[biotechee]

Well, I've come to the conclusion that I dislike working for someone else. I kicked around starting up a business for the last couple of years. I've just never really taken that "next step".



A little info: I am interested in offering consultation services for home improvement projects. Sorta like a cross between a general contractor and a designer. The end result would be a "plan" which the client could use to help reach their goal. I am not interested in doing construction nor am I interested in actually picking out colors/fabrics/furniture/etc. I guess another name would be Project Advisor!



Since I would only offer consultation services, I feel that I could be very unbiased and help the client acheive their improvement goals.



I can't sacrifice my day job yet. Hence, I believe consultation would be a direction which would afford me the ability to pursue my own business while I maintain my 9to5. Additionally, capital required to start-up a consultation business is minute, most of which I already possess save for a laptop.



I love doing home improvement projects and have been involved in quite a few on my own property as well as a number of projects on my neighbor's property.



If my efforts are successful, great. If not, I can at least say that I gave it a shot. Then I can always try something else!!!



To those of you who own your own business or are self-employed, what advice can you offer and besides just "doing it", how do I take that "next step"?

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[Mark]

Not self employed fro a long time but the first question would be is there a market for this service or can you create a market?

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[rustech]

Even though you would be your own boss, every client you have will also be your boss. They will still be interested in your qualifications and if you answer "I love doing home improvement projects and have been involved in quite a few on my own property as well as a number of projects on my neighbor's property," I don't think it'll be enough. Some form of Project Management experience is really what you would need.



I've done IT consulting for about 6 years, and it's great, ...but now I'm trying to find a job with the corporate world again for better stability and change of venue. My best advice is to advertise, build rapports, retain clients, and get referrals. Leave a few business cards each chance you get. Also, look into forming an LLC.



Good luck.

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[biotechee]

I believe there is a market... how lucritive it is remains to be seen. In my neck of the woods, people spend an insane amount of money on remodeling, home improvement, etc. It is a matter of whether or not I can carve out a niche in the existing market for such a service-based concept. Will that niche satisfy my criteria for ensuring a successful business? Who knows?



While I've only been a project manager by trade for the last year, I have had the task of managing customer expectations for the last 9 via a very hands-on inside sales position. When clients call you instead of your very highly paid sales force, you know you are doing things the right way.



More often than not, I've acted as the project manager for very large capital equipment projects. On these projects, I've dealt extensively with direct customers, executive management (customer's bosses), A&E firms (akin to contractors), etc. I fully understand customer-centric thinking & business direction. And I also understand that mere enthusiasm for home improvement does not necessarily translate into customers chomping at the bit to hire me. Creating that comfort level with the client and having them entrust their desires and their monies with my service will undoubtedly be a significant hurdle. But that's the cornerstone...



I am also trying to build references... I have been planting the seeds to help another friend with an extensive home project. But they have a new baby and I am not sure if they want to move forward just yet. Since these folks are very good friends, I would gladly help manage the project for free if I could use them as a reference.



I agree about everything you guys have said.... I've started to scratch the surface and now I want to see what lies beneath. At the very least, I'll see what happens! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Chris Vais]

My wife has worked as an independent consultant off and on for the past 20 years. I strongly recommend that you form an LLC and that have adequate professional liability insurance so that your personal assets are protected in that case one of yur clients resorts to the time honored American solution to a disappointing outcome, the lawsuit.

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[94SilverCab]

First step is to write a business plan, it will help you to focus on who and what your Client base and Marketing strategy will be. The Small Business Administration has some very good formats for free. Don't skimp the time on writing this plan, it becomes a prophecy and it helps to attract financing for your business later.



Seek out help from business and accounting professionals and shop your idea around. They will tell you if your plan is sturdy.



I have written a number of these plans...normally I would just jump in and help you out, but I'm up to my eyeballs with work as it is right now.



Jay

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[flash]

all of the above are great



i am not sure what the market will be, as i would never hire someone like that, but there are such people here that do it - one of the neighbors where i just moved from did exactly this - i didn't think anybody would want a middle man, and the added cost, but he seems to be making a living at it - i'm a do-it-yourselfer, and with the design software out there now, and all the resources available, i figure i save myself a ton of money that way - but, some of my friends and neighbors also look at me with glazed eyes of bewilderment when i tell them about what i am doing too, so i guess they would be ones to use this kind of service



one thing i would look into is consulting with an attorney regarding liability and required licensing - you may need to pay some fees, get a license or two, or buy insurance



next suggestion - get a dedicated phone line - do not use your personal line



also, make sure you have a good accountant - there are a lot of tax advantages to owning a business

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[biotechee]

Ahh- forgot about the SBA site- thanks for the reminder.... Tons of good examples for business plans.



Will definitely go the LLC route- too much to lose if a disgruntled customer decides that lawyers are required.



Finding a good attorney / tax guy is difficult, but I should have luck where I live.



I am pretty much a DIY kinda guy as well when it comes to the property. One can save a lot of money by just researching a little and taking the leap of faith by trying to do it yourself. I know that my basement finishing project would have been nearly double what I am currently spending had I not done nearly everything myself. If I can do most everything by myself, I can afford to use better / higher end materials versus what typically would be used by a contractor.



That said, the market around here is overflowing with people who will gladly pay to have someone take care of various things for them. For these people, their "free" time is worth way more than someone such as myself would charge to handle a project. For example, we pay to have someone come to our house every two weeks and do a general cleaning (vacuum, dust, mop, bathrooms, etc.). The price we pay for this service is worth far less than the time we would sacrifice on the weekends to get it done. Since both my wife and I have full time jobs and two young kids, it is a no-brainer for us. I am still fighting the lawn mowing service though! At this point, I refuse to let someone mow my lawn for me. With only 1/3 acre, I feel I should still do it. Go figure!



It's all about service nowadays. I am a firm believer in service over products. In most instances, in my mind, competing products are generally equivalent with small differences here and there. I understand the generalization, but I think this is the root for most things. Therefore, I think great service and customer focus during said service is what differentiates one company from another.



Regarding the separate phone line: I have an individual cell phone w/ number which is on our family plan. Would this suffice? I use it basically to communicate with the wife and a very small handful of friends. I see no reason to not use that number.... What sayeth those in the know?

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[flash]

yeah, i hire people to do those kinds of things too - but, when it comes to remodling, i do as much as i can myself, because of the issue of quality, as well as wanting my ideas and not theirs - every time i have tried using a middle man, and then disagreed with them for whatever reason, the job suffered - they all wanted to put in their 2 cents worth, and i was just looking for somebody to follow instructions - i want it done my way on a lot of things, and i get resistance from a lot of small contractors because they don't want to spend the time and money to do it right



every time i have dealt with these middle men, they put their contractors above their clients - they don't want to alienate that tile guy by making him do it over at his own expense when he screws up the job - i just went through this a year ago, and i will never let it happen again



don't get me wrong - i have no love for having to deal wiht these contractors - i think there is room for somebody to manage these clowns, and i hope it works out, but so far i have not found anybody with the juevos to do the job



i am about to do a $300k remodel here and am not looking forward to again having to deal with this, but i really hav no choice - i have to brush up on my spanish too



as for the phone line, this just goes to professionalism and impression - when i hire someone, if i call them and the answer "hello" and not with a business name, i hang up and never call them again - i figure if they haven't even bothered to spend the money to set up a business properly, and buy the right tools, how can i expect them to treat my job with the level of professionalism and responsibility that i want? i am not looking for some fly-by-night kind of guy - even my gardener has a business phone



if you have to use a personal cell phone, install a business line in the house, and forward your calls to the cell phone - then at least the caller id will show up as a forwarded call, and you will know it's a business call

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[biotechee]

I agree with you about the "if you want it done right, you gotta do it yourself" aspect.



My plan is to focus on the client. Tile contractors, for example, are a dime-a-dozen in my area. If they don't want to do the job right, one or any combination of these three things happened: 1) the job wasn't specified right in the first place which allowed them to cut corners, 2) they don't care about future business, and/or 3) no one with any knowledge of their craft was involved. There will always be somebody who will do the job right and values the future business a job well done can and will most likely generate.



One thing I have learned in being in the capital equipment business for the Pharm and Biotech industries is, it is paramount to know what you want up front. I want to help with this part... I also plan to help the customer choose their contractors, but at the end of the day, their choice was exactly that- their choice, which I will gladly stand by... I have also learned that one's personal opinion should be kept personal if at all possible. I would strive to steer clients in directions which I view to be better suited to their goals, but at the end of the day, they have the money and they make the choice. I will never argue this and if a client wanted to do something or have something done which I deemed unsatisfactory, so be it. I'll advise them of the potential results / pitfalls as best I can, but that's it. If there are no safety issues, who am I to argue with your money?! If there are issues regarding safety, then I cancel my service to them based on the clause in my contract.



Also, I envision having the stones to be the right middle man. We'll see!



I concur with the phone deal as well... I seriously only have 8 numbers that call my phone (three are: wife's work, wife's cell, our home number; a fourth is my mother...). All other calls would be business related and the phone would be answered as such. A very good point you have made- one must put forth a professional attitude!



Lots to think about and I appreciate everyone's input!

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[flash]

knowing the ups and downs is the key to being able to enjoy owning your own business



also, getting out of the mindset of being an employee is something not everyone can do - one of my best friends, who constantly talks about running his own business, is just not the type to be able to do it - it takes a lot of conviction and sacrifice he is not willing to make



most small business fail in the first year - thinking it through and trying to anticipate every possible scenario will go a long way toward facilitating success (that's where the business plan comes in)



take your time - think it through - don't skimp on protecting yourself

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[rustech]

A little info: I am interested in offering consultation services for home improvement projects. Sorta like a cross between a general contractor and a designer. The end result would be a "plan" which the client could use to help reach their goal. I am not interested in doing construction nor am I interested in actually picking out colors/fabrics/furniture/etc. I guess another name would be Project Advisor!

I've come across many General Contractors who do a lot of the planning and designing as well as overseeing the trade workers. I'm not sure the "Project Advisor" role that you are considering deviates enough to justify it. One thing that I've learned is that to be valuable in what ever you do, you must be the best at it technically whether it be the construction or the design aspect (both?)...a Specialist of sorts. How will you make yourself essential? Sorry if I'm sounding critical, I'm just challenging you the way a client might.

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[Mark]

Actually Russ I had the same thought about the GC

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[biotechee]

No need to apologize for offering viewpoints and bringing to light potential issues. Discussions like this can only help me. I value the input I have gotten, without any doubt!



Bottom line is I haven't figured everthing out at this point. No clue if I will be able to convince clients that my service is worthwhile. I don't want to use "essential", because the service I intend to offer is not "essential". What I intend to offer is more of a "want" versus a "need" if that makes sense. When tiling a bathroom floor, one "needs" a tiling contractor, but one may also "want" someone who can help them ask the right questions, help them make the right decisions, and help ensure the project is "right" is right from the start. I think the market will bear this, especially in my geographical location.



I know that when I consider any projects around my property, I spend a lot of time investigating paths, products, etc. With certain projects, I can easily see how someone would feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be considered. I want to help with this.



My challenge is to convince the client to let me help them with their project.... Call it a glorified Admin, Project Advisor, GC, whatever. At the end of the day, I think there are a lot of people around here who would pay to have someone "guide" them through their project.



I think it is worth a shot. If it works, great. If not, then at least I tried and probably got a few tax breaks along the wayl!! One of the good things: I have plan B always brewing in the back of my mind. I will spare the details but plan B is modelled after an existing small business that is successful in another geographical region. There is no competition in my region and there would be no issue with starting a similar business in my region. Again, it is service based so start-up costs are practically non-existent.

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