Maggot Businesses?

[BobMc]

Today I began my first day as a business owner. Truthfully, I'm terrified. Even though I know I'll succeed, the whole overwhelming actuality of it all is rather daunting.

After spending 20 years in the auto industry I somehow lucked into the opportunity to purchase a shop of my own. The largest piece of luck I have had is my wife, to have such a wonderful partner is something I wish everyone could experience. Between the two of us we should have most of the bases covered to maintain operations of the business.

If anyone in the Salt Lake valley needs some work give me a try.

Anyways, enough about me. Let's hear about some of the other maggot businesses here. How many of you own businesses we would like to frequent other than the fact we don't know about them? How were you able to weather the new business storm? Did you sleep at all?

BobMc
www.advancedserviceauto.com

[cj001f]

Damn - looks like quite an operation! Congrats!

[stompinlines]

Congratulations man. Best of luck with your venture.

[fez]

nice job Bob! that has to be very exciting and scary at the same time. How many bays does that shop have?

I'm still in the planning phase of my business right now, I want to combine my 20yrs experience in restaurants with my knowledge and interest in computers to start a restaurant management software company. Right now im finding the business side of the whole thing intimidating so like a true geek i have retreated into writing code.

[meatdrink9]

Congrats Bob. If my cars are having trouble they're headed your way. It's always awesome having someone you know and trust as a mechanic.

[LeeLau]

nice job Bob! that has to be very exciting and scary at the same time. How many bays does that shop have?

I'm still in the planning phase of my business right now, I want to combine my 20yrs experience in restaurants with my knowledge and interest in computers to start a restaurant management software company. Right now im finding the business side of the whole thing intimidating so like a true geek i have retreated into writing code.

A client of mine writes an add-on for Micros. They've done really well by it. Good luck to you and make sure you watch receivables as restaurants are notoriously slow to pay

[divegirl]

Bob - congratulations on owning your own business! What a huge step. It's comforting (in an odd way) to know you're terrified. Personally, I'm on a mission to really figure out how I'm going to retire. It's terrifying for me, too, because in the years since I gratuated from college, I was just going through the motions - I've had a decent paying job but I wasn't saving for anything big or looking at the big picture seriously.

I don't own a business yet, but someday I plan on it. Currently it's in my 5 year plan. I thought I wanted to become an architect. But unfortunately I don't really see myself enjoying this for the rest of my life. So I'm going to switch gears a little and start to direct my career towards interior design. After all, I received my degree in environmental design/interior architecture. I'm also interested in a cradle-to-cradle approach to building products...products that you can see and feel...meaning they're sustainable and sensitive to our environment and indoor air quality. I'm pretty sure this is what I want to do...it gets me excited, so it must be! In order to start this kind of business, it's going to take a ton of work and I'm definitely terrified... Maybe I can get advice from other people here (or their wives) who've started similar businesses.

[LeeLau]

bob - I ran my own law firm for 6 years. I didn't sleep well. I wish I could say i enjoyed it but I didn't - was never into wining and dining and schmoozing; not very good at supervising people. I especially hated hiring and firing. I wish you the best though. Quite the operation.

[mntlion]

thanks to you maggots buying skis and gear from me, I have an small business now.......

thanks guys!!

and congrats on your venture

[iceman]

bob - I ran my own law firm for 6 years. I didn't sleep well. I wish I could say i enjoyed it but I didn't - was never into wining and dining and schmoozing.

I don't think guys who own car-repair shops have to do a hell of a lot of wining and dining and schmoozing. But if they did, Bob could handle it, I assure you.

As far as bossing people around or kicking their asses to the curb if they can't hang, I'm pretty sure he's got that covered.

Big ups to Bob, had a blast skiing with you yesterday man, any of the pics come out at all?

[glademaster]

Congrats and best of luck Bob!

Nothing to add business wise since I'm in high school, but if I ever have car trouble in the SLC area, I know where I'm going.

[Trackhead]

Very cool. I'll be sure to come your way if my autos need work.

I don't suppose you know anything about Onan generators? My RV generator needs some work.

[Castro's]

Thats awesome new Bob! Now the key is to find a great manager and ski every day, you're your own boss now!

[be]

I've been in the business of starting businesses for my whole career, both as an entrepreneur and now as a venture capitalist. I have the highest regard and respect for your willingness to put it all out there. You will experience the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but keep in mind what your end goal is and realize that you will never get there in the way you originally thought, so stay flexible. My hats off to you. Enjoy the ride...b

[Zeedashbo]

zeedash drywall. from rocking to finishing, i am the man!

[riderspro]

Congrats Bob. I started a graphic design/printing/marketing/public relations business six years ago after being in the field for 14 or so. I had many sleepless nights, but lots of good times, and good riding on pow days! The first year was pretty tough. You have a lot of overhead though, which I did not. Most of my stuff is intellectual property, so you have that heavy payment every month which I did not. Oh well, get after it and have a blast!

Just remember it all has your name attached, so if you treat people well, they will give referrals. It might take a while, but you will be off to the bank!

[DerJaeger]

Looks like I know where to stop if I need repairs during next road trip down to Moab!

I'm still in the planning phase of my business right now, I want to combine my 20yrs experience in restaurants with my knowledge and interest in computers to start a restaurant management software company. Right now im finding the business side of the whole thing intimidating so like a true geek i have retreated into writing code.

As a geek turned software industry marketing / business stategy guy, I can relate to this. Don't give up though - just get something, anything shipped. Even if this one doesn't sell, it will lead to something that does. Business plans are like battle plans - they rarely survive contact with the enemy (market). So the sooner you can jump in and try, the sooner you can figure out what works and what doesn't.

[Red Baron]

Bob, that's AWESOME!

I can't stand the place we take our work vehicles; maybe I can send some fleet business your way...

They're fun jobs - like repairing the driveshaft of a 1994 Ford Bronco with 250k miles on it, which - while doing 65mph on I-80 last week - had the driveshaft seperate and smash into the road, then rebound up against the passenger cabin and actually intrude into it a bit...uh, yeah...not too much fun being in the passenger seat on that one...

[Ski Monkey]

Rock and Roll Bob! I'm glad you got it going. Owning a business can be the most rewarding and frustrating things in the world. After it's all said and done, I'm not quite sure I would have it any other way though. Be made a great point, stay flexible in how your business progresses as it never seems to go the way you expect which isn't bad as long as you can adapt.

For the last 3 years I've had a partnership that has been involved in real estate investment and nightly rentals. That led us to getting involved with property management for other owners but it ended up being a huge pain in the ass with very low margins. In the process we stumbled upon the need for a reservation platform that was more flexible. It turns out it's something that we can extend to other property managers on the web, for a price of course.

Other businesses I'm involved with at the moment are a new bar and restaurant in Park City and a new blog and feed website that currently is more of a proof of concept for myself. Shameless plug: http://www.feedagg.com A few divestitures and acquisitions are in the works as well.

Sleep is an important question, but basically I work my self until I pass out, then I don't have any problem not falling asleep. In all reality though, I'm probably abnormal in the fact that when I get to bed, I am able to just kind of forget everything and sleep.

Dealing with the storm of a new business can be difficult. What has worked best for me is having a physical outlet for my tensions. For a while it has been skiing, but this winter it was Skeleton. 80 mph and 5'gs lets off quite a bit of stress as well as clears your mind of anything else than the moment. It let's me come back to my projects with a clearer head.

Congrats again, and as always, let me know if I can help.

[Ski Monkey]

Business plans are like battle plans - they rarely survive contact with the enemy (market). So the sooner you can jump in and try, the sooner you can figure out what works and what doesn't.

Reminds me of something I heard a while back. If 5 year plans didn't work for the USSR with all of the planners and resources, how do you think they will work for you? Or something like that.

[Lynx]

aw, SHIT YEAH!!! Bob that's so awesome, and HUuuuUGE CONGRATS!!

(That place looks big, BTW! How many employees do you have? Or still workin on that part?)

[powstash]

You're near the BC.com warehouse - lots of oil changes and the likes from that young crowd. Perhaps some WOM efforts could be done or a simple "Yo, come get your oil changed from a Solitude skier" PDF for the masses with a little "save a few clams" could help get the ball rolling in the WVC area? Let me know if I can help.

[ill-advised strategy]

Bob, you are the McMang!

I'm probably going to have work for you soon.

[schuss]

Congrats bob, and let me say, the picture in the "about us" section is mildly hilarious.

[Aldo]

Whoa! That's a sizeable operation!! Congratulations Bob, you've paid your dues. Best of luck to you my man.

We have quite a bit in common, I've just recently gotten back into the auto industry after almost a 25 year absence. I'm a partner in a European Sales and service joint out here in NJ. It's my dream job. I'd love to type more, but I can't wait to get to work!

Best of luck to you and your wife Bob, we'll certainly have to compare notes one of these days!!!