Unlike many other jobs, moving a farrier practice to a new area is not a cut-and-dry process. In the corporate white-collar world, moving to a new location may not be an easy choice, but the process is easily coordinated. Whether these workers take a new job or are transferred, many companies will cover moving expenses. Perhaps more importantly, the new job and its salary are awaiting the worker in the new town.

As self-employed people, we likely don’t have that luxury when we relocate. Instead, we are forced to take a different, more planned route. I’ve had the experience on both ends — from my years in the military and my career as a farrier. The planning from my current transition can benefit any farrier who is considering or must move.

There is a tremendous amount of thought that goes into the decision whether to move. Before you consider moving, you have to ask yourself if the “bang is worth the buck.” If the decision is “made,” such as a spouse taking a more beneficial job, then that question is obviously already answered.

However, if the decision is yours to make at your own prompting, you should identify clear benefits of moving. Whether the reasons include a warmer winter, the chance to make more money or work with higher end horses, it should make sense to you and be easy to justify to yourself. Furthermore, these can’t be hopes — these must be established goals that rely on several variables…