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As Jacquie and Todd Golbus, both 48, faced becoming empty nesters, they knew exactly what they wanted to do with all that free time: start some type of business. They sat down at their kitchen table in Charlotte, North Carolina, to weigh options. A restaurant? Too volatile. What about a franchise? Too many rules. Eventually, they hit upon the sign business, and saw not only the promise of a $123 billion industry, but also a way to nurture their own creativity. They co-founded Carolina Signs and Wonders in February 2020, with Jacquie the accountant at the helm as CEO and Todd, with his Six Sigma certification, handling operations. Jacquie never anticipated how quickly the industry would heat up. --As told to Melissa Angell

"You don't realize all the signage around you, from car wraps to business signs or retail shops. Somebody has to make it, sell it, install it, and work on it. Todd always says that you need a sign to start a business, go out of business, and everything in between.

"We've always had an interest in working with our hands. We ended up buying into an owner's network called Signworld, an alliance that helps people get started. We don't have annual dues, but we have a lifetime of support.

"But it took a lot--our time, our retirement savings, blood, sweat, and tears. We started with just the printer, laminator, and plotter. Several months in, we purchased a laser, a CNC router, and a paint system from a local sign company that was going out of business. I've taken over the printing room and currently do most of the vinyl production.

"We did not think we would need a larger facility for years to come, but we outgrew our first space after about nine months. Now we're in a 10,000-square-foot warehouse on two acres. We've done some really big signs.

"It's a high-error industry, though. It's pretty much putting out fires--sometimes literally. There was a sign that caught on fire once. We had nothing to do with this sign, but we were brought in to help determine what caused the fire and help the insurance company determine ways to replace it.

"I don't see the market really slowing down. We don't set sales goals for our people; we just answer the phone and educate people. People will call and say, 'How much is a sign?' Todd likes to say, 'How long is a rope?' We've kind of been along for the ride to see where it goes.

"It's exciting to drive around Charlotte and point to signs and say, 'We did that.' We like to take rides in the evenings and go see our signs that are lit up at night."

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