Looking to go solo

[Blues]

So I have been working in the IT department of a fairly sizable company but want to start doing work for myself on the side. I am part of it's internal IT department so I don't see a conflict of interests here with me doing both at the same time. My biggest issue right now is funding and figuring out the legal issues to it all. So where should I start besides registering the business name and all and picking up the TN Kit. I need a website but I can't do web design and I don't yet know what the costs of registering the business is yet to know what I will have left. I am trying to fine tune my pricing as well but I'm thinking about $65/hr on-site service and for flat rate pickups I'm having trouble figuring the best rates. I likely will go pull pricing from the big chains to be competitive with them and in line with the hourly I am thinking. Logo is probably the next issue before website but I would like to find out about people who can do websites and figure costs first.

 

[hardtoremember]

Start buying supplies now!

If you can't do it all at once do it little by little. Luckily I could do it all at once and did... But just barely! A short list of what I did. [if I can remember correctly!]
Business name -$0
Website -cheap [I am using a wordpress blog]
Domain and associated domains -$100
State business license -$150
City business license -$75
Home occupation permit -$15
Tax id -$25
Business phone $10 a month [added a line to my cell phone plan EASY!]
Logo -$0 [thanks to a friend]
Trademark -$500
Car magnets -$90
Website re-design -free
Business bank account -$200
Business cards -$35
Google adwords -$50
Clothing [that properly reflects the image
I want for my company] -$500
Networking with people -free
Networking with people -still free
Advertising -$400
TN kit -$50???

So around $2000 that I can remember for only the list above. I have a lot more out in supplies I have been buying over the last year to start this. I invested in a good printer, lots of paper, pens, thumb drives, a couple more externals, envelopes, *Swingline stapler*, SD cards + usb adapter and many other peripheral devices I might or might not ever need.
You are going to need a lot of stuff that I am not thinking of right now and I still keep thinking of things.

You'll need at least 2 free stations [monitor, mouse, keyboard, ethernet] to hook computers up to and a nice clean, usable space to do your work. One really neat thing I did to personalize my home office space was making a really BIG chalk board calendar on the wall. I can write appointments on it or just notes to myself.

Write down everything you use at your current place of employment and you'll have some idea of what you need.

I hope this is more helpful than it is long-winded!

 

[Mushin]

Independant Technicians are a dime a dozen so to combat this you may want to spend some quality time up front figuring out what your competitive advantage will be. Also do some planning on how you will ensure that you can service your customers while still having a job.

As you have said you will have to determine if you are going to use flat rate pricing or hourly pricing. Do some reading on the forums here about this topic.

If your regular job keeps you at work essentiall 9 to 5 then focus on what you can do to maximize your time. Keep in mind that drop off and pick up service can actually take just as much time as it would to just stay on site and do the repair.

Perhapse you can use a hybrid model... arrive on site to assess the computer. If it has internet connectivie install a remote repair software such as logmein rescue. Then return back to your "base" and perform the repair remotely... or.... just walk the client through the install of the remote repair and go to town.

Also come up with a strategy for how you will handle phone calls to your business line when you are at work.

Essentially... think about how you will operate and what you will need to have in place.

 

[weezon]

You sounds like you know what you have to do so chop, chop. Do something is all you need to do. Start figuring out what you mentioned above. You can do the website your self I'm sure if you know IT. I built my first web site with company software on the company laptop on my own time. Showed my boss and he didn't even know we had the volume license for the software. No one ever used it and the guys in engineering wanted to buy software. I saved that company thousands of dollars.

 

[Blues]

I made the thread to serve as my own idea pool and reminder with the benefit of opening up input from those who may have already been through it. I have been on the forum longer than most here so I am up on most threads. I know what I need to do and as far as fund to invest I only have ~$1200 so that is why the money is an issue. Thanks for all thats been said so far I hope to use this to post progress and get input on certain steps before hand.

 

[Screwloose]

To be honest, unless you are a web designer I would suggest to at least have one look at your site if you do it yourself. I see so many sites that people do on their own that just are not professional even though they think they are.

A well designed website will pay for itself.

 

[weezon]

To be honest, unless you are a web designer I would suggest to at least have one look at your site if you do it yourself. I see so many sites that people do on their own that just are not professional even though they think they are.

A well designed website will pay for itself.

I'll take a web site with great PR made by a 3rd grader over a professional site that ranks poorly. You can build your own professional site yourself and pay to get the PR. I'm just saying.

 

[MikeLierman]

You don't have to know web designing to get a cool looking website. There are plenty of free professional looking joomla and wordpress templates.

And I never went for the business bank account, I just have checks written out to my name, and if anyways asks, I tell them all funds are organized by the funder and owner (me). I've never had anyone question this. Ever. And my bank doesn't care.

I have an off-topic question though.
For hardtoremember: You mention car magnets. I am tempted to actually get static cling letters on my back window and sides of my car for advertising. How well do magnets work? Do they fall off easy?

 

[hardtoremember]

I have an off-topic question though.
For hardtoremember: You mention car magnets. I am tempted to actually get static cling letters on my back window and sides of my car for advertising. How well do magnets work? Do they fall off easy?

I live in Las Vegas and it is windy here at times. The day I picked them up we were gusting at 50 mph and I was driving on the freeway at 65. They didn't move an inch!
I love them and I think they were well worth the money.

 

[maclaptech]

If you ask me, start slow. Don't buy bunch of stuff before you even know if you like doing it on your own. Maybe order some business cards, get car magnets and two shirts with your logo on it and use Yahoo Sitebuilder to build a web site and host it on Yahoo Small Business. Anyone can use this tool with little practice.

That is all that I would spend money on for now. You can always register your business in a month or two after you've done few jobs to see f you like it.

Your biggest issue will be finding clients. So first thing you need to concentrate on is your marketing. If you can't make money, nothing else matters.

 

[SThompson86]

If you ask me, start slow. Don't buy bunch of stuff before you even know if you like doing it on your own.

Thats how I did it, and I am very glad I started slow and did not drop major bucks because I am starting to see my little side business endeavor as a lost cause.

 

[Screwloose]

I'll take a web site with great PR made by a 3rd grader over a professional site that ranks poorly. You can build your own professional site yourself and pay to get the PR. I'm just saying.

ummm do you know of any web sites made by 3rd graders that would be good business sites?

Seriously... get a professional

 

[Blues]

My first step is to register the business name and make that legal on paper and picking up the TN Business Kit most likely as well for paper work in business. Next will be designing a logo, business cards, and other advertising though I might make up a few simple business cards to use to drum up business. Then a website is my 3rd item and my biggest hang up as I don't do web design so getting a professional looking site and getting it ranked are tough for me. There is also the fact that it will have re-occurring costs associated with it I will need to be able to do business to keep up with it.

I suspect registering the business name and all will not run very much I'm just having trouble finding out where and how to register as the government websites are not that well designed to me. I am trying to figure if I need to do an LLC or what I have asked some family to look into it for me as he is a CPA. I also may hound the attorneys that my current employer staffs for some information.

I believe I am on the right track for getting this done its just needing to make the jump in and figure out some of the confusion. Thanks for any input you all have given and any more is always welcomed.

 

[kagman]

Hey Blues just sent you a PM...

 

[kagman]

Thats how I did it, and I am very glad I started slow and did not drop major bucks because I am starting to see my little side business endeavor as a lost cause.

Dude don't give up!!! Please don't...!!!!

 

[hardtoremember]

Dude don't give up!!! Please don't...!!!!

Seconded. Give it a chance.

 

[MikeLierman]

I live in Las Vegas and it is windy here at times. The day I picked them up we were gusting at 50 mph and I was driving on the freeway at 65. They didn't move an inch!
I love them and I think they were well worth the money.

hardtoremember: Alright thanks! That helps. Cause I was a little hesitant, but now I think I might actually get some.. did you just get them online or something?

Update: So in my last post I mentioned that I decided not to get a business account because of cost. Well I went to my bank today and asked about it and apparently it's free from my bank. I get a debt card and checking out in my business name all for free. So I got that registered. So a heads up to some of you that you may not have to pay anything (especially not $200) for a business checking.

Thats how I did it, and I am very glad I started slow and did not drop major bucks because I am starting to see my little side business endeavor as a lost cause.

Dude don't give up!!! Please don't...!!!!

Seconded. Give it a chance.

I will try 100 times, and if I fail those 100 times, and I give up, do you ever think I am going to succeed? NO! But if I fail, and I try again, and again, and again, I just want you to know that it's NOT the end.

 

[hardtoremember]

You're welcome. I just found a local graphics shop and they did it.

We got a business checking account too and it was free. Got free checks and check card. Bottom line: they want your money in their bank.

 

[ell]

well, I'm irish and very cheap, so here goes. My biz has more than doubled in 3 yrs. I have spent 0 on advertising, I created my own website on google sites, spent HOURS doing my own seo, I am #1 in local google searches as result of that. Bought all my tools on ebay-usually from china if I'm not in a hurry (cheap!) I think the golden thing is not being hard and fast about pricing (if I have a customer I know is strapped and they really rely on their pc, I usually give them a deal, the referrals are golden) and treating every customer like your buddy (23 yrs in retail I may have learned that) One customer gave me a perfectly good pc just cuz she bought a new one! now its my main bench system, oh yes- and ALWAYS answer your phone! I have all calls fwded to my cell.

 

[MTech]

well, I'm irish and very cheap, so here goes. My biz has more than doubled in 3 yrs. I have spent 0 on advertising, I created my own website on google sites, spent HOURS doing my own seo, I am #1 in local google searches as result of that. Bought all my tools on ebay-usually from china if I'm not in a hurry (cheap!) I think the golden thing is not being hard and fast about pricing (if I have a customer I know is strapped and they really rely on their pc, I usually give them a deal, the referrals are golden) and treating every customer like your buddy (23 yrs in retail I may have learned that) One customer gave me a perfectly good pc just cuz she bought a new one! now its my main bench system, oh yes- and ALWAYS answer your phone! I have all calls fwded to my cell.

Using the experiences of others like this is GOLDEN.
Also, I think everyone can agree: Working hard (many [Many] hours of pure effort) will both provide you with a sense of pride in your business (as a product of hard work, which you will naturally show to your customers), and more often then not give you a leg up in getting the customers in the first place.

Never give up!