Thanks Rambo. Yes, initially, all I want to do is bank an extra $1,000 - $2,000 a month, and pay off all my unsecured debt. With that done, I will have other options.

But, if the business grows, then I can do other things, and financially get away from having to solely rely on my current career to singlulary support my lifestyle. There are a lot of niche businesses that don't require a large time investment.

I told you guys about the one dude I used to work with. I forgot about the other guy (the one who used to mow my lawn, actually). He works at Frito-Lay in Plano, but he has his own lawn service. He started off as a hobby (nights & weekends) and eventually ramped up his business/ Now he has 4 vans, and 8 employees out doing his lawn business for him while he and his wife works full time. The money come to him, and he pays his employees directly. He may not be making a HUGE amount of money, but his "hobby" gave 8 other people jobs, and brings him in extra cash every month. He is debt free... In some cases, $2,000 - $3,000 a month free and clear can be lifestyle changing money.

I know a lady with a HS education only, can't turn on her computer without the manual, but she makes $150,000/year. She works 7 AM - 5 PM, and never walks out of her house, other than the check the mail.

It's doable. I guess it just takes the cajones to take the risk.

When I find my risk-taking cajones, I'll report back.

 

Old Dogg, your head lights are SICK... Where did you find that set up?

Our truck is coming up on lease-end. If we decide to keep it (and it's looking that way) I want to "G" it up a little bit. I think those headlights would be a great beginning. I've always been a fan of the Speed grill, had one on my previous trucks- never took the plunge on this one.

 

Internet. Viral marketing. ~$200 start up ~$100 monthly Income depends on how hard you want to work. My good friend is about to bring his wife home for good and him with in a year or so. All because he is willing to dedicate 10-15 hours a week. They are 28. His "mentor" is retired making well over $100,000 a year (residual income). He is helping me get going.

 

As a succesful business owner for thirty somthing years, I can say first hand the the rewards are great but the downfalls are greater. I started my upholstery shop in the late 70's and was quite succesful from the start. It took a lot of hard work and many hours per week but it's been worth it. I've been through one reccesion already and made it OK. About 10 years ago I expanded it to include aircraft interiors and also bought a small plane for the business. It was a wise decision and has added a great deal to my income............untill now. The bottom has fallen out of every business and I'm no exception. I've taken a big hit in the aircraft industry and the street rods as well. Seems nobody is investing their money in fixing them up right now. I'll get by but it's a struggle as one can imagine. So one this note, if you have a decent job, keep it for now and when the economy turns around then think about opening up a business. Right now, there's too many things against you and failure is not what you need. Just my .02

 

^^ I agree. Whats your shop called ? If ya don't mind me asking. Your up north right ?

 

my suggestion.
get in the need, not the want business,
try to do business to business transactions, dealing with individuals is not fun

ever stop to think how much the guy makes that supplies toilet papaer or coffee to a factory or chemical plant?

think of all the friends you have and there positions, if any are in purchasing brain storm with them about what they buy and who they buy from. establish a website that portrays you as a larger company than you are and get set-up to take credit cards.

dont quit your job. plenty can be done on a cell phone and at night. stagger your vacation so that you can make sales calls if needed.
cut back on your life style and allow the business time to get its legs.

one last thing, come lunch time i can always guess that the pipe dreamer will be calling. try and make business calls at break time, in business to business transaction, nothing says part time like calling at lunch, in 22 year i have never got a nice job from a lunch time call. in business to business you never want a large company to know you are a 1 man show.

 

How many people are going to spend extra money right now for someone else to cut their grass?
Not too many!

How many people are going to fix up their old car instead of buying new ones right now?
More than most!
MercedesTech is in the right business for the times.

 

It's The Recovery Shop and i'm out of Jackson.

 

i started my own hvac buisiness 5 yrs ago and am quite successful ,yes-when owning a buisiness you have no free time, i picked hvac as i have 22yrs in the field, also-pick a buisiness that is based on necessity vs a luxury, ie-people can't do w/o heat in the winter or older folks can't deal with the heat in the summer, but they can do w/o someone detailing their cars, cutting their grass.hope this helps-phil

 

In these times, everyone is hurting, myself included. People would prefer to fix cars over buying new ones, true, but many people would rather let the car limp around town vs. repair it. Many people are shying away from preventative maintenance, and simply coming in when the absoluetly have no choice. Even that isn't always true. We have a few customers with some minor issues (one of them doesn't have a reverse gear anymore in the trans) and they just seem to get by. She knows not to put herself somewhere where she must back out. People will do what they gotta to get by.

As for finding a job people "need" ?? Thats going to be hard. What do people actually need ?

 

what do people actually need-ill give ya 3 in their homes
electricity-"electrician"
plumbing line cleaned out "plumber"
heat in the winter "hvac"
this is what i meant by a needed service vs a luxury service,i picked the right one, with this being my 5th yr in buisiness,i grossed so far 1 million in gross revenue with 21 days left to the yr,i guarantee that wouldn't be the case if i was selling truck accesories. landscaping, or auto detailing

 

not to high jack the thread but..

openclasspro, i see you have a 08 and 09 450r, which one do you like the most.
i have 2 friend , one has an 06 450r and my other friend has an 08 and i love the 08. the power hit is smoother and i can simply ride the 08 a little faster for a longer period of time. i have heard good and bad about the 09.

 

Ya, i gotcha. And I pretty much agree with ya 100%, but just to throw it out there: when times are tough, how bad do you NEED electricity ? How bad do you NEED indoor plumbing ? These are all luxury items we have simply grown accustomed to having over the years.

You'd think someone who drives would NEED a reverse gear, but I have a customer who doesn't have one.

There is always another option, thats all I am saying.

But yes, being in a service business vs. aftermarket items is what keeps us a float. But, there are plenty of plumbing shops, auto shops, cabinet makers, roofers, etc etc etc losing there jobs. No job is "safe" in these bad times except maybe repo men and a select few other jobs, but they wont be booming when things turn around.

Your job isn't booming simply because of the kind of work you do, but rather the quality. You obviously got something going for you, and people like you and your work. You are in the type of job, that can ride out this downtime, by relying on your work, the quality and your reputation. It doesn't hurt that what you do is a service for amenities not limited to a few, but rather used by the masses. Also, you said you have been in the business for years, right ? Thats another key factor in starting a business IMO. Didn't catch where your located either, but I would guess, since you list hvac as a need, its somewhere COLD, right ? Another thing helping your cause. But don't fool yourself, its not just finding the right type of business, but the quality you put out, and all that goes along with building a customer base. Obviously you got that part down. And congrats on a successful business venture.

sorry for the rambling, just got caught up I guess.

 

i will give you some need industries,

cemetery and funeral homes, while it is true people will cut back, they will still have to do business with you.

how about diapers and baby formula

how about something to do with sewer and water supply.

schools, school supply

taxes, everyone must pay them

jails, last i heard population was not down at the local jails

vehicle inspections and car insurance

traffic signals

EPA, OSHA mandated rules for the handling of chemical and job safety

 

Thanks Bighersh...
Not sure if you got this reply but...


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