Before you start your business, stop & think

NY detailer · 02-02-03, 07:20

Some things to think about before you start your own business. Not everything is on the good side, as today I had the day from hell.

All 3 workers called out. 2 of them play football for highschool and had a breakfast to attent. The other one's mother did not want him to work today due to weather.
What does this mean as an employer, it means I needed to get my butt out of bed 2hrs earlier as i was going to wash 45 vans by myself today.
I started at 8am and finished at 1:25. I am in so much pain right now. It all hurts from the shoulders down.

Now i had to come home and do the books for the month of Jan.
I so did not want to do this, but it needs to be done.

Next i had to go and pick up supplies that body shops ordered from me, to deliver tomorrow.

It just seems to never end.

Owning a business is great and I encourage everyone to try to start one, but be ready for what comes along with the business. It is not always fun & game but lots of over time.

Intel486 · 02-02-03, 08:19

wow! 45 vans in one day by yourself!

Do you make your employees tell you they will be out before they are out? Most businesses I know only allow people to call in sick a few times before they are out of there.

billium · 02-02-03, 09:58

Boy, what you said!

I was the senior lending officer in a commercial bank for a number of years. I can't begin to count the number of times I'd have individuals apply for business loans to start a new business. When we'd discuss backgrounds, knowledge of the business they were starting, etc., too many times I would get some variation of this theme:

"I want to be my own boss, make my own decisions, set my own hours, take time off when I want to", etc., etc., etc. Usually, the best side of being a business owner.

To the best of my recollection, not even one time did the conversation go like this:

I want to be responsible for all problems, whether I caused them or not, I want to be the first to work and the last to leave, I want to have to fire bad employees, some who I personally like, I can't wait to have to explain to my spouse why we have to cancel our vacation AGAIN or why we need to take out a second mortgage for new equipment, I really enjoy telling customers that I can't do another job for them until they clear up payment for the last two.

It is very difficult to explain to people the realities and "dues that have to be paid" to get to the better parts of owning a business.

Bill

P.S. - I had a friend who was a small business owner who had a sign behind his desk that said something like "The buck stops here, whether I want it to or not". Sounds like you can relate.

lalaland · 02-02-03, 10:28

Look on the bright side: The money that should have went to the employees now goes in your pocket. Ka-ching!

Scottwax · 02-02-03, 10:40

In addition, make sure before you get into the detailing business that all the cars you do will not be like the well taken care of cars that you and your close friends own. My regulars have nice clean cars to begin with, but some who are first time customers or just casual customers don't take such good care of their cars.

Vomit, fecal matter (we can say that right? It isn't a brand name), urine, blood, grease, rotting food, mold, etc are all disgusting things I've had to clean up after.

Dr. Jones · 02-03-03, 12:03

NYD, if i ever happen to move to NY, (or you change your name to COD

) you know i'll work for ya. I might not be as good with the buffer as Jason, but I don't play sports, or have much else besides school for that mater. A job like that would hardly be work.

I'm starting to really think about the business side of things. Not for the typical reasons, but with the way the job market is, when i get out of school in 1.5 years with my Computer Science degree, there is a fairly good chance that i won't be able to find a job that pays well. So if i have to just do some contract work or something, i'll end up owning a detailing shop to provide most my income. There is no way i'm going to get that degree and go work at Target (like one of the guy's i know.. he's a manager but still). I could probably at least find some good ways to combine my love for programming with detailing.

Fallguy · 02-03-03, 08:01

NY ,
You know I can understand those problem's . I have the same type of situation in the field I'm in right now. I sell the product,but have a issue with some of the people involved in the process. Some folk's don't have the pride in what they do nor do they want to take responsibilty. I have been in this business for 25 year's & I know it inside & out ,make great money & have great benefit's & perk's,but you know I'm not happy doing what I'm doing anymore and that make's all the difference in the world when you look at a problem as a pain in the *** or a challange to overcome. Everything and bus. will have it's problem's the key is enjoying your business & loving what you do and the reward's will all on it's own by your passion for your business.

I am looking into a business also. Possibly in this field(car care) with a website for product's or a detail center. But just looking and talking to people & vendor's and exploring my options. I can teel you that in doing this it light's fire's under me that I hav'nt felt in a while.

Good Luck bud

Fall

Nagchampa · 02-03-03, 08:23

Excellent post NYD! I think that people should also realize that it takes a very long time before the work becomes rewarding. You do not become instantly successfull even if you are good at what you do. A good friend of mine owned a business with a partner (big mistake) who didn't seem to understand that point. My friend eventually left the partnership and the business lasted about 3 more months.

Intel486 · 02-03-03, 02:22

Quote:

Originally posted by billium
I want to be responsible for all problems, whether I caused them or not, I want to be the first to work and the last to leave, I want to have to fire bad employees, some who I personally like, I can't wait to have to explain to my spouse why we have to cancel our vacation AGAIN or why we need to take out a second mortgage for new equipment, I really enjoy telling customers that I can't do another job for them until they clear up payment for the last two.

If someone actually said that to you, then what would you have done?

detailbarn · 02-03-03, 02:37

That's the exact reason I don't have any employee's. I enjoy my work so much better now that it's just me doing the actual work. My wife helps with the operations and I may add a mobile guy to my business but he'll be a partner not an employee.

Luster · 02-03-03, 02:48

NY Detailer.......

You have accepted the responsibility for your business well. And, hopefully, you will be rewarded for it.

The old expression, "Good help is hard to find"........is so true. Especially at the high school age level.

If you do find some responsiblie employees, reward them also and it will pay off for you.

I know it's hard.....hang in there.

Scottwax · 02-03-03, 03:01

Quote:

Originally posted by detailbarn
That's the exact reason I don't have any employee's. I enjoy my work so much better now that it's just me doing the actual work. My wife helps with the operations and I may add a mobile guy to my business but he'll be a partner not an employee.

My older son helps me in the summer and my younger son is now old enough to also help. They do a very good job for me. This summer, with both of them helping, I hope to build up enough additional business so that I can hire help when summer is over. Not that I really want the headache of employees, but if I can get them trained right, I can make a lot more money. Not that I am doing bad, the money is pretty good, but I'm 41 and I want to make as much as possible before I turn 50 so by then I can have a crew running around and I can sit in a nice warm office in the winter.

Your partnership idea is a good one, as long as it isn't an equal partner. You are the one who got the customer list and built the business. Imparting a sense of ownership is good, but make sure you stay the boss in the end.