Dave:
Hey everyone, Dave here with another episode of the Philly TechConnect podcast. Today I’m speaking with Denny Bohs. Denny is the founder of Bohs LLC, which was launched in 2016 with a focus on helping customers be successful in their technology environment. He’s been on his own for, it seems like over eight years or so. So we’re going to hear a little bit about his journey, working with different software development projects, agile, scrum mastering, on the ups and downs of doing his own thing, and the decision-making that came about from that. Denny, how are you doing today?
Denny:
Great. Thanks for having me. It’s a pleasure.
Dave:
Always nice to connect with another Philadelphian in the tech space and hear about their journey, what they’ve been up to. Tell us a little bit about your life before Bohs LLC, when you were working in maybe a more traditional corporate environment or what it was like before you went out on your own.
Denny:
Sure. I’m one of those guys who got a college degree and then never actually used what I went and got the degree in. I started off initially in financial services, and then in really late 1999, early 2000, I made a complete and total jump and started working for a company in technology. I had no idea what I was doing, and so that was a leap of faith for me. I was fortunately paired up with some good people who taught me a lot. And ever since then, I’ve really been working in mostly software-as-a-service organizations and helping with building different products. So, I’ve hit a few different markets. I’ve spent a lot of time in the K-12 edtech sector and also worked in a lot of other markets.
It’s funny when you mentioned that I founded Bohs LLC in 2016. That was initially just supposed to be part-time as I was doing other things. But then about two years later, I found myself out of work, took on a contract, and it became my full-time venture. So, that’s really how I got here.
Dave:
Very cool. It was originally a side hustle and eventually you found yourself laid off. Now, even though you had Bohs LLC running, you still could have looked for another job and kept it as a side hustle. What made you decide to go full-time?
Denny:
Honestly, I used to have a fear of contract work because I thought contracts were like cotton candy—it could just disappear so fast, and you have no control over it. I found myself going through a period where I’d been laid off. I went to work for a place, was there for six months, and they laid off a third of the company. I went to another place, stayed for a little while, and then another round of layoffs happened. So, I began to realize that whether you’re working full-time or on contract, things can disappear just as easily. That got me over my fear of contract work. I figured if I could lose a full-time job just as easily, I might as well try the contract path.
I stumbled into my first full-time contract, which was about three months, and it worked out well. From there, I just kept going and got more comfortable with it. I’ve enjoyed it ever since.
Dave:
Nice. And when you say Pennsylvania is an “at-will” state, that means the employee relationship is at-will, and either party can leave or separate at any point for almost any reason, as long as it’s not discriminatory, right?
Denny:
Yes, exactly. There are some states where it’s a little more formal with contracts, and if you’re laid off, there have to be certain steps taken. Or if you’re part of a union, there’s more structure. But in Pennsylvania, if you’re working a regular corporate job, typically the tradition is you give two weeks’ notice when you leave, and hopefully, if your employer has integrity, they’ll give you notice if they’re going to lay you off. But neither is legally required.
Dave:
Yeah, it’s an interesting insight. There’s this assumption that traditional 9-to-5 work is more secure, but we’re seeing tech layoffs all the time, even at well-known companies. It’s not black and white that one is secure and the other isn’t. So, when you started Bohs and were responsible for acquiring clients and setting up standards for the business, what were some of the challenges or surprises that came your way?
Denny:
Well, I didn’t really know what I was doing at first. When I started doing it full-time, I made a lot of assumptions upfront. For example, I created the company as an LLC but didn’t think much beyond that. I realized I needed to know what I was doing when it came to taxes, and luckily, I connected with a great accountant who specializes in small companies and freelancers. He helped me restructure things, saving me about $15,000 or $16,000 in taxes that first year. That was a huge eye-opener.
Another lesson was keeping an eye on what’s next. You have a contract now, but what’s coming after it? I initially used freelance marketplaces to find work and gradually started reaching into my own network.
Dave:
Yeah, great advice. I think many of us feel comfortable about the service we’re delivering but are less experienced with taxes, legal issues, and entity structures. Sounds like finding the right advisors early on helped you avoid some critical mistakes, right?
Denny:
Oh yeah. And I had to deal with other things too, like transitioning health insurance from the federal marketplace to the state one. When I was employed full-time, all of this was handled by HR. But now, it’s all on me. You have to find contracts, handle benefits, figure out taxes, and adjust your rates to account for all of this.
Dave:
Yeah, it’s a lot. People often paint entrepreneurship as glamorous, but it’s not always like that—especially at first. When you look at all the backend work, you start to realize the actual cost of running the business. That’s why pricing your services appropriately is so important.
Denny:
Exactly. I had to learn to charge enough to cover all my costs—equipment, office space, insurance, everything. Initially, I was worried about charging too much, but I had to remind myself that this is the cost of doing business. You don’t want to work and lose money at the same time.
Dave:
Yeah, it’s a balancing act. Nevertheless, you’ve been running Bohs LLC for over eight years, which is commendable. Are you looking for new opportunities, or are you continuing with Bohs?
Denny:
That’s a great question. Lately, the market has been tough. I had a contract last fall, and another one that fell through, so I’ve been scrambling a bit. Some of the rates I’ve seen are a lot lower than they were a few years ago, which makes it harder to continue at the same pace. I’m open to both contract work and full-time roles. It’s about finding the right fit—culture, values, and mission are all important to me, not just the paycheck.
Dave:
I love your emphasis on finding the right fit. It’s not just about the rate; the intangibles matter. Hopefully, someone listening believes they could benefit from your expertise. How can they get in touch with you?
Denny:
You can visit my website at bohs.us. My contact info is there, and you can also schedule time with me directly. I’d love to chat and share what I’ve learned.
Dave:
Cheers. Thanks so much for being on the show, Denny.
Denny:
Absolutely. Thanks for having me.