Comments on: Establish Yourself by Starting Small

By: InterNet Age

InterNet Age — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 13:10:30 +0000

Aiming for private / residential customers early on, and giving absolute pearler service is key to establishing a solid base of satisfied customers that will send solid referrals your way. Another trick would be to offer emergency service, but that one could end up biting you, and killing your weekend and after hours time.

By: Vicente Black

Vicente Black — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:09:50 +0000

Perry Schjolin, excellent success story!

In small towns, where everyone knows everyone, you may not deceive your clients or you’ll be out of the business in mere days. I live in such a town and despite the fact that now I do not provide services I used to a couple of years ago, people are still coming to me now and then and ask for help.

By: Devon

Devon — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:25:13 +0000

There is a gold mine for the one man team in small towns!! I am a wireless internet provider for 4 towns total population around maybe 5000. Yes ATT and embarq have come to town but someone local to call has keep me in demand. Smaller town people on the whole are even less tech savoy then those in the city. It is just all about REPUTATION. There is not even a geek squad to compete with! LOL If you can make the little old ladies luv ya… hold there hand when they are trying to download pictures of there grandkids or whatever. Trust me you will have more work then you can handle.
It is simple just do some free work for the gossipers in the small towns let them see your skills… Throw in a little extra ram or something when they aren’t looking just make it run better lol
I clear over 80,000 taking care of my flock of about a 2000. True I have a couple business but nothing that employs over 15 people! There is money in small town!

By: the computer doctor of richmond

the computer doctor of richmond — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 04:30:46 +0000

BNI’s!!!! to get in with small business, you must network with small businesses!

I also recommend in a small town meet as many tradesmen/blue collar businesses as possible. These guys really know how to spread the good word.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:45:00 +0000

Starting small should be defiantly a priority on everyone’s’ list. It will give you a confidence boost by the time you progress to service larger size businesses and enough experience to help in all aspects of your clients needs.

By: don john doberto

don john doberto — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:05:11 +0000

thanks guys for the tips, this inspires me to start anew.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:42:57 +0000

Yeah, I agree. No one can ever find a job in a small company where you will be highly compensated in return. Before you get the kind of salary you’re aiming, you still need to work for huge and well-renowned companies where you can’t manage the job by yourself. So if you really want to establish your own business, start small but aim high. Success is on its way when you only believe even with the smallest things you can do.

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 00:02:13 +0000

I started out 18 months ago. My initial plan was to go after the small businesses, but I’ve had very little success.

For me, the residential clients are where it’s all at.

I don’t think the current economic climate helps much either.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:03:49 +0000

Great Advice That is exactly what a new business needs to be able to do, start small and then grow through the residential and small business market. The pay factor is huge. You literally could go out of business before the big company paid for your services, and they would have also tied up precious time that could have been better used getting new clients.

By: Perry Schjolin

Perry Schjolin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:49:16 +0000

As I read these posts I see how my own business has grown in a small town of about 1800 people.

I started about 14 months ago (after 18 years in the Los Angeles area) and joined the local Chamber of Commerce. The presenter at the first chamber meeting I attended had problems with her laptop and projector. After resolving the problem in about 20 seconds she applauded me and told the room full of people that “This is the new computer guy in town and you’ve just seen him in action.”

My first client came from that meeting; a real estate firm with a server and 20 computers in two locations. Then followed the areas largest construction company with a file server and 10 computers. I charge a monthly contract fee and, with a 12-month service contract, give them a $10/hr discount from my normal hourly rate.

I now have 8 businesses under contract, several others without contract and numerous residential clients, many who work for those businesses. I’m no marketing genius I promise. I do have a little yellow page ad and a website, but as this is a retirement area, most of my business comes from personal referral and word-of-mouth. (I do pray a lot too!)

My advice for those in small towns: start small, guard your reputation, under-promise and over-deliver. In time, you’ll have all the work you can handle.