Will this fly? 2

[EBGreen]

Let me start by saying that I have a job. But, having said that, I have an idea for a business model. I thrive on new challenges. So far I've been lucky enough to find myself in a position where I get stuck with the work that others don't seem to want and it has always provided me with these challenges. I know that eventually I'm going to run out of luck and need to start doing essentially the same thing all day everyday. As an example, I am currently on a contract to do software packaging. I can do that, but it is something of a rote process for most packages. Luckily the expected volume hasn't been seen yet so I've been loaned out to a sister department in the company to do oddjobs that they haven't been able to get to. None of the tasks have taken more than a week to accomplish so I've had the constant change that I enjoy.

The business model that I have thought up would hopefully support this need of mine continually. Basically it would involve going into smaller businesses and evaluating how they use technology to do their day to day tasks. Then I would reccomend ways to improve what they do. The solutions would come in three basic flavors. One would be training them to use the features of the software they have now better. Most modern software packages have so many features that it is easy to be doing something the hard way when there is a simple solution right there on your desktop. The second flavor of solution would be to recommend existing canned software to improve the process for the business. If one business has a need for some specific functionality, then there is a reasonable chance that someone else had the same need and may have already written something to fix the problem. Lastly, if neither of the other options were available, then I would write software myself to improve their processes. I do this all day long in my current position.

I was looking for feedback on the feasibility of such a venture and any advice that anyone could offer. Thanks for your help, Rob.

 

[Golom]

The "red flag" that I see here is the "small business" target audience.

The sad fact is that the "small businesses" that really need the services that you plan to offer are the very ones that aren't doing well enough financially to pay for them ... or don't see their value. The businesses that are doing well have probably already done the optimization of their IS environment and don't really need the service.

You probably need a market survey of some kind to determine if there is really an audience out there that has the money and willingness to pay for this.

You should also note that this is an area that's over-populated (in most places at least ... don't know where you are.) People will accept advice in this area from the guy at the local computer store, software vendors, other people in the business, vendor reps, ... all of which is free ... before they will pay for it. If you are going to have credibility you will need to be able to demonstrate that you have some expertise in the customer's business ... not just in techie software stuff.

You may want to think about having a suite of products that you can sell (accounting systems, point-of-sale, inventory management, etc.) People are usually much more impressed with a concrete product than they are with some vague "business optimization" advice.

 

[dilettante]

Sounds like a great idea.

But can you make it work economically? Can you handle the necessary self-marketing and then charge rates high enough for these sorts of services to match your current income needs?

I think some sort of market survey is needed first, to ensure that you have enough potential business willing to pay for training and "catch up" development to sustain you.


I am all for user-education.

I get pretty burned out right now just casually dealing with PC users who insist on doing clunky or even destructive things because they don't know how to use the software at their disposal. Simple stuff, like file mutilation. Sometimes it's as simple as their insistence on opening text files in Word, Wordperfect, etc. and then not realizing that if they save instead of just closing they may save the file out there in a proprietary format. Or FTPing data to/from a non-PC platform and using binary mode instead of text (ASCII) mode.

Then the poor schlub at the other end of it all gets his data and says "I can't read it, what went wrong?"

Another favorite is the "word processing guru" who uses hard returns at the ends of each line in paragraphs. Or the clown who can't give up DOS habits and feels that file extensions are just a snazzy place to put in stuff like month and year or some other file name stuff.

These are as likely to be MCSEs or CNAs as some random office worker too.

If this was my job I'd be in a straightjacket inside of a month. If you have the attitude and disposition to handle these things, I applaud you. You're a valuable commodity.


So... my digression is just a way of saying I think there is plenty of need for such services. You may be thinking of "higher-level" training than the needs I raised though. My point is that until they get past the idea that a CD drive tray is a cupholder you will face some strong challenges in delivering those advanced concepts. Then to have them value the knowledge enough to compensate you well enough becomes important.

It is hard to sell a pair of gloves to somebody with no hands.

 

[dilettante]

Sorry Golom, we must have been posting nearly simultaneously. ;-)

 

[Golom]

dilettante
Not a problem ... and you provided a different and quite valid, look at the issue.

I've done this kind of "novice user" consulting for quite some time. The thing that I notice is not just they have bad habits but that they vigorously defend them. What's the old saying? ... "There are none so blind as those who will not see."

I've now sort of settled into the mode that I give advice only when explicitly asked and accompany it with an explanation in language that the audience can understand. There's just no point in talking about database normalization to someone for whom adding a column of numbers in Excel borders on the magical.

 

[chiph]

TomThumbKP

Like Golom said, I would look at the economics of the market. As a business owner, you'll want people who:
[ul][li]Need your services[/li]
[li]Can afford your services[/li]
[li]Can be expected to pay on time[/li]
[/ul]
Don't underestimate the importance of point #3 -- I have a couple of friends who went out of business because their customers refused to pay (in the $50,000 range). You'll have to decide up front how much you can allow your customers to owe you, and then aggressively manage your receivables (0..30 days, 31..60 days, 61..90 days, 90+ days, etc). Most of your customers should ideally be in the 31..60 day bracket. If they get to the 90+ day bracket, cut them off until they pay up.

Many businesses offer a discount for early payment -- that would be a good thing to consider -- somewhere in the 2-5% range.

You might want to check out your competitors. In my area, there's "Geeks On Call", and "Dial A Geek", both of whom offer computer & software services to the newbies.

It could be that they have a franchise available in your area. It always helps to have an established brand behind you, and they often have advertising co-op money to help you market your services.

Chip H.


If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first

 

[EBGreen]

The plan (at least at first) would be to do it completely on the side until I knew for a fact there was enough demand to keep it going. I'm thinking about a system where I go into an office and spend half a day or so just observing what they do and what frustrates them. Then I would put together a concrete plan of attack that I would present to the powers that be. Until I had some satisfied customers that I could point at, this part would be free. I would only charge for any training or coding that I sold them on after the survey. Once I'd been at it for a while and had a good feel for the market, then I would start charging for the entire service. Like I said, I have a good enough job now so I can afford to take it slow.

 

[Stevehewitt]

Hey Rob,

I've been doing this on the side for about 4 years now, and I love it!
Every single day is different. New challanges, new tasks, new people - its great.

But, I don't think there is a market in the area I live for me to do it full time as my main job.

I really hope it works out for you, sounds great. If the market was near me I'd be on the case immediatly!
BTW - Are you in the UK or US? (or anywhere else for that matter?!)

Steve.

Steve.

 

[EBGreen]

US. St. Louis to be specific.

 

[Stevehewitt]

Bugger. We could of setup a join venture!

Good Luck,


Steve.

 

[Terpsfan]

I'm thinking of my own side business as well, but I am giving myself a year to plan for it. I plan to do it part time, while continuing with my present job. If this side business takes off, then I will do it full time. By that time I plan to have a range of software products and services to sell. Some of the areas I will venture into are creating apps for mobile devices, inventory control, file tracking, microsoft office/windows training, document imaging, quality control, shipping/receiving, wireless networking, etc.

Personally I also think I would need quite a bit of advice from others who have started their own business. The technical side of starting your own business is probably just a tip of the iceberg. Having a savvy business sense probably is more vital to success.

 

[chiph]

Omega36 -

You first stop should be to find a good CPA. They will be able to recommend an attorney (if you need one in your state), and the paperwork you'll need to file with the city/county/state goverment. If he's really good, he'll tell you that you can delay the paperwork (but you didn't hear it from him) in order to save you some money (I subscribe to the theory that you don't need it until you make your first sale).

Chip H.


If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first

 

[LesleyW]

The others here have posted some valuable advice, I'd just like to point out something that has not been addressed here, and that is your current position. I think you'll most likely find that someone with your attitude (willing to take on jobs that other's won't, likes a challenge) will nearly always be offered interesting and different challenges. In most IT environments there are more challenging jobs than people with the right skill set willing to tackle them. It's the workers who shy away from change ("oooh my, that's too dificult/stressful") that end up stuck in a rut. So by all means pursue your idea as a sideline, but my guess is that in a year's time your current position will still be offering you the challenges you need to keep you interested.

 

[EBGreen]

Thank you all for the advice. Since I am planning to take it slow, I probably won't have anything interesting to report for sometime, but I will when I do. -Rob.

 

[MasterRacker]

Good luck. Part of the business I'm with now is delaing with small businesses. Most of what I could say has been said already. The biggest barrier is 1) Getting a business owner to see or admit that not everything in their business is perfect and if you can get them to admit they need help, 2) getting them to pay fair value for said help.

(BTW: This discussion would be perfect for the new Starting & Running a Tech Business forum: forum1248 - although the member ship is still small.)


Jeff
The future is already here - it's just not widely distributed yet...

 

[rosieb]

Stevehewitt
Where in the UK are you based? I know a couple of useful (not yet TT) people who might be interested in a joint venture in the right area. Maybe throw it into TTUK?

Rosie
"Never express yourself more clearly than you think" (Niels Bohr)

 

[Terpsfan]

I've decided that I was experiencing some delusions of grandeur to think that I could have my own business...lol I have realized recently that I am not nearly good enough to be at that level. I'm glad I have realized it before I invested a lot of money in the scheme. I am pretty good at this stuff. In order to have your own business one must be an expert. I'm glad I realized this before it went too far. Kudos to those who can pull this kind of thing off.

 

[chiph]

In order to have your own business one must be an expert.

Not true. I know a lot of business owners who aren't geniuses -- they just know enough to know what they don't know, and hire someone else to do what they can't. The classic examples of this are a CPA and attorney. No one is an expert on accounting, and tax law, *and* running their business. You just need to know how to pick good people.

If you're worried about the mechanics of starting a business, there's a series of book out that tells you what to do: Amazon

Like others have said, first step is to get a CPA. He will then tell you what else needs to be done, and in what order.

Chip H.


If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ222-2244 first