just wondering how long different people took to set up their businesses. from first thought, thru setting up ,till the first paying repair. what were your results. have some done,let's say , 2 weeks of planning , and struggled just to stay afloat? have some put up to a year into planning before making the move and with what result?? i haven't seen this addressed yet so i was hoping to get some feedback on how some of you were affected by the amount of forethought you put into your business plans. would you have done anything different?? (more planning, better marketing, more research etc...).
thanks in advance for any input.
preparation time
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Sneck
Re: preparation time
I first saw a "now you see it... now you don't" windshield repair commercial on tv back about 1982 or 1983. I think it was a speedy auto glass commercial (but I can't remember for sure). All I remember is that I thought that was pretty amazing!
Then, in 1994, I was at home in bed, depressed over my financial situation and wondering how the hell I was going to raise a family on such a small income, I began reading through a popoular mechanics magazine and in the back section there was all kinds of small business start-up advertisements and ideas. I read about windshield repair and thought that sounds fun and figured the demand certainly would be huge - given the number of cars out there.
I started my business as a part-time way to make some extra money with the intention of bringing it to full-time. That was about 12 years ago and I was making about $6.00 per hour in my day job at that time and trying to raise a family. I was the sole provider for my family, and we were just dead-broke all the time.
I decided not to pay the electric bill, and a few other bills for one month just so that I could use the money to buy my first kit. Man I was sweatin it! I got a broken windshield from a glass shop to practice on, and after doing tons and tons of repairs and saw the results of my work, I put an add in the paper for windshield repair and was making money within a few days.
I quickly caught back up on my bill paying and kept making good extra money - even though it was just part-time.
Today, my business is still part-time because I am just too darn stupid to quit my full-time job. But that's ok, because the money I make in windshield repair helps pay for other things that I would not otherwise be able to afford.
When the time is right for me to "move-on" from my regular job, windshield repair will by my job. So I guess you could say i've been planning this for 12 years now
The bosses at my regular job keep paying more as the years go on and its' making it harder and harder to quit that job, but some-day, I will be doing windshield repair full-time. I have made myself that promise, and I intend to make good on that promise.
Sneck
Then, in 1994, I was at home in bed, depressed over my financial situation and wondering how the hell I was going to raise a family on such a small income, I began reading through a popoular mechanics magazine and in the back section there was all kinds of small business start-up advertisements and ideas. I read about windshield repair and thought that sounds fun and figured the demand certainly would be huge - given the number of cars out there.
I started my business as a part-time way to make some extra money with the intention of bringing it to full-time. That was about 12 years ago and I was making about $6.00 per hour in my day job at that time and trying to raise a family. I was the sole provider for my family, and we were just dead-broke all the time.
I decided not to pay the electric bill, and a few other bills for one month just so that I could use the money to buy my first kit. Man I was sweatin it! I got a broken windshield from a glass shop to practice on, and after doing tons and tons of repairs and saw the results of my work, I put an add in the paper for windshield repair and was making money within a few days.
I quickly caught back up on my bill paying and kept making good extra money - even though it was just part-time.
Today, my business is still part-time because I am just too darn stupid to quit my full-time job. But that's ok, because the money I make in windshield repair helps pay for other things that I would not otherwise be able to afford.
When the time is right for me to "move-on" from my regular job, windshield repair will by my job. So I guess you could say i've been planning this for 12 years now
The bosses at my regular job keep paying more as the years go on and its' making it harder and harder to quit that job, but some-day, I will be doing windshield repair full-time. I have made myself that promise, and I intend to make good on that promise.
Sneck
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buggyman
Re: preparation time
It took me about 2 weeks of setup time and a couple more weeks for my first insurance repair. I'm just part time and still not really busy, so far about $500 month in sales. I would still like to increase my work "money". One thing I did was read every thread in the forms, took me about 4 nights to get through them all!!! A world of info.....
Good luck, Paul
Good luck, Paul
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Sneck
Re: preparation time
Back when I first started, the single biggest thing that could have helped me would have been this forum (if it had existed). The information, ideas, tricks, and the general willingness of everyone to share their experience and knowledge is an absolute gold-mine! You can't buy the kind of information we are all getting for free.
As for anything different that I would have done, I wish I was not so quick to try expensive forms of advertising that didn't work back then. I wish I had just gotten out there face to face and been more pro-active rather than re-active in building my business.
Sneck
As for anything different that I would have done, I wish I was not so quick to try expensive forms of advertising that didn't work back then. I wish I had just gotten out there face to face and been more pro-active rather than re-active in building my business.
Sneck
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repare-brise
Re: preparation time
Great question!
I first saw Ws repair as an option in Jan ( I was recuperating from a second spine opperation in 8 months), I started getting serious(and better) in Mar, decided on a kit,booked training in April, while waiting I designed the logo, ordered shirts with said logo, as well as invoices, and cards, and started in May(after factory training). I made over $300 my first day(and that has been my average ever since(some days it,s 0 others its $700, but on average about $1500 per week for 30-35 hours work). In July I hired an employee, in Sept a second. During the winter I saw the opportunity to franchise my business model, and started working out all the logistics to that(plus the mounds of paperwork) In June of the second year I sold my first franchise, in Aug my second, In Dec my third. During the winter I perfected an additional service(scratch removal). In the third year I sold an additional 9 franchises and I have 4 lined up for this spring(and should continue to sell them up until Dec. By the end of 2006 I should be over 20 franchisee's plus there 15-20 employee's. All of this because I was an unsatisfied customer from a glass shop repair(I bet they wish they had done a better repair).
One of the most important things I can't stress enough is get factory training(eases some of the insecurity and gives a boost of confidence. Second is do your best to put forward a professional image(uniform(dress shirt and pants for us plus a parka this time of year) car, tools, paperwork ect) and act accordingly, provide a solid warrenty, give a card or pamphlet to everyone you know. If sales are amystery too you(or even worse a fear) take a toastmasters or Dale Carneghy seminar, and practice your approach on people you know will give you an honest opinion,
have fun
I first saw Ws repair as an option in Jan ( I was recuperating from a second spine opperation in 8 months), I started getting serious(and better) in Mar, decided on a kit,booked training in April, while waiting I designed the logo, ordered shirts with said logo, as well as invoices, and cards, and started in May(after factory training). I made over $300 my first day(and that has been my average ever since(some days it,s 0 others its $700, but on average about $1500 per week for 30-35 hours work). In July I hired an employee, in Sept a second. During the winter I saw the opportunity to franchise my business model, and started working out all the logistics to that(plus the mounds of paperwork) In June of the second year I sold my first franchise, in Aug my second, In Dec my third. During the winter I perfected an additional service(scratch removal). In the third year I sold an additional 9 franchises and I have 4 lined up for this spring(and should continue to sell them up until Dec. By the end of 2006 I should be over 20 franchisee's plus there 15-20 employee's. All of this because I was an unsatisfied customer from a glass shop repair(I bet they wish they had done a better repair).
One of the most important things I can't stress enough is get factory training(eases some of the insecurity and gives a boost of confidence. Second is do your best to put forward a professional image(uniform(dress shirt and pants for us plus a parka this time of year) car, tools, paperwork ect) and act accordingly, provide a solid warrenty, give a card or pamphlet to everyone you know. If sales are amystery too you(or even worse a fear) take a toastmasters or Dale Carneghy seminar, and practice your approach on people you know will give you an honest opinion,
have fun
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dingmedic
Re: preparation time
WoW y'all have great storys. We set up in a matter of weeks, well after hubby went back east for training .My husband started our business last Feb , he is a full time Paramedic FireFighter so he was looking to do something on his days off. Well to make a long story short I got to quit my full time job and have more time with our boys. We hired our first employee in November!!! And Yes we are in the GREEN
Dawn
Dawn
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scratchy
Re: preparation time
I started with a kit I put on the credit card. Now into our third year I kick myself for not getting into it long ago.
I started with a banner duct taped to the side of the truck and it took off!
This business has changed my life in a way most people can't even imagine. I'll put it this way... Imagine driving down the street and finding small piles of money laying around all over the place just waiting to be picked up legally. That is my life now. Compare that with before- working for an idiot of a boss 8-5 and a 4% raise annually!
I started with a banner duct taped to the side of the truck and it took off!
This business has changed my life in a way most people can't even imagine. I'll put it this way... Imagine driving down the street and finding small piles of money laying around all over the place just waiting to be picked up legally. That is my life now. Compare that with before- working for an idiot of a boss 8-5 and a 4% raise annually!
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cure4glass
Re: preparation time
My previous post was inadvertently posted before I finished and I waited too long to edit.As I was saying, I've been working my "real" job with an oil compnay on a seven on, seven off schedule for over 20 years.Did roofing work on the side until I had the ocassion to have windshield repair done on my vehicles a few times and got my curiosity up. I got my first kit in 1990 and have'nt done a roofing job since.This business allows me to exercise my entreprenural spirit. I love talking to people in different walks of life, developing customer relationships and watching my hard work pay off. It's sweet money if you go after it.If I lost my "real" job today I'd just stay with strictly Windshield Repair.
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Kellertxgal
Re: preparation time
These are great stories! I can't wait to get started so I can post my first great story!!!:eusa_danc
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