Managing a tent location

[Blind Squirrel]

I would like to start a new thread on the subject of tent locations because Maxryde brought up some interesting points that I would like to see discussed. I should mention that I tried this method a few years ago and frankly, my main reason for not liking it is the hours of sitting and waiting. You can only read so many magazines and newspapers and nary a cent ever fell out of one of those.

BUT, if you have a busy location and this, by talking to some of the guys at tents around Denver, is a strange animal, one guy had a very high traffic location in front of a strip center, but he didn't do a lot of business because, it seemed that most of that traffic was "passing through".

Next you have to have a reasonable rent and this can be all over the board. I discussed setting up with the owner of a new car wash in my area who really wanted the service but he wanted 2500.00 a month flat rent. I told him the only way it would work for me would be on a percentage basis and he said he didn't have time to fool with that. End of conversation. This guy wasn't interested in a win-win, he only wanted his. It's been over a year and he still doesn't have anyone doing windshield repair.

So as not to go on and on with anecdotes, here are the points.

Location
gas stations, malls, vacant lots, car washes, fund raisers
Local codes, licenses, ordinances
Rural or Urban
Rental rate
employees
handling the insurance calls when 5 people show up at once.

What I have to say about employees goes to what is really my axe to grind with most of the tents out there now. Most of these guys have had more training in doing the paperwork than they've had on the technical side.
There are some who are experienced techs doing good service but they are the minority.
As this thread goes on, I'll have more to say as I'm sure others will about the ins and outs of having employees in general.

I have a couple of ideas on handling the insurance calls that involve having extra cell phones and using A.C.T.

[splitpit]

That down time you mention just sitting and waiting is lost $$$ that could be profitable. Getting out and finding work instead of sitting on your keester is what it takes.

[Blind Squirrel]

In the right place with the right circumstances it can be a very profitable business.

Please don't do what you were complaining about our friend in PA was doing. You're coming across with that "my way is the only way thing", you've already made your feelings known on this subject, which is why I started a new thread. Please don't take offense but I don't see what you could say here.

[splitpit]

If my memory serves me, this is a public forum?

I haven't stated that it's not a successful tactic for others. I haven't directly dogged anyone else on this subject either. In fact, I've indicated that it does indeed work for some.

But in ANY line of work, if you are sitting around doing NOTHING, you are not being productive.

If you have a great location and a steady line of customers, then you obviously don't need my advice. If you aren't so lucky and your customers are few and far between, then to succeed you need to consider the other productive alternatives that I have mentioned.

[Blind Squirrel]

Well said!

If the poor fool sitting under a tent for too long with no business to pay expenses and make a profit doesn't figure it out on their own, Mother Nature and the law of natural selection will be more than happy to figure it out for them.

That aside, how would you manage a tent location, splitpit?

[splitpit]

I wouldn't consider a tent location. I don't want to rely on customers that just happen along. I feel that narrows my customer base too much. For every person that happens to go past that tent location, there are hundreds or thousands who don't. If it were a prime location in a big city, it might be worthwhile but in rural small town America, I just can't see it being a good choice.

[Mr Bill]

I'm glad we finally settled that issue.

[splitpit]

What issue?

lol

[maxryde]

Good thread Squirrel,

For me a location that has a high rent is out of the question also. I live in a relatively rural area. Three small towns in a 30 mile radius. Total population is like 50,000 including the farm areas. I do the tent thing on the weekends and during the summer 1 or 2 days a week depending on my schedule. The rent varies from 20 bucks a day down to providing donuts at another location that I have had for coming into my 5th year. I originally payed 10 bucks a day there, (hardware store). Paying a lot for a location is not something I would do anywhere. I do however take care of the shops vehicles as a perk also. That being said in the little town this hardware location usually does about 300$ in a 4 to 5 hour period consistently. Ive done over twice that on a few occasions. I've had $0 days also but very few. I should say too that my commute including tear town time is like 10 minutes. The other locations are a mall parking lot, and a auto parts chain, they let me rotate thru their 4 locations. Only 2 produce the desired results though. I don't do the vacant lot thing or car washes. Fund raisers might be good but I wouldn't want to detract from a good cause, also I find the numbers drop when the prospects have other things going on. (An agenda) Holidays and the like are slow as people are going to and from and tend to put off something like a windshield repair.

I have had people waiting to phone in claims but many will just do it them selves on their own phone rather than wait for one of ours to free up. I should say I do use ACT during the bury times and when it slows down I call the insureds tpa direct. My help does this on the side of their regular job's for extra $ and they will usually clear around $150. in a 5 to six hour period. I take 30 to 50% depending on how it goes. They enjoy being there and I supervise the work so... When I have a guy manning the post alone they get 50%of the insurance, they do their own cash sales and pay according to use for supplies and rent. I am at another location at the same time so if they run across something they have a problem with I can usually be there in under 10 minutes to help out. I man the post with another tech so I am free to run if I'm not under the gun with my own situation. These guys are well trained so it rarely becomes an issue.

Locally all that is required is a business licence, temporary signage is supposed to be an issue but I haven't had any problems as I keep it neat and am a member of the local chamber as well as a city employee so.

I hope I answered your questions and will respond to any I may have missed.

One other thought the tent thing is appropriate when handled correctly, but it's certainly not the, end all be all, way of doing business. JMO, Scott

[Mr Bill]

Last year I billed an insurance company direct and they told me I couldnt do that because I was with ACT.
Any opinions on this?