Back in 1997 I started a small business. I had been previously working at the local Mazda dealership and was making pretty good money. Around November of 1996 the ownership changed and they started cutting the technicians. Of course that time of year is when business slows down and they felt because I was "single" that I was their choice of personnel to let go. It didn't have anything to do with my performance, just that I was not supporting a family. I know...... Anyhow, it gave me the push I needed to start trying to figure out how to do this for myself.
I had most of the tools , I thought, to work on the vehicles but I would need a place to setup shop. I looked and looked and finally came across a large industrial park not too far from home and central in the city. Albeit not the nicest neighborhood, but still it was what I thought I could afford. Once I signed the lease then the wheels really started turning. I was to specialize in one line of car and be in direct competition with the two dealers in town.
First specializing is most important as you don't have to have multiple specialty tools, manual, etc. So I went down to the local Kinko's, if you remember those....a had 1000 flyer's made up targeting only those people that owned Mazda vehicles. I went downtown and put them on every Mazda I could find, I went to the baseball field, the library, the state workers parking lots.
I didn't have an automotive lift starting out but that would end up being my first goal. Working on the ground is 3 times as hard on your body as is working under a lift. Within 6 months I was able to pay cash through a local equipment supplier. It was now mine. Now I was able to work 3 times as fast.
The first couple of months you can imagine I was usually staring at the wall and wondering when the calls would start. One by one and before you know it I was adding a second line and voicemail. Word of mouth is the best advertising you can ever have. I did pay for an ad in the yellow pages but it never yielded much business. Probably because it was so small. Waste of money.
Most people think you have to start a business with a lot of money, I disagree to a point. I started with $1580.00 cash. I never financed anything, paid my credit cards off in full each month, paid vendors off every month, paid utilities on time.
I had hired a few folks along the way but most never worked out as they lacked the ability to get to work on time , family problems, substance abuse. So I gave up trying to expand the business and just be happy with what I make and all the customers I have helped over the years. I'm not your typical mechanic that just fixes cars, I give advice on many automotive situations, such as should I buy a new car? The answers really come down to what is in the customers best interest.
It's been twenty years in business for myself, and during that time I have made a lot of good acquaintances and even made time to get a degree in Industrial Technology BS. Though I will probably never use, its nice to know its there if I need it. Because in the end there is nothing like working for yourself and have the freedom to call your own shots!! Once you get over the fear of failure, well I proof it works! Good luck and if you need any other pointers on how to start a small business I'm willing to help you all out.... Obviously there is a lot of experiences here that have not even been talked about in this brief. So that's a little bit about a me.