Wanting in the Business

[jroske]

I want to get into the wsr business. I am an otr truck driver and I am in the need to earn extra cash. I have inquired to Liquid Resins for a kit. They are giving me a payment plan option. Has anyone dealt w/thier equipment. I would appreciate some feedback.

Joe

[CPR]

I have never used thier equipment but truck stops are a very good place to make money. Scroll down a ways and look at the post I started about truck stops, you will see a few posts from kbici. He is a trucker and can give you alot of helpful info on doing trucks, he helped me alot.

[cure4glass]

I have 3 Liquid Resins bridges that I use, and have two of their pumps.I am not a big fan of their pumps but I prefer their bridges over any other I have used.You can order their bridges without the predrilled threads and drill to your specs. I can make a repair anywhere on the glass and there's only one suction cup to worry about.I have pumps,resins & equipment from several suppliers.I have'nt found that "One stop shop" yet.One thing that is priceless when considering a supplier for your critical equipment is customer service and support.This forum can answer that!

[CrackedUp]

I suugest you give a GREAT DEAL OF THOUGHT to going into the ws repair business. It's not all it's cracked up to be. (Pardon the pun) Many people go into it with high hopes and dollar signs in their eyes, only to find that it's a tough business that is oversaturated with people all competing for the business. It take hard work, a ton of persistence, a huge amount of patience, a lot of legwork, an advertising and promotional plan with a relatively open ended budget, and often times a second job doing something else just to sustain you through life's real world obligations. It's a great part time job but a very hard way to earn a good living unless you have also won the lottery and are simply bored!

[jroske]

Crackedup,
My plan is to start part time. My wife is graduating college and having a third baby. The extra money would be nice. I am working on a contract with the company I presently work for to do their repairs at my terminal during my off duty time. I plan on starting slow and gradually increase advertising and volume after my wife gets a job. I am a truck driver by trade and tired of "hearing about" my kids growing up. I am only home 2 days per week (If I am lucky).

[Julie]

Hello Joe!

Windsheild repair is an excellent business to start part time for extra money. Right now I am starting a WSR business for the fourth time. We have moved around a lot so we have gotten used to starting over. The longer you are in business in one place though, the more referrals you will get. DO NOT under estimate referrals. If you have read the Coitsters posts you have seen how he gets business. This is something that I would like to do, but don't really have a lot of guts to do it. But it can be done on a smaller, safer scale if you're like me. ASK THE PERSON YOU ARE DOING A REPAIR FOR IF THEY KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO NEEDS ONE DONE. I know it seems basic and simple but it works. EVEN if you only get 1 referall from each customer, that leads you to one more customer. If you are in an office complex, check the car windows around you. If you get a fleet account, ask them for the name of somone they do business with. People like to do business with people they know or have heard of from a friend.

Also, I think I saw someone else mention this and could work great for you during the holiday season (thanksgiving-newyears), which can be slow for personal jobs.... call all your customers, ask them if they need any work done. This is something I have done before Christmas to get a little extra income. I have always been surpised at the amount of work you can get from people you have already done a repair for that would love to use your services again but are just too lazy to call!)

Another thing... I don't know where the mark should be set when just starting out. (This is something I will try to figure out now)....Figure out an amount you want to make each week. Once you get going you can do it daily. You see in Coitsters and ?GlassStars post, where they go to a bus or car wash, they set an amount they want to make by the end of the day. THIS WORKS. It makes you set goals and you will be surprised at what you will do to keep a successful daily tally going.

I think you can enjoy the WSR business if you don't take it too seriously. If it is your only mode of income it can become frustrating. But as an extra income... it's great. Just keep coming to this forum. I found it a few weeks ago and it is a great resouce.

Good luck to you.
Julie

[desertstars]

Excellent point about referrals, Julie.

The cheapest way to get business is to ASK for it.

[desertstars]

I guess verbal proofs are quite effective so I'd like to add one short story re referrals.

Was doing an insurance job in Apache Junction about 60 miles east of Phoenix and asked the customers if they had any friends, relatives, or neighbors who might need a repair.

The wife got on the pipe and within a half hour four more vehicles showed up. Three insurance jobs and one that I cut a cash deal for.

Many of us have similar stories to tell about the power of asking and those stories are always interesting.

Perhaps someone would like to begin a different post on that subject.

[Coitster]

In my personal experiance I have found Julie that women have an unfair advantage when it comes to going out and drumming up business and talking to customers. Women are just so unthreatening and people seam to feel good around them. All the women that I have trained to very well at it. Both of my sisters are in the WSR business. They kick butt.
David
Coitster