Donald Bonillas was a retired insurance salesman when he decided to re-enter the work world.</p><p>"One year of retirement and I got bored. So I started looking for a small business to get into," the 66-year-old said.</p><p>After exploring several business options, Bonillas discovered he wanted to go back to work, but he didn't want a job that took up all of his time.</p><p>Bonillas became a Liberty Tax Service franchise owner.</p><p>"This business allows me to work hard for four months a year. Eight months I can take it easy," Bonillas said. "It gives me more time to be retired again."</p><p>His business opened on the 1300 block of Sixth Street earlier this month, just in time for tax season.</p><p>Bonillas has 16 employees and plans to avoid long waits by serving clients as they walk in the door.</p><p>A big part of his enthusiasm for Liberty Tax Service is his admiration for its founder John T. Hewitt, who started the business in 1997. Hewitt worked for H&R Block and is the cofounder of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.</p><p>"After sitting through his initial presentations, I can see, and he says so, 'if you follow me you're going to succeed.' He says if you stray you're probably not going to be successful," Bonillas said.</p><p>Bonillas refers to Hewitt as a "marketing genius." In his office he has several pamphlets describing methods owners can use to bring in clients for their Liberty Tax Service franchises. One of Bonillas' favorites is having a person twirl a sign on a street corner. Other strategies include providing discounts for referrals and offering free preparation services to different professions during portions of tax season.</p><p>As an insurance man there was more security than Bonillas enjoys now, but he didn't have as much freedom.</p><p>"I wasn't an independent contractor. I couldn't hire who I wanted. I couldn't fire who I wanted. I just came to work everyday," he said. "This way I have control."</p><p>Bonillas said the tax-business itself is recession-proof.</p><p>"Everyone's got to do their taxes whether they like it or not," he said.</p><p>Bonillas said because the business is not labor intensive he believes he can continue to do it through the next decade. But, he said, there's also the option of getting out of it if 10 years turns out to be a little too long.</p><p>"If its successful in three or four years I could sell it and make some money," Bonillas said. "That's my logic. In three or four years if I'm ready to retire again, I haven't lost any money."</p><p><i>Enterprise staff writer Corey Pride can be reached at 388-6563.</i>