 Reynolds left what many would consider to be a "job for life" in the state company and moved into the showband scene, coming to own a number of dance halls in his local area.He became wealthy from this venture during the 1960s, when dance halls proved extremely popular, and invested his money in a number of businesses including a pet food company, a bacon factory, a fish-exporting operation and a hire purchase company.Reynolds also had business interests in local newspapers and a cinema.