Windshield Repair Forum

Hi all. I am not a frequent contributor to these forums, though I am a fairly frequent reader. I purchased a Delta kit just over a year ago (July 2009) and have been happy doing occasional repairs part-time to bring in a few extra dollars here and there while I had a steady day job. I went to the training at Delta HQ in Oregon and I used Delta Kit's products before as someone's employee, so I have done many repairs and I am pretty confident in my workmanship....

Now I find myself in dire need to earn extra money! I would like to turn WSR into a full-time job. I have been trying to find a place to do a tent setup for a while now, but am finding it very difficult to find someone willing to let me do business on their property. They either give an outright "NO" or they want a large sum of money upfront (a thousand dollars or more) which I don't have, and they always want a long term lease, which I am reluctant to do.

What I do have is a business license, liability ins, professional-looking appearance and documents (cards, invoices, flyers, etc) and I always strive to do a high quality job. I do both cash and insurance jobs. I have a website and tried google adwords, but that wound up costing me more than I earned from it. I also place an ad on craigslist every day and recently started using twitter to advertise as well, due to a recent discussion on these forums. None of these methods have brought me much business (like a job per week). Distributing cards and fliers in parking lots to vehicles with chips has brought me almost no business at all.

I know I am not a super salesman (frankly I am kind of shy), but I am going to try to go to business parks and office complexes next week to get some repair jobs, since that seems to be a common method discussed on the forums. However, I am wondering if anyone has any ideas about how to earn some money on weekends when most businesses are normally closed. The fact is, I am pretty much broke! I have a kit, I do good work, and I have nothing to lose: I need to earn some money NOW. If anyone has any ideas how I can sell some repair jobs fast I would be truly grateful and indebted to you!

The problems you are facing are the ones every repairer faces starting out on the WSR business. Hoping for a quick return is nice if it happens but realistically not very likely. Do your research, establish who has the greatest need for your service, what competition you are up against. You mentioned weekends, businesses are shut, that can also mean transport fleets are parked up, an ideal time for fleet inspections /repairs. You sound like you are confident in your abilities, you need to persuade prospective customers that you do indeed have good abilities, doing an introductory free repair offer is a good way of breaking the ice. I remember reading a post, recently, from a repairer on the right way to approach leaving flyers at business parks that is well worth a read. Finally, the most important ingredient of all is work hard but work smart, target your our objectives and learn form your successes and failures.

To Clarity Glass: I am unable to send private messages, but I received yours and the answer is yes... Why?

Forum members will not have full use of all board features until "after" they have posted a minimum of 10 posts. Features that you will not be able to use until you have a minimum of 10 posts include, but are not limited to, private messaging, e-mailing, posting photos, and viewing photos. This helps avoid spam on the board and protects the privacy of windshield repair forum members, so running up your post count with illegitimate posts will not be tolerated and may result in a ban from the board.

In some states/cities it’s extremely difficult to find tent locations (I feel your pain ). I’ve heard all types of ridiculous reasons why they won’t lease or rent to a vendor or windshield repair company. Most circumstances, the leasing agents are the “gate keepers”. Leasing companies or agents do not see a great gain in revenue (if any) by leasing to you; therefore they will give you excuses on why they won’t lease or rent to you (they will say the owner is not interested). It’s imperative you contact the owners of the property. Contacting the owners of shopping complexes is another hurdle (can be numerous owners). It can be done.

If you are short on funds and are looking for a tent location, you may have too open up your books and offer the owner (small business owner) a percentage of your net earnings (not projected but net earnings). You can make the deal more pleasing if you offer them a monthly rent/lease fee (what ever reasonable amount you have readily available). By doing so, you will be in a partnership with the owner. There is a major draw back in doing this. As previous posts have stated, there is nothing stopping the owner from discontinuing the partnership and offering the same service. On a positive note, it’s a great advantage for you too save and earn revenue too find a tent location where you will not have to form a partnership.

Lastly, if you are shy, try bringing someone with you whom gives you self assurance and confidence. If you are married and your wife is not shy, let her speak on your companies behalf when seeking a potential site.

I wish you the best!

stop by the mall sometime

I know start-up money is tight, but I find that chip savers are a great marketing tool. I give one to everyone I meet and explain how to use them. I encourage them to keep them in the glovebox with their insurance card. Sometimes I hint that I am giving the chipsaver to them for free because I know they will be loyal to me later...