I can't win for losing I swear. No matter where I go they expect the impossible.

What motivated you all to start your own shops? Any particulat situations that "took you over the edge" so to speak.

What did you start with? Did you already own your tools? Did you finance anything?

I'm just trying to get am idea where I am at and if I'm on the right road.

Thanks!

AGN, hey, I thought that was the direction you were moving in anyway. Has that changed? Why so stressed today?

Oh I'm moving in that direction definitley!! No doubt about it! I haven't changed my mind.

I'm just trying to find out everyones motivation and such. What they did and didn't do when starting.

I have been presented the option to finance my start-up and just wondering what to do.

Just been a bad couple of days. Driving MANY miles with MANY jobs and it gets older and older. Just tired of working my ass off to make someone else rich. I want to work my ass off to make ME a decent living.

I had been thinking about starting my own business for quite a while before I actually did it. My motivated me to finally make the move was that I needed to feel good about myself and be able to sleep at night. Couldn't do that with the company I was working for. Had a decision to make and I did. I've never looked back either. Don't think I'm sugar coating starting a business because I'm not. It takes devoting 120% effort and having the stamina of a billy goat to keep yourself going sometimes. There are a lot of headaches involved, and a lot of decidions to make, but they are yours to make. You won't get rich overnight, but if you keep at it, you can make it. You have to decide if you have it inside yourself to make that commitment. At least you are working for you, not someone else (and uncle sam of course). Is it a bank or an individual that is offering to finance you? Having extra financial backing is a real plus, but watch what you are jumping in to. I had my own tools when I started which was great. Every little bit that you have before you start will help you financially. I could keep going, but.......... anyone else want to jump in here. I know I'm not the only AGR shop owner that's been there, done that.

Its a bank that my family has had many business dealings with. They are good people.

I have most of my own tools with the exception of the more expensive power tools (i.e. express, fein knife, caulking gun). I'll also need a glass rack for my warehouse and for my truck. Some other odds and ends.

I believe I have the fortitude to make it. I've been able to stay in this business which takes fortitude and I have been involved in several businesses and investments in the past...some successful some not so much.

Billy goat?

yeah you know...a billy goat its anything, stands on everything...that kind of thing. Not much can mess with a billy goat.

I meant *eats* anything

LOL!!
Haven't you ever heard the expression, "tough as an old billy goat" ? Or, am I telling my age here? LOL!!

Just meant you have to have the guts to deal with the less then ethical competition, and stand up for your own principles. You can cave and be like some other companies, which makes you no better than them, or you can do things the right way and be able to sleep at night. The financing thing might not be a bad option for you, just what what you get in to. You have to have enough $$$ coming in to make those payments every month.

Back in the mid-80s I ran a drill press at an iron foundry and the shop I worked in had big open doors on both ends so the goats that wandered around the plant would waltz in all the time. One day when I wasn't paying attention one of them grabbed the paper bag that had my lunch in it and started eating it - paper bag, zip lock back, everything. I hated those goats. And they smelled bad too.

I may have the "stamina" of a billy goat, but, I DON'T SMELL BAD!!!!

Requirements:

1. Glass in veins. (not to be confused with a glass jaw, though many shops might have this due to how easily they are bullied)

2. Must love dealing with the public. No lee-way on this one.

3. You must love to help people. Self motivated, I have no trouble with early AM to late PM to take care of my customers.

I love what I do. I feel very fortunate (even blessed) to wake in the AM and look forward to going to work. Insurers and networks have taken some of that away from me, and this is why I fight, to get it BACK.

I'd probably shoot myself before I drove the miles you say you are driving lately. lol lol

Mark1, that could almost be the start of the 10 Commandments for AGR shop's. LOL!!

Billy goats waltzing around in an iron foundry, why is that so funny to me? Perhaps because I have a habit of thinking in pictures sometimes.

It was in Alabama if that helps with the imagery. Strangest two years of my life.

Webmaster, I resemble that remark..........are you trying to provoke me LOL?

worth everything exhausting,frustrating minute of it! Started with about 10,000 owned some tools bought some tools, already owned a truck, rented a garage and proceeded to have a heart attack first 3-4 months (not a real heart attack!) then as time went by got use to living differently, BIG adjustment not having a pay check every week. Now just going along sometimes good, sometimes bad however, the worst day independently is still better then the best day working for someone else. You control your own destiny which is pretty strange after so many years of working for someone else, but you know what you will never know until you try and you already know your not happy in the situation your in, just realize it is a 27 hour day, which your probably already doing anyway! Oh and talk to everyone on this forum they are really supportive!

Webmaster, not fair. You give me a "Raspberry" then you disable the "more smiles" how am I supposed to respond with out my little helpers. Those guys have alot to say you know? So fix the smiley's already and stop fantasizing about your years in Alexandria was it?

Brian, that was from Go Louise.

Louise, I'm sending you a bill for $.75 @ $.25ea. Going rate, fair and reasonable for the area, you know. Also discounted the last 2 raspberrys to $0.00 because they only allow three per post total.

It was Alexander City and I didn't disable the smilies. Bravenet has issues on occassion.

If your thinking about getting in this business you need to rethink alot harder and longer. just work for someone else take your paycheck every week and make your employer pull his or hers hair out.

Work for yourself and wonder when your next payday is coming and how long it's going to take to get there.

Afew things to look at.

1) Rent on building or mortage.
2) Electric,water,gas
3) Phone,fax,credit card lines
4) credit card machine
5) business checking account
6) accountant
7) payroll specialist
8) liability insurance
9) workman-comp insurance
10)vehicles
11) gas for vehicle
12)Insurance for vehicles
13)racks for vehicles
14)office furniture
15)computer for office
17)POS software
18)accounting software
19)office supplies
20)business cards
21)note pads,pens,etc.....
22)yellow pages
23)employees
24)payroll
25)BUSINESS TO PAY FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE EVERY MONTH!

AGN- These are some basic things to think about just to open your doors everyday, I'am sure I missed some things and other posters will add to the list.

I do not want to scare you, just CYA before jumping in too deep. Running a business is a liitle different than being an employee.

You may want to take a few business class, so you know some of the accountant things yourself. I would also take a sales class to learn a few tricks to help with new customers when making a new sales call.

P.S- remember to make a profit so there is money left over for your PAY CHECK.

AGN-

Sorry I forgot the most important items..

26)glass
27)supplies
28)account recieviables dept(you)
29)account payables dept(you)
30)tax dept(you)federal and state
31)sales force and phone CSR (probally you)
32)CSR to deal with TPA (probally you again)
33) Doctor to prescribe medication for that headache that never goes away.
34)employee trainer(probally you)
35) Massage therapist
36) Therapist

Now ask yourself if you can really do it? If the answer is YES!

You will have real Business! And a succesful one!

I'm going straight mobile to start out with so I won't have any furniture or rent/mortgage expenses. As far as storage space my family has several commericial properties that I can have deliveries made to or I can pick it up because ODG is only a few miles away. I will be a one man show...no employees for quite awile so that takes cares of that. I've already checked into the liability insurance and have my insurance guy working on it. I have set up with ODG to buy glass and supplies. I think I've got most of the bases covered. I'm going to have to buy the power tools and some glass racks, but other then that I think I have everything.

It is all about the American Dream.
Owning your own business, being your own boss and getting your own piece of the American Pie.
What a great country we live in to be able to have these choices

when i started on my own. i had 94 toyota ext/cab. do only mobile, cash only deal. will call everything. 7days
a week. i deal with new and used glass,i go to wrecking yard every sunday. on top of that i had two children and
my lady left me,that was four years ago. sometime i had to take my kids with me to do mobile job. new i have a shop,much easyer for me and my kids now. everyday take my kids to school and pick them up and bring them to the shop.if i can do this. i am sure i will be easy for u.
i wish you good luck and u will do good.

, Hey it's your old budy Hawk here, long story but sometimes now Glass Lady and myself are known as Thelma & Louise, we'll both respond to either LOL. Anyway I read your first post and it sounds like you need moral support. First the fact that you are on two days in a row during the day makes ask, have you quit your job? You can tell me it's none of my business, but you know how we females are...nosey. Looks like startup isn't waiting until spring uh? Do you have your compresssor, generator, power converter whatever type system your using in your mobile unit to operate your tools, be great if you had both air & electric the Expesses are cheaper in pnuematic, or electric the rechargeable battery operated ones are over $750.00, the others are 350-450 range. As a one man operation you'll be more productive with an Express, do you have your shop vac, caulk gun and other tools, just think it through be sure you have what it takes to get the job done, then add the frills and gotta haves later . To start you don't have to take credit cards, but you will need a fax for dispatches if your going to be on the networks. Just let individuals and insureds know you accept only cash or check for service ahead of time so you don't finish your install and have them whip out their debit or credit card. The way things are now, perhaps you should try to get a couple of good fleet, and dealer accounts hit some used car lots we have several good accounts that are used car dealers, also any businesses that run delivery or service trucks, I remember you said your Dad was a good salesman, put him on the road. Arm him with promotionals to hand out. Join your local Chamber of Commerce it's inexpensive in rural areas, and look for some community events to help sponsor, anything from kids sports to gospel singings, and fundraisers for local charities or diseases. Every year we donate a beautiful large custom vanity mirror for the Red Cross fund raiser auction, you'll make contacts, get exposure and it's tax deductible. With good advertising you might find with the accounts you get, and private pays you can afford to give the network thing a little more time before you decide. Do some research and find out how some companies are getting insurance work without signing contracts. Just be sure you have the basics in place, and a good accountant to do your ledger monthly so you know how you stand. You'll be really disheartened if you don't amke it the first time, and we know you have what it takes to make it. The desire to work hard, the ethics to do good work and a good support team in you wife and family. So don't jump until you know how deep the water is then....then dive in head first. Good Luck and remember we're here for you!

Business cards, scratch pads, etc. You want to have those things before you are ready to start. You never know who you might run in to. How are you going to do your invoicing? You need something for work orders. Are you going to use your cell for a telephone #? How are you going to quote when you take calls? Nags book, software?
Just a couple of extra ideas.

PROPS, to you AG on the single Dad thing. I have much respect for any parent doing it solo, you just don't see as many single Dads. So I say you're a good man, and I don't even know you.
I wish you continued success in your business.

Thanks everyone for the support! I like hearing everyones stories on how they got started.

I have begun outfitting my truck (an '01 Toyota Tacoma 2x4) to handle the work. Any ideas on how to secure my tools from being stolen?

I'm going to put the glass rack on crossbars from one side of the bed to the other and have it as close to the backglass as I can get it to save the rest of the room for workspace.

I'm also going to go electric and put a power inverter in. I hate using a gas generator.

HEY AGN, That is exactly how I started but I did it without any loans, may I suggest that the first thing you should worry about is reliable transportation! For me I did'nt even hesitate to buy a new van (GM of course) I did'nt buy power tools for years, well I mean I always had the caulking gun. One thing you should consider is having back-up tools & supplys because it's just you. I found that as long as you have a good lawyer & accountant you will do fine and believe me the accountant is worth every penny you pay. What ever you do don't follow anybody! Lead & everything will follow. After I was open for two years my company was being compared as competition which I found very flattering. The better name you make for yourself the better your company will succeed! It would probably take about four hours just to set you in the correct direction, but I would suggest that you simply ask questions & look for your self what direction you need to go! & one more note, being that it is only you, you don't need workmans comp or a garage keepers policy for insurance and the most important thing is..... NEVER SIGN ON WITH THE NETWORKS FOR THEY WILL BLEED YOU DRY & DO IT WITH A SMILE ON THIER FACES!
GOOD LUCK MY BROTHER GLASS!

I have used that configuration on Chevy S-10's and the main draw back is wind drag and you have to be careful entering the parking garages. If your not going to mount a headache rack on your truck I would recommend that configuration with 1/4" lexan cut to the size of your back glass and 3 or 4 inches higher than the cab for the 1st slot. One of my installers was run off the road and hit a telephone poll. The rack and the lexan barely kept everything in the bed of the truck out of the cab. Scared the Hell out of me. Have had headache racks ever since.
I now mount my windshield rack even with the top of the bed length wise on one side and have a metal tool box on the other for power tools. Store vacuum cleaner, generator, water proof box for adhesives, 4ft. ladder, windshield stand, and hand tool box underneath. It works well for me and I'm not fighting wind drag all the time. Still can't get in a lot of parking garages without some rigging.

My truck is pretty low profile (only a 4x2 Toyota) so I don't think parking will be a problem unless I'm carrying a 1226 or 1293 or something similar. I have considered wind drag and thought I'd get my sign company to make me a big sign to put in my first slot so I don't break any glass going down the road. I really want to buy a new van (GM of course) I just don't want to slave myself down with a payment right out of the barrel...I'd rather get some work going and be sure I can pay for it. I thought of buying an older van (GM of course), but all the work vans I find look so extremely beaten up that I'd be afraid the maintenance on them would be comparable to the payment on a new one...and I'd be facing down time while it was being fixed.

I appreciate the advice everyone! Knowing so many have gone before me and been successful really makes this a whole lot easier!

agn
the only thing i financed was a truck. i was mobil only as well. i do flat as well as auto. flat has a much better margin. if you can get a credit card with a high limit you can pay your auto glass bil with it. usually you can get 1 or 2 % off if you pay buy the 10th of the month. just make sure you pay the card off every month. never pay interest. i was lucky and had a good relationship with an auto glass wholesaler so i was able to buy on credit right away. i started small so i never owed much. only bought what i realy needed.

its been 12 yrs now and i am going on my first vacation in december.
dont miss out on the things you do with your family. they are way more important then your bussiness. it only took me 12yrs to get that.

I'll only buy what I need thats for sure. Thats why I'm really wrestling with whether or not to buy a van or run things out of my truck. If I had a bigger truck I'd have no problem, but being as my truck is pretty small I'm wondering whether or not I can work out of it.

What I thought I might do for starters is put all my tools on one side and put a 5-lite glass rack on the other. I doubt I'll be transporting more than five pieces of glass just starting out. That'll create a lot of room and solve the wind drag / stress crack problem of using crossbars. If the glass is sitting sideways down inside the bed it should be safe.

i started with a final paycheck from my previous job, i went out bought a new ford van, payment was about $450 a month i had most of my own tools, just had to buy a rack and inverter. the first couple months were tight but within a yeay i had doubled my salary from previous employer. i actually started my own business to work less, was working 6 days a week 8-10 hours a day sometimes more, now i do 2-5 w/s a day and i love it, stay simple it is better! i do alright on 10 per week, so i can work part-time and make more than i could at a 40 hour week job.

hey OMG,just do it like all the tailgaters.You can skip all the expenses...Must be the only good thing about PPG I can think of.At least they will only sell to you if you have a location.Tired of Pilkington selling to any joe blow.Excuse the expression...I know of several companys buying from pilkington and doing insurance that have no building,no location and no insuance.And no im not one of them.....

try to locate a book called the "e-myth" to help you get started. see if that creates any kind of impression with you. it might help you create a foundation you can grow on.

Thanks for the tips.

BQA, Sounds like you and me are in the same boat man. I really hope I do well like you. I really believe in this and I am already a better man because of it.