Seasonally migrating for work

[scratchy]

Does anyone here have any pointers on switching geographic locations for work on a yearly basis? Move south for the winter and north for the summer kind of thing? What is involved is doing business like this?

[GlassStarz]

I would think that if your working the cold call technique it really doesnt matter where you are and with a post office box some vista print cards and a trac phone you are local for about $100. especialy if you use something like ACT they pay your checking account directly My plan for next winter is to sail to fla and points south and hide from the snow (wish I could do it this winter BAAH)

[CPR]

This is one idea that sounds great on paper and can blow up in your face as soon as you move into your vacation home. I had great expectations on doing WSR here in Florida, I can do good work, have a good attitude, Know how to run the business end, motivated, love to work on my own. Just one thing missing, THERE IS NOT MUCH CHIP WORK WHERE I LIVE. I can walk a normal sized dealer lot (30-50 cars) and find one to work on if I'm lucky.

Out of the 11 lots I work for net per week is around 200.00, fleet accounts are not a money maker either. Most of the work I get is from out of state cars and trucks, do your market reasearch before jumping in to the fire.

[DaveC]

Although .....

If you do "work" while travelling, you can certainly write-off your travel expenses;)

[gold star wsr]

RV's are great for having a traveling road show. When my husband retires, we have talked about making a curcuit that would take us to the southern part of the state in winter and more north in the summer. Our plan is to do advance marketing, perhaps through one of the service clubs in each area (VFW, American Legion, etc.). We have seen this work with other businesses. There is a company that comes through our area once a year selling tools at a discount. They send out flyers and put an ad in the local paper announcing their arrival. Could also work with a local church, school, scout club as a fundraiser (donate a percentage...its a tax deduction too). The rural areas welcome services such as this, especially if you can establish right off that you have a legitimate business (not "fly-by-night"). I have been doing repairs in my town since 1996, so am well-established here, and would have no trouble getting letters of referral from the mayor, the postmaster, and many local business owners. Plus, the first thing to do in each area is to make sure to comply with all local ordinances...business permit, etc. Years ago my husband worked for a company that auctioned office equipment from town to town across the country. Most of the towns they went to required the application for the business license to be dated a month to six weeks in advance of the sale date so their credentials could be researched and verified. This is advantageous to all sides.

[StarQuest]

Gold star wsr,

What a great business plan for you and your husbands retirement! Just make sure you put him to work too Question for you? Have you ever considered setting up a singles site matching repair only people together? Crazy thought but I think it might work. Couldn't imagine anything better than finding a woman like you to work with everyday, enjoying both a great living and low stress working environment together. Repair being so flexible, it would also help instill some of the old family values, allowing us to spend more time bringing up our children.

Scratchy,

I think many of us dream of the day when we can move our business during the uncomfortable months in repair to more favorable working climates. If your current sales are made up with all insurance and cold calling (coister methods) it could work for you. Just have to make sure you plan well in advance that the market your transferring to can support your monthly financial needs. If you have established your repair living off fleet, dealership or rental accounts over the years I'd strongly suggest against making that seasonal move! Reason being is once your gone.....someone will definately step in and steal all of your hard earned accounts. People like me! Every winter here in Michigan, I will steal at least 6-8 new accounts because all the other repair guys just won't work in the cold or simply can't perform good quality cold weather repairs. It's up to what you can handle. Many say winter sales will drop by 40-50% but that's only because they choose not to work when it's cold!
Suck it up guys!!!! There is money to be made even in 10-15 degree conditions!!!!

[gold star wsr]

StarQuest, Oh, he will be working all right LOL! Plus, I expect him to do all the driving too. This isnt going to happen too soon. He is retiring the first of the year (maybe), but having knee replacement surgery immediately, so he will be incapacitated for a while. But it will be cool here then anyway, so we will just hibernate until Ground-hog day.
No, I had not thought of starting a wsr dating site... interesting idea though...hmmm....

[scratchy]

I am staying put. I just dislike the hot summer Texas heat. The idea of spending the absolute worst month somewhere waaay north with the long evenings and cooler temps is tempting though!
BTW My wife went through Delta training last week and is doing great. We are both out doing repairs together so if I have to be out of town she can handle the incoming calls herself. I think plumbing the depths of huge future WSR success takes more than one person. The guys at Jeremiah WSR showed how big things can get when going duo rather than solo.

[Jeremiahswindshieldrepair]

On eof the problems with Florida is they are a no deductible state. It is mandatory for every insurance company in Florida to replace windshields with no deductible if there is any kind of damage at all. That makes insurance deals far and few between. There are only a couple few reasons for someone to do a repair rather than replacement in Florida:
1. It is always better to keep your original windshield as it is usually the best seal you will ever get
2. along the same lines if you replace you runa a risk of getting leaks or scratches on the hood or other misc damage from replacing.
3. not very common but some people like to save their insurance company money
4. They are from out of state and their insurance company doesn't have to replace with no deductible.
5. they don't know about the replacement law ... which is very unlikely.

I am sure there are other very obscure reasons like it is ecologically better to fix rather than replace because glass doesn't ever breakdown like, say, paper does. For that reason I would not go to Florida.

[DaveC]

Jeremiah,

You left one out that I can think of .....

6. A replacement will count as a claim and can increase their rates, especially if they have had multiple claims. Paying cash for a repair will hold their rates down;)