Looking to go into new business

[WSDSteve]

Will be replacing full time job, how many windshield repairs do most people average a year.
I realize this may vary
If you can tell me if you do this part-time/full time and how long you have been in business with your average this would be helpful.
One day we are ready to take the leap and the next day we are nervous. Looking forward to giving a 2 week notice more and more each day.
Thanks

[magicogar]

I am in the same position. This info would be nice and may give me the motivation to start soon.

[optic-kleer]

Guys
just go for it. Be prepared to work hard, ask lots of people for work and you will be OK. Learn from this forum. Life is too short too not take a chance now and again. Good hunting.
Eric Howe
Optic-Kleer Ltd
England

[screenman]

Be positive go for it you can always get another job if you mess up but you only get one go at life do not mess with part time it makes our business look unprofesional

[DaveC]

Steve,

The amount of repairs a year that any WSR professional does is more a matter of personal preference, desire and drive.

If you are going to be your own boss, try to run your own numbers and avoid letting the numbers run you.

Example, if you determine that you want to gross a minimum of $40,000 a year, and the average going rate for a repair in your area is $40.00. You would need to complete at least 1,000 repairs a year, or 20 repairs a week (assuming a 2 week vacation;) to attain your goal! Further, assuming you only desire to work 5 days a week, you only need to complete 4 repairs per day. Factor in your drive time/repair time, only 4 hours of your day has been consumed, leaving and additional 4 hours (if you plan on only working 8 hour days;) to market your services and find prospective customers \:D/

[Dave M]

All the above are great answers but do not answer the questions asked.

I am full time and in 2003 repaired 1548 windshields. I started in this business in 1994 and was one of the best decisions I've made. I was going to say THE best decision but my wife is watching!

Full time for me (in 2003) averaged 27 hours per week and maybe a couple hours on 3-4 Saturdays. This will vary per individual according to their goals and needs as stated in the above posts.

[TheTuna]

This is my first post / reply...

I've been reading here for 2 days and the information is excellent.

10 years ago, I got into WSR with a partner. Things went well enough, but looking back, I know we did things wrong. Within a year of starting the business my partner had a stroke. He lost the ability to speak (but was still in great shape). I was young and couldn't handle the pressure and quit. He passed away a few years later.

Now, I'm much more mature, and I have a strong interest in starting up again. Back then, I was too afraid of doing cold calling at business parks, but I figured it would be the best bet. Just never tried it... now I'm going for it right away.

To those who question wanting to start, I say DO IT. DO IT DO IT DO IT! It's a great business.

[CPR]

There is alot of things to think about here. Market reasearch, compitition, do you have alot of breaks in your area ?, can you sell yourself ?. I would do this part time until you can answer some of these questions, go get your feet wet and see what happens.

[mafsu]

I agree with CPR try it part time first. Without knowing you or your ability to sell, it would be negligent to tell you to quit your job. It's the perfect time of year (more daylight) for you to get a kit and try this out part time. It is a wonderful business. I jumped in with both feet, went to the west coast for a week got trained came back and quit my job. If I had it to do over again, I would start out part time. To answer your original question I repaired approximately 2500 windshields last year.

[GlassStarz]

The ability to sell is certainly the three most important things to your success in this buisness. Personaly ive been working about 20 hrs a week and do 15-25 cars retail a week if I worked more i would make more its all relative.