By: C. Michelle Bryant as told by Benita Bradley
If you know Benita Bradley, you know she “LOVES LOVE!” In an extraordinary way, Benita Bradley and Company began in 2007 when Benita, an office manager at a local landscaping company, became a notary public to assist in her daily job duties. It was also during that year the collapse of the housing market caused the company to close, resulting in Benita being laid off. The entrepreneur spirit in Benita knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to start “working from home.” So she looked at her skills and trade understanding in her “experience toolbox” and utilizing her notary public experience decided to market herself as a mobile notary public. Much to her surprise, Benita managed to keep her days busy as a signing agent. Although busy, Benita knew this would not sustain her livelihood. As she puts it, she “wanted bill money, not lunch money.”
Benita, with more planning and research, decided to start Benita Bradley and
Co., a legal support service company offering mobile notary services, process serving and field investigations. Benita continuously expressed to her husband that she wanted him to leave his day job to work with her. She wanted him to have the luxury of being his own boss too. And in 2011 when his employer decided to move the company back to Chicago it was perfect timing for him to join Benita in her entrepreneur quest. So they decided to add courier services under the umbrella of Benita Bradley & Co. Their first company vehicle, a minivan, was purchased. Since then, the courier service has grown to a division of its own with independent contractor drivers and a fleet of vehicles.
With Benita’s husband, Stacey, by her side the company growth tripled, so to stay in compliance with state and federal laws, Events by Benita was born in 2013. Benita had been performing weddings since 2010 and knew solely offering wedding officiant services would not be profitable enough to create a business, so she added additional services, such as event coordinating and supply rentals.
Events by Benita is Benita’s passion profession, whereas Benita Bradley and Co. is her bread-and-butter business. When you walk into her event space you can tell she loves what she does. Every time you enter, it is decorated differently or she has added something new to her “host collection,” an assortment of supplies, accessories and items set aside for event hosts to utilize during their gatherings to add that special touch. When we asked Benita her favorite part of the job she said without hesitation: “Creating happy endings.” But then added, “I could do without some of the bridezillas though,” she giggled.
Since becoming two separate companies in 2013, Benita has personally officiated more than 280 weddings throughout South Carolina from the spur-of-the-moment A.C. Moore parking lot and a quick run to the rest stop at Interstate 26 to the McDonald’s parking lot at the navy base where many sailors have their fiancées meet for a quick wedding before they ship out to her performing a fancy beach or elegant harbor cruise wedding. But her favorite ones are the KISS (keep it simple and sweet) weddings!
Events by Benita hosts more than 10 events a month and three to four weddings a week, as well as the full-time job of legal support services. Benita is currently working on her newest project “Time for Two,” which includes couple activities, workshops and retreats. She is the author of two books, “Marriage Matters: A Pre-Marriage Workbook” and “Marriage Matters: Time for Two.”
Benita Bradley and Co. services all of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, offering reliable, affordable legal
For legal support services and courier services, contact: www.benitabradley.com. For event space, wedding services or supply rentals got to: www.eventsbybenita.com.