Rick,
I was made redundant in November. (I was working on contract, so no package,
big payout, etc. Just a "Sorry mate, it's all over")
I had a very cruisy job working for the NRMA.
It was the biggest kick in the bum i've ever had so I know how you feel
mate.
So I decided to start off my own little business enterprise, doing handyman
work, gardening, mowing, odd jobs, etc.
December was a crap month, I spent $5000 and earned $700. Most of that money
was setup costs, like purchasing a van, rego, lawnmower, other misc
equipment.
January, spent $1000 and earned about $800. I started negotiating with a
real estate agent to maintain 300 rental properties.
Late January, early February, I latch on to a nice contract that gives me
about $40k a year doing handyman work for elderly people, heavily subsidised
by a charity organisation. Still negotiating with the real estate agent.
I currently work 5 hours a day. The deal with the estate agent is looking
like it will go through, but not quickly.
When it happens, I will have to employ people to help me.
My business is very simple, yet it cost me over 6 grand to set up, and I
have lost a further 6 in wages for the time spent setting things up and
gaining momentum. For a very small and simple 1 man business, $12,000 to set
up is pretty cheap in some respects, but it is also a lot of money. Your
business is more complex, and if it cost you $25,000 to set up then I reckon
you are doing well.
Definately a snowball effect though. You start very small, and keep pushing
and pushing till the damn thing rolls on it's own and gains some mass.
It is painful to set up. 3 months is very quick for things to happen, but
what i'm saying is that it is finally happening for me. In my spare moments,
I was walking the suburbs with photocopied leaflets I printed up,
advertising my services. I get 1 customer per 100 leaflets I drop in
letterboxes. It's hard yakka, but I figure that I may as well when there's
nothing else to do. The good thing is that they will be repeat customers.
Cost me about 3c per leaflet, so the cost of aquiring each new customer is
$3 + 1 hour of walking.
The same thing will happen for you mate, you just need to get out there, and
tell everybody what you are doing.
Fake it till you make it. Write shit in your diary so that when you open it
up, you are not flipping thru blank pages in front of clients. Don't accept
the first appointment that people offer you. If they say "Can you come next
wednesday", you say 'umm, nah sorry I have a big job on that day, can we
make it tuesday/thursday, etc' because it makes you look like everybody
wants you.
I have rules though.
Rule #1: I do not do business with friends and family. They expect
everything for nothing. = Headaches!
Rule #2: I do not employ friends or family. It always ends in tears. =
Headaches!
Rule #3: See rule #1 and 2. :)
You should call yourself "SMSWaMS" :D
SSS is a catchy name mate.
The other thing you have got going for you is that you have a cool name that
flows naturally with authority, and could be printed onto your truck,
business card, whatever.
Rick White's
Specialised Mobile Sandblasting, Welding & Mechanical Services
Sounds a lot better than
Geordie's Lawnmowing and property maintenance....
I hate my name!
Rick, I wish you luck mate. If things go well, you will be very happy with
your work because you have made something out of literally nothing.
Persist with it and in no time, you will be booked out completely. The
feeling you get when you realise you are too busy working for money, instead
of pushing snowballs up hill.. is a good one.
-----Original Message-----
From: sss510 [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, 7 February 2007 6:54 AM
To: OZDAT
Subject: Fw: back to Datsuns, Kinda (I am a small business owner)
Most of you know I was made redundant in August last year
Other things also happened at the same time (grandmother dying suddenly)
I got quite depressed.
I have been quite busy the past couple of months selling off some new old
stock 510 items.
Selling a Datsun 1600 4 door shell I had here.
Selling my 260Z 2+2 fairlady project.
I have now gone shopping and bought myself a 275 litre a minute 15 amp
compressor.
a sandblasting kit
Just need to sell off a couple of other things to finance buying a mig
welder and a trailor to cart that and my other tools around.
I am thinking of calling the Business
Specialised Mobile
Sandblasting Welding and Mechanical
Services
I have already got two jobs on the go as we speak.
One small Mechanical job to do tomorrow (waterpump on a horrible front wheel
drive)
Engine bay and front fenders Valance ect ect are to be Sand blasted and
primered in a Datsun 1600 a Friend has.
He is the test job, starting on the engine bay and the stell the fenders
bolt to :O)
I have also been able to finally pay for the 180B SSS Coupe I have had my
eye on for nearly 6 months :O)
Wish me luck.
Rick White.
Specialised Mobile
Sandblasting Welding and Mechanical
Services
Please call anytime on for quotes on work to be done :0412 993567
Perth, Western Australia
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