very capital intensive business. We sold it 12 years ago. The risk reward ratio got out f balance. I miss the people and the industry but not the worry.

Jun 13, 2015 04:19 AM
Rainer
148,989
James Brockway
Brockway Realty, LLC - League City, TX

Yes and I did open my own real estate company about 11 years ago.  I'm also a CPA and served many years as a controller of real estate management and development companies which gave me invaluable experience in setting up companies and handling the paperwork and accounting side of it.  It seems that the paperwork/accounting side of the business would be the most challenging side for business owners if they didn't have that background.

Jun 12, 2015 11:37 PM
Rainmaker
3,627,072
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

I did until I found out the cost associated with it.  Still considering the idea.

Jun 12, 2015 10:05 PM
Rainmaker
2,817,727
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

I'm currently living that dream, although on some days it can feel like a nightmare.

Jun 12, 2015 08:40 PM
Rainmaker
4,581,818
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Dream.  I think it was a nightmare.  

Jun 13, 2015 12:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,728,056
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Have done it and still am at it.

Jun 12, 2015 11:53 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Not in real estate

Apr 28, 2018 07:44 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,308
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Yes and I did it...twice!

Jun 13, 2015 01:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Been there, done that more than once...now that the urge is satisfied, being in this business is as independent as I wish to be. 

Jun 13, 2015 12:11 PM
Rainmaker
699,277
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

Maybe if I lived in a tiny little vacation town.

Jun 13, 2015 11:46 AM
Rainmaker
4,175,479
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Debbie, several times I researched to form open my own office, then I realized it will not work.

Jun 13, 2015 10:35 AM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Not anymore....Been there, Done That.

Jun 13, 2015 10:02 AM
Rainmaker
280,599
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

I agree with Barbara.  Oh. Hell. No.

Jun 13, 2015 07:49 AM
Rainmaker
634,532
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

I've had my own company for over 20 years and my boss never gives me any time off. 

Jun 13, 2015 07:07 AM
Rainmaker
970,983
Frank Rubi
Frank Rubi Real Estate, LLC - Metairie, LA
FrankRubiRealEstate.com

I have been on my own since 2007. I would not have any other way. It is what you want. 

Jun 13, 2015 04:45 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,773
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Yes, I do, Debbie Reynolds .

(And my broker-owner is not on ActiveRain......lol!)

Jun 13, 2015 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
4,272,934
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I have however each time i do i remember my corporate life where I worked 18 hours a day babysitting 300+ employees. I then feel blessed to be where I am..

Jun 13, 2015 04:26 AM
Rainer
216,904
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

I ran a multi-million dollar company years back for someone else, so fine now running my own independent agent business; working for someone else who handles the managing broker responsibilities. 

Jun 13, 2015 04:13 AM
Rainmaker
38,609
Holleay Parcker - Spinnaker Realty - Serving Clients From Corolla to Hatteras
SPINNAKER REALTY LLC - Kitty Hawk, NC
With 14 Yrs Experience in Outer Banks Real Estate

Yes, I started my own company in 2004.  I love the flexibility and freedom it affords me...my office line is permanently forwarded to my cell phone, so I never miss a call, no matter where I am.  At this point, the idea of having to work for someone else makes my skin crawl.

Jun 13, 2015 03:35 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,132
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I think if I were my own boss, I'd probably quit!

Jun 13, 2015 03:27 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,177
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I like to visit family in India so I like the fact that I am not a Broker owner.

Jun 13, 2015 03:22 AM
Rainmaker
212,755
Stefan Winter
Real Estate in IL & NV | Owner of Real Estate Web Tech | Daily Vlogger - Las Vegas, NV
Owner - Winter Group & Real Estate Web Tech

Done it several times, real estate was kind of my springboard of Independence then followed by my own consulting company, followed by my own education company. 

Lot's of work, but would not change it for a "job" ever.

Jun 13, 2015 02:39 AM
Rainmaker
1,241,754
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Debbie,

Are you kidding? Don't want that kind of hassle...

Jun 13, 2015 01:54 AM