When is the Right Time to Take the Leap?

Starting your own business can be the biggest moment in one’s life. It can also be the most stressful. Some take a crack at it fresh out of college, some work their way through a company and some wait until the time is just right. Timing is everything, and depending on the individual, timing is crucial. For Dana Hunter, franchisee with Oil & Vinegar, starting her own business wasn’t her first choice. The timing wasn’t right. So she became a dental assistant and after 30 years of working in the field, she found the excitement and challenges were fading. “My children were grown, and myself not being old enough to retire, I wanted to do something totally different,” she said. “With my husband by my side, we were in pursuit for a challenge for me, and we found it!” Starting a business may sound like an exciting idea, but there are tough decisions to be made before signing the dotted line. Where would they start their business? How will the customers react in a tough economy? Dana and her husband Terry mulled it over and over, spending countless hours dissecting the pros and cons of becoming entrepreneurs. “My husband and I started this venture together. He and my children have been very supportive throughout the entire process,” she said. “A few of my family and friends questioned why we were making such a leap of faith in this economy, but the answer was always the same. We won’t know unless we try.” So with the support of her husband and family, Dana did some research, found a business she could be passionate about, and took the leap of faith. “My ‘A-HA moment’ was when we visited some other Oil & Vinegar franchises and saw how wonderful the products were, and how different the concept was. I knew that Asheville, being a foodie town, would embrace and support us. I was correct, this was for me! Oil & Vinegar is my passion.”