I should have also pointed out that there are companies and organizations that are willing to mentor and help small businesses and entrepreneurs get started in developing a business plan. Some of them are fee-based, some of them are government-grants that do this for a small fee, and some are community-based that may be for free. One of the best places to start is your local Better Business Bureau or a Chamber of Commerce that may put you in touch with the right business development organization for your business needs. You may have a local government (municipality or county) department for small business economic development or a state agency specifically for small business development that may help you out as well.
Mike talks about learn, learn ,learn. We are fortunate in Wisconsin to have a Technical College system that allows individuals to learn while continuing to be working adults and have classes that fit their schedules. You know as well as anyone that there are SOOOO many things to consider and do when running a self-employed business like:
1) Business Insurance
2) Quarterly Tax filings and business expenses that can be used as tax deductions
3) Book keeping and financial business records (like how do I use Quick-Book to do this)
4) Government safety and environmental laws and regulation compliances (Occupational Safety and Health Organization and Environmental Protection Agency) AND/OR local municipal ordnances (What, I cannot run by detailing business from my residential garage or I cannot use water to wash a vehicle from what hours?)
5) Buying products and equipment
6) Using products and equipment (Yes, we have a detailing class that dovetails with auto body associate degrees)
7) Product or vendor seminars (Which are normally free if you are enrolled in a class because they want your business)
8) Current marketing techniques and trends (like do-it-yourself web design software or getting the most out of Social Media)
9) Customer relations and consumer laws and rights or employee-employer (boss) relations (AKA, management skills)
.
All of these are classes that are available in some form at the Technical Collages, and if not, they try to find enough people who may be interested and develop a class with an accredited teacher/trainer/facilitator for that business concern. Obtaining Certificates of participation and/or Degrees or Licenses give credibility to your detailing abilities and legitimate business acumen.
You also know that there are host of car-care chemical manufactures and vendors/distributors/re-sellers who have regional seminars that may be worth looking into and attending. They are usually fee-based and many are on weekends or are at car-related events or shows.
And lastly, you have this forum and its members, many who are highly successful detailing professionals that have their own business. There is no higher form of flattery than imitation, so reading about their detailing business exploits here may give you ideas that you can incorporate into your own business.
The best business advice I`ve heard of is an extension of the Golden Rule: Treat a customer like you want to be treated.
That, and there are ONLY two rules in business:
1) The boss/owner is always right;
2) When the boss/owner is wrong, see Rule No.1!!
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity" is attributed to Roman philosopher Seneca. It`s also something Indy-car driver Johnny Rutherford said to a reporter who wished him better luck next year after being forced to drop out due to a mechanical failure at the Indianapolis 500 about the preparedness of his race car.
