[Chevelle-list] O/T business

[Devin]

Harlan-  I’ll throw my 2 cents in the pot as well.  

 

After having worked in the auto industry doing repairs for the last 15
years, in March of 05 my wife and I bought a parts store.  It was small and
locally owned.  I had been doing business with the owner for years and
trusted him.  Long story short, we had to close the doors in Feb of this
year (07.)  In order to buy it we had refinanced our house, and took out
additional loans.  We lost our asses.  

 

I went back to wrenching in Aug of 06 just to put food on the table.  The
wife continued to run the store for another 6 months until we found a buyer
for our inventory.  Even then, they only bought about 80% of our inventory
and paid us 60% of our cost on it.  That was the best deal we could find.

 

On the flip side, since then, because it was needed, I’ve taken on side jobs
at home.  I have more work lined up than I ever have time to do it.  I have
to tell people in the beginning it takes me longer than a shop down the
street, but when it leaves it’s done right, and I work at about ½ the local
hourly rate.  This business has cost me nearly nothing to run, since I
already have a set of tools at home, in addition to the better ones at work.

 

Basically, if you can do this with little or no start-up money, and
absolutely no loans, go for it.  You’re taking on a big risk to go into
business for yourself, but you have a chance to make much better money than
working for somebody else.

 

Devin

 

   _____  

From: chevelle-list-bounces at chevelles.net
[mailto:chevelle-list-bounces at chevelles.net] On Behalf Of HarKemAsso at aol.com
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 3:14 PM
To: Chevelle-list at chevelles.net
Subject: [Chevelle-list] O/T business

 

Since its slow, I thought I would ask, I have been out of work since 3-07
and have applied at over 190 places, (and the electric company and others
are ruthless-wanting to shut me off) I used to work at car dealers mainly
doing warranty claims, I am desperately trying to get out of this,(kind of
cut throat) and was wondering if anyone had any tips about starting your own
business? I kind of have a side line but its mostly friends who want stuff
done for cheap.
I want to do restoration work (which I am familiar) but would also like to
do street rods, fabrication, suspension, engine installs. And was thinking
of hiring someone for this--
my main worries are how to get that first customer? advertise? where?? (a
friend of mine has his own business and his advertising rarely brings in new
customers, its mostly word of mouth)
and I am in need of some equipment-do I take out a loan??
any opinions would be appreciated.

Harlan
HYPERLINK
"http://hometown.aol.com/harkem123/HarlanKemperAssociatesindex.html"http://h
ometown.aol.com/harkem123/HarlanKemperAssociatesindex.html 


**************************************
See AOL's top rated recipes
(http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

 

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1185 - Release Date: 12/15/2007
12:00 PM


No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.17.2/1185 - Release Date: 12/15/2007
12:00 PM
 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://chevelles.net/pipermail/chevelle-list_chevelles.net/attachments/20071216/b91d7bca/attachment.html