Experiences with starting a business

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the experiences and considerations involved in starting a business, particularly in the context of a computer sales and repair shop. Participants share insights on challenges, planning, competition, and legal protections, while also expressing concerns about operational aspects and customer acquisition.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant emphasizes the importance of hard work and proper bookkeeping in running a business.
  • Another participant expresses doubt about their ability to find inspiration and questions the correct way to maintain financial records.
  • Concerns are raised about the lack of a formal business plan and the need to understand competition to succeed.
  • Some participants discuss the competitive landscape, noting the presence of both large stores and local shops, and propose a cooperative approach rather than a purely competitive one.
  • There are suggestions about the importance of location, particularly being near a PC gaming place to attract customers.
  • Legal considerations are mentioned, including the need for disclaimers and the potential benefits of incorporating or forming a limited liability company (LLC).
  • Challenges related to client acquisition and inventory management in the computer business are highlighted, with a focus on the rapid obsolescence of technology.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of views on the necessity of a business plan, the best legal structure for a small business, and strategies for attracting customers. There is no consensus on these issues, and multiple competing perspectives remain throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the need for a formal business plan and effective bookkeeping, while others express uncertainty about their ability to manage these aspects. The discussion also reflects varying levels of experience and confidence among participants regarding business operations.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in starting a small business, particularly in the technology sector, may find the shared experiences and insights relevant to their own entrepreneurial journeys.

Pengwuino
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Im starting a business and i was wondering what your guyses experiences have been with businesses? What is the big cause for people not making it and what things do i need to consider when planning out the business? Also, what kind of scams should i avoid if there are any and what should i be on the lookout for... any help would be... helpful! :D
 
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Starting your own business requires,1% inspiration..and 99% perspiration and spend all you can afford on advertising. Learn to keep your own books/records the correct way.
When I started mine I worked over a year before takeing a day off. Now some 15 years latter..lol I still work too much! I don't mind because my business is fun with very little stress.
 
Crap... are you serius? I don't think i have a whole percent of inspiration ;) lol. I am in college so i can't be there 100% of the time. I need an employee for 2 days out of the week. And what would be the 'correct way' of keeping my books?
 
Pengwuino said:
Im starting a business and i was wondering what your guyses experiences have been with businesses? What is the big cause for people not making it and what things do i need to consider when planning out the business? Also, what kind of scams should i avoid if there are any and what should i be on the lookout for... any help would be... helpful! :D
Do you have a business plan? http://www.sba.gov/starting_business/

Most of the failures I see in business are due to not understanding the competition, what is going to set you apart from the others that do what you do or sell what you sell?
 
I really don't have a formal business plan. Its a computer sales/repair shop and i don't have a formal business plan. The only thing i can see putting my self above the competition is well... i have 2 groups of competition. 1 is the big stores like best buy and such... but they charge a lot and you can't get customized computers from there so i hope to grab onto the market that what's a custom computer but doenst know how to do it themselves. Plus repair work is so expensive at the big stores. The other group is the other shops in the city. I think i can be more... coop then competative with them. I don't see me driving them out or visa versa and i think its just we all kinda exist within our areas.

Plus I am hopen to get a spot next to this PC gaming place where there has to be a lot of computer-lovers around who like gaming. The just do gaming, no repair or selling or anything.
 
http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id%3D98575,00.html
 
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If you can't keep books and can't analyse finances in any way, forget it.
 
How complicated can it be?

All my purchases will come from 1 distributor and 1 other website.
Dont see anything special other then a guy comen in and fillen out an order form or a work form and comen back later to pickup the computer and paying.
 
Pengwuino said:
I really don't have a formal business plan. Its a computer sales/repair shop and i don't have a formal business plan. The only thing i can see putting my self above the competition is well... i have 2 groups of competition. 1 is the big stores like best buy and such... but they charge a lot and you can't get customized computers from there so i hope to grab onto the market that what's a custom computer but doenst know how to do it themselves. Plus repair work is so expensive at the big stores. The other group is the other shops in the city. I think i can be more... coop then competative with them. I don't see me driving them out or visa versa and i think its just we all kinda exist within our areas.

Plus I am hopen to get a spot next to this PC gaming place where there has to be a lot of computer-lovers around who like gaming. The just do gaming, no repair or selling or anything.
Then you may have a niche. You don't have any large upfront investments to worry about or employees, that's good.

Make sure you have some kind of disclaimer to protect yourself. You don't want someone claiming you destroyed thousands of dollars of their computer equipment if they aren't satisfied.
 
  • #10
I will have 1 employee though for 2 days a week... and yah I am going to get a lawyer to look at how to protect myself from lawsuits
 
  • #11
Incorporating yourself is the best defence. But please check the link in my last post..down at the bottom of the page go to Publication 583 and read it.
 
  • #12
Oh i really don't think i can incorporate. I wouldn't be able to do everything required that real corporations due (even though a lot of small business corporations don't either). I am looking into a limited liability company (LLC) though...
 
  • #13
The two biggest things you will have to overcome are:

1)Getting clientelle. You will have to do a lot of hustling to do this. Don't rely simply on word of mouth advertising.

2)In that business, you are going to have a heck of a balancing act with your sales vs. your on hand inventory. Since computer stuff gets outdated weekly, you will have to be very prudent with what supplies/items you decide to have on hand for sale. You are going to have to be very good with estimating the absolute minimum amount of capital to invest in your inventory.

An LLC is definitely the way to go. Limited Liability is the key.

P.S. My wife runs her own business.
 
  • #14
Well its going to be more of a shop and not a retail store. Peole come in needing something fixed or want to buy a whole system... we take the orders and fill em. If someone asks for a certain part, we can get it for them too.
 

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