Jen launched Bumblebee Linens during her pregnancy with her first baby. This was after she quit the job of a financial analyst that required her to be in meetings all day, from early in the morning with her European company team through late at night with her Asian team.

Steve and she had previously sold excess handkerchiefs they bought as favors at their wedding. They decided that an identical ecommerce venture would make a great way to generate additional income. To order several hundred handkerchiefs, as well as a camera and digital to take photos of them, the initial investment was $600.

Jen tells Jen that $5,000 was the initial goal of her business. “At that time I thought, ‘If you can just pay the bills, that would really be amazing. 

Bumblebee Linens was quickly growing and, in just five years, had grown from a couple’s garage to a warehouse area with two employees. Bumblebee Linens has a turnover of $1million annually, and Jen takes home about half.

Jen and Steve are both employed at Bumblebee linens. However, the two share very different responsibilities. Jen manages the day-to-day business operations of Bumblebee Linens and oversees orders, packaging, shipping, and embroidery. Steve is responsible for all marketing. 

Steve states, “The way it is now is really great.” We don’t cross each other’s paths. Each of us has full control of our domain. 

Steve’s responsibilities include Bumblebee Linens. Steve also worked 13 years on My Wife Quit Her Job. This was a project that he began after receiving endless questions and comments from coworkers and friends about Jen and how they built an online business. He was previously an engineer director in electrical, but he decided to devote his time full-time to writing.

You will find a variety of tutorials on building an online business as well as podcast episodes and video tutorials. Steve offers lifetime access to his customers for $1,900 instead of charging for each course, or for a monthly membership.

While he believes his price point equals six to eight month’s worth of competitor access, he would rather get his money upfront. He adds that offering customers lifetime access helps him grow his subscribers base. 

Steve says, “I think if my students succeed, I will become more successful.” They are successful and I boast about it, which leads to more business. 

Apart from membership sales, the blog also earns income via advertising affiliate revenue, sponsorships, and an annual in-person event in ecommerce. The total revenue is approximately $1 million annually. Steve keeps half.

Below are the monthly costs for the couple in November 2021

Jen and Steve spend approximately 20 hours a week working at their businesses. Steve finishes his work at 12:30, which leaves him plenty of time to drive full-time Uber for his kids, he says.

Jen volunteers in the student entrepreneurship program at her daughter’s school. Jen also spends free time there. Jen says that this freedom is extremely satisfying. I’m able do what I love while also being a huge part of my kids’ education.

Jen is so happy with her flexibility that Bumblebee Linens has not grown as quickly as she would like.

Her words are: “When our company was growing rapidly, it was creating a lot more headaches. And honestly, the job wasn’t something I wanted to do at all.” “We’d have to find a bigger office, hire more workers, and do more stuff that I didn’t want to without making a sacrifice in our daily lives.”

Steve on the other side is open to growth. Steve currently has approximately 5,000 subscribers, and is eager to grow his number every day.

Steve says, “With my wife quitting her job, we sell digital goods.” Because we don’t have anything physical to ship, it is much simpler to scale and grow that.