I'm currently dissatisfied with my job as a microbiologist in a relatively small industrial testing lab. This has led to me pursuing other options.

One option I'm considering is opening up my own lab. But I really want to jump in on the market for offering testing for PFAS chemicals as I live in a region of the United States where people are just now starting to become aware that their drinking water is likely contaminated.

However, from what I've been able to glean, detection of PFAS is done using HPLC and I am over a decade removed from my brief use of an HPLC in graduate school. So offering a test and potentially getting a new lab certified for that will be difficult if I'm also trying to remember how to run a sample through the machine or troubleshoot potential issues.

My spouse has suggested that I go back to school and in fact a local university looks to have some great advisors in environmental chemistry, which is right where I'd want to be.

So my question is this:

-Do I just take a couple classes as a non-degree seeking student to refamiliarize myself with HPLC and take away only what I need to eventually expand my company?
-Do I enroll as a non-thesis Masters and take more classes while remaining employed at my current job while waiting for my baby company to get off the ground?
-Do a thesis masters (probably focusing on PFAS) and leave my current job?
-Go all the way and get a PhD in environmental chemistry and use the degree to lend even more weight to my expertise as the owner?

Either way, I have the support of my spouse. I just... I have no idea which path would be the best. I suppose either of them will work but I'm agonizing over this decision.