Thinking about starting my own business..........

fornetti14 wrote: Sounds interesting. Can you do it while still actively looking for full time employment? Start ups usually take a while to get rolling and you have to eat while you're building your business. Plus, it always helps to have a back-up plan in case this doesn't get going fast enough.

No.

You can't commit to building a business (which could easily take 60-80 hours per week) and still actively look for full-time employment.

Though the best way to start something like this probably would have been to start small on the side while you still had a job, you will MELT DOWN if you try to put the energy into building a business and actively pursue a full-time at the same time. Especially considering the current MI economy- the job search alone will drain you.

Go all in, but build your network of contacts. This may lead to a future change of plans, but don't hold back your current plans. The world is full of people playing it safe. If you do this, you will look just like all the other job hunters. Set yourself apart and fully communicate to your customers that you are in it for the long run.

If there is an opportunity for related full time employment, it will surface all by itself when you are building the business and networking, because someone will see you as a go-getter. Hopefully by then, you won't need the job.

What States currently outlaw overnight idling?

I can tell you from experience owning my own business -If you work for yourself, your boss is an shiny happy person.

SVreX wrote: What States currently outlaw overnight idling?

http://www.scribd.com/doc/2170989/2008-Idle-Laws-by-State

damn.. atlanta has a 15 minute regulation.. and $500 min fine.

New York has a 15 min limit too. My first ticket was $800

Beware also counties and towns. They can have local anti idling laws.

Again, thanks all for your input. First I have to say this, I'm TICKED OFF!! I had an appointment with the RSM this afternoon and he freakin' stood me up! I know the guy, I've trained some of his customers, heck we worked together for over 3 years and he stood me up? I'm pissed!!

Anyway, my core business would be class 8 trucks and school busses. I would be very willing and able to install a CB, TV, Generator or anyting else he wants. I would also be looking into the RV business but I see class 8 and scholastic as my main market in the beginning. As far as the scholastic market, someone said busses come equipped and the kids generate the heat, this is just wrong. The School Bus market was my baby for part of the time I was there, I was the only trainer. I had to become VERY familiar with the market (I've been to the School bus equivalent of the North American International Auto Show!! I know, try to contain your envy please). These things are normally purchased sans extra heaters, I'd say 65% of the time or more. When they get them installed aftermarket they can (and do) negotiate extras like included maintenance, training, parts, etc. There are laws and regs regarding the heaters, everything from where the exhaust exits to how many times the fuel line has to be secured to the bus and, most importantly for me, that the bus has to be able to maintain 68 degrees F with 1/3 of the windows open, this reg is different by state, some have it, some don't and each state may be a bit different with the details.

Anyway, I really appreciate your help folks. What can you tell me about health insurance. I haven't looked into it yet but I'm afraid to think about it. I have 3 kids!

I ve been self employed for years. I haven't saved as much for retirement as I should have, but I'm better at that now. I don't think I could do it if I had to carry health insurance for my 2 kids, their Mom does.

Interesting idea. I kinda like it...

One question I didn't see mentioned (although I breezed through the thread quickly when I saw Webesto): How far would you be willing to travel? I say this because a lot of TDI owners long for a Webesto (I know I have...). How long does an installation usually take? I ask because you could probably make a few bucks installing a few at TDI Club gatherings over a weekend... if this is practical.

I know you're looking more at the commercial side, but some TDI owners will spend stupid-money on their cars...

The idea of doing travelling installs has been done. A number of MINI tuners used to do "pulley parties" on the R53 MINI. Get a bunch of R53 owners together in one place, and one guy would install a half-dozeon or so reduction pulleys in a day at around $300 a pop. Currently, there is a tuner in CA who travels around the country do various dyno shops doing ECU tuning on MINI's. He's doing pretty good with it.

Ian F wrote: Interesting idea. I kinda like it... One question I didn't see mentioned (although I breezed through the thread quickly when I saw Webesto): How far would you be willing to travel? I say this because a lot of TDI owners long for a Webesto (I know I have...). How long does an installation usually take? I ask because you could probably make a few bucks installing a few at TDI Club gatherings over a weekend... if this is practical. I know you're looking more at the commercial side, but some TDI owners will spend stupid-money on their cars... The idea of doing travelling installs has been done. A number of MINI tuners used to do "pulley parties" on the R53 MINI. Get a bunch of R53 owners together in one place, and one guy would install a half-dozeon or so reduction pulleys in a day at around $300 a pop. Currently, there is a tuner in CA who travels around the country do various dyno shops doing ECU tuning on MINI's. He's doing pretty good with it.

Very interesting idea. I've done one on a TDI Jetta Late 90's, early 00's model I think. If I were able to do a few a day I'd travel a couple hundred miles. As far as time, the passenger car market is VERY different. I've spent the better part of a day on some. If there's no access door under the rear seat, the tank has to come out in most applications. But I'd be very willing. I'll tell you what, those heaters make a WORLD of difference. I have one on my old Dodge P/U with the Cummins. When the temp is 10F outside I have to cycle the glow grid 3 times (taking precious juice from the battery in the process) before it'll start. Then when it does start it has to idle for at least 60 seconds, 4 minutes is better before it's running smooth and not puffing black smoke. Now, if I run the Webasto for 20 minutes, using .25 gallons the truck starts up with the glow grid lighting up for less than 2 seconds and the truck is ready to go now. Oh, and the heater in the truck is on so my windows are clear and the truck is warm. Beats the heck outta scraping windows and freezing till the truck heats up.

Cool. Posting on TDIClub.com and the various Cummins forums probably wouldn't hurt. I'm not sure I'd use one often enough on my TDI for it to realyl be worth it for me (it just doesn't get that cold for that long around here).

Most of the Cummins guys are a pretty loyal and enthusiastic bunch. Unlike me who can't wait to sell the thing... I will say the one time I had to start the truck when it was in the teens and I wasn't able to plug it in... and it hadn't been started in weeks... it took about 5 tries before it finally fired... and then the only way it would idel was with my foot on the pedal... it was NOT happy... of coruse, that was a month and a half ago... and I've driven it once since... over a month ago...

Sorry... I digress... (slap)

DrBoost wrote: Anyway, I really appreciate your help folks. What can you tell me about health insurance. I haven't looked into it yet but I'm afraid to think about it. I have 3 kids!

OK, you've asked twice, and no one smarter than me offered a response, so I'll venture in.

Very expensive.

How expensive? Who knows. Expensive enough that I have done without it for a good many years (and so have a lot of self employed people I know).

But there is really no way for any of us to tell you how expensive. Getting a quote should be easy.

If it is a priority for you, get a quote, and figure it in.

Note: This can change extremely fast. My rates jumped from $800 per month for the family to over $1500 in 3 months. I decided $18,000 after taxes was too much, and we have been paying as we go ever since. But I understand this is not for everyone. Since it can change so quickly, don't structure the income without allowing a buffer.

I get my insurance through NASE at the moment. Even with their dues, the medical ins is less. They have several other perks that can be nice to have. Price it often, we check insurance rates at least every 6 months, Auto, Medical, Workers Comp, and Liability. Rates can jump around on all of them. Last time I checked Liability rates, the rate dropped over 50 percent for the same coverage.

Hmm...

I did NASE years back. Kind of forgot about them. Good word.

FYI: NASE= National Association for the Self Employed

Just a note with a thought as I perused this thread...I just had reason to deal with a dump truck business owner and he was telling me how he's received complaints from residents around his garage about his trucks idling in the morning. Apparently, there is a time limit ordnance as mentioned earlier. However, he can't abide by it, as the trucks simply must be heated up before heading out not only for engine preservation but to build up adequate air pressure for the braking system. He's finding himself caught between a local law and DOT regulations. This product sounds like it's going to become more popular as time goes on.

Is ther a market for these in commercial buses, such as tour companies? My only concern with school buses is the budgets for those are usually set at the beginning of a fiscal year. It's not something they would add without long, annoying budget meetings.

Content removed to due basic wrongnesses.

One perk to the this and the trucker business is you can get one of them High powered linear Cbs and talk your advertising for free over the airwaves . Maybe Get some chic to get on the horn and say

  Break channel   this is Sally Fields  when I aint taking Boniva I am laying  next to my Webasto heater with Burt saving fuel come back

gotta go ten one hundred...

walterj wrote: To play Devils Advocate.... what will you be installing these in? New home construction is at the lowest it has been since they started keeping records in 1963.

The heaters go in diesel trucks/cars. Modern diesel engines produce little extra heat and have problems staying hot in extreme cold. I think you are mistaken.

ignorant wrote:

walterj wrote: To play Devils Advocate.... what will you be installing these in? New home construction is at the lowest it has been since they started keeping records in 1963.

The heaters go in diesel trucks/cars. Modern diesel engines produce little extra heat and have problems staying hot in extreme cold. I think you are mistaken.

Indeed I are then.

In anwer to ddavid, there is a market for these heaters in just about any 12V or 24V mobile vehicle from busses (commercial and school), off-highway, military, boats, cruise ships, anything that needs heat for the engine or the occupants. School bus budgets are indeed set for the fiscal year, and I'd be aiming to be in that budget. There's also the DERA program (Diesel Exhaust Reduction ???) I forget now). That money (1.7 million per state) will be available starting the 3rd week of march and is actually money that HAS to be spent according to Obama. I have calls to make so they know I'm out there.

I gotta go now folks but I will update later. I did meet with the RSM today and things look good!

How about an update?

Yes, any progress?

Thanks for the interest. I was waiting for quotes from insurance companies since I figured that could blow me out of the water. I had NO idea what to expect to pay. Well, seems since I'm mobile (no shop to house many expensive trucks in) and wouldn't need very many expensive tools to travel with me I was able to get $1,000,000 of coverage, buisness auto coverage and my tools in the home covered for about $115.00 a month. That's way under what I expected so it's a go. I plan on getting my DBA next week, getting some business cards and I want to be rolling before April 1st.

Note: You asked about health insurance. That's liability.