Tips on advertising my business?

[stephen4785]

Iv started my own mobile mechanic business. I'm working on automotive, diesels(pickups and 18 wheelers), and heavy equipment(pretty much anything that you would use a mechanic/tech for). Iv been going to different companies and talking to people. Handed out business cards and I'm talking to everyone I run into. And yes I'v inquired about being an advertiser on this board. I don't have any problem paying for advertising but until I make enough profit to pay for it I cant afford it. So other than looking up random fleets, facebook and driving around is there anything else I can do or should be doing?
Thanks

[racrguy]

Go out to the oilfield. If you're even decent they'll be beating your door down to fix shit.

[stephen4785]

Go out to the oilfield. If you're even decent they'll be beating your door down to fix shit.

Everyone Iv talked to so far says I have to be insured and bonded. The insurance Iv checked on is $300-400 down and then $120/month. Which is fine if I can make some money from doing it. But the people Iv talked to just say to get that stuff first and then check back with them to see if they have anything. Iv also talked to a few techs that have started their own mechanic business but they've all had someone to back them financially,with credit, or with the contacts to get them the work. I don't have any of that. Im not saying Im giving up or bitching because it's hard. I just have to spend the money as I make it.

[Josh.0]

Sounds like you're going in the right direction, whats your biggest source of business right now?

[YALE]

Everyone Iv talked to so far says I have to be insured and bonded. The insurance Iv checked on is $300-400 down and then $120/month. Which is fine if I can make some money from doing it. But the people Iv talked to just say to get that stuff first and then check back with them to see if they have anything. Iv also talked to a few techs that have started their own mechanic business but they've all had someone to back them financially,with credit, or with the contacts to get them the work. I don't have any of that. Im not saying Im giving up or bitching because it's hard. I just have to spend the money as I make it.

You need that shit regardless. Do you not carry any insurance on your business?

[War Machine]

You need that shit regardless. Do you not carry any insurance on your business?

Maybe he's mexican

[idrivea4banger]

Maybe he's mexican

He's not.

[Sleeper]

Between the extra taxes and insurance working for yourself can suck. With oil companies i can see this being priority due to the risk involved.

[stephen4785]

Sounds like you're going in the right direction, whats your biggest source of business right now?

An equipment company in Fort Worth(dozers,graders,etc), and automotive jobs for friends/friends of friends. The equipment company has kept me the busiest right now but they've run out of work to get caught up on. I also picked up a fleet account in North Dallas but I can only work on their trucks on Saturdays due to their work schedule.

[DON SVO]

Bigger companies want to work with other companies that are serious about their businesses. If you have no marketing, no insurance and aren't bonded you don't seem very serious about it. Not many companies want to work with a business (or 1 guy, in this case) that can close up shop and disappear like a fart in the wind at a moment's notice.

[YALE]

Between the extra taxes and insurance working for yourself can suck. With oil companies i can see this being priority due to the risk involved.

It's important to leverage outside help, like CPA's and financial advisers, and not simply attempt to carry it all yourself. It frees you up to be the specialist you are trying to be. If Stephen wants to be a mechanic, he should stick to turning wrenches*. He should look for a local marketing company that specializes in small businesses, and work on building a relationship with a CPA that does the same. He should also talk to someone that knows how to structure a small business, so he can write a business plan, and go out and borrow what he needs to when he needs to. Lines of credit are important. They keep things moving. You can't get them if you can't show, in writing, what your business is and does.

*That means maximizing the amount of time he has to turn wrenches, since it's his source of revenue.

[Sean88gt]

Tits. You need to display tits, people buy tits. Have a few broads dancing while you work as a value add.

[talisman]

Bigger companies want to work with other companies that are serious about their businesses. If you have no marketing, no insurance and aren't bonded you don't seem very serious about it. Not many companies want to work with a business (or 1 guy, in this case) that can close up shop and disappear like a fart in the wind at a moment's notice.

It's important to leverage outside help, like CPA's and financial advisers, and not simply carrying it all yourself. It frees you up to be the specialist you are trying to be. If Stephen wants to be a mechanic, he should stick to turning wrenches. He should look for a local marketing company that specializes in small businesses, and work on building a relationship with a CPA that does the same. He should also talk to someone that knows how to structure a small business, so he can write a business plan, and go out and borrow what he needs to when he needs to. Lines of credit are important. They keep things moving. You can't get them if you can't show, in writing, what your business is and does.

Solid posts. As far as advertising goes, use Google. I've seen a lot of guys start up mobile mechanic businesses and it can really be feast or famine. I've seen plenty of guys have 2 bad months and go out of business, also. Not trying to be a downer, but you're going to have to work harder on the business itself and gaining customers than you are actually turning wrenches unless you already have a built in customer base like LaserSVT did when he moved his shop. Best of luck, I hope it works out for you.

[HECDOGGIE]

Find your Niche - Target Market.

You dont want to make the right contact with the wrong volume. You have got to start small, unless you have the manpower and liquidity to back up large accounts.

Benchmark -
Find others doing what you do , that are successful and talk to them.. Remember, sometimes successful people in your field need help too. NO one wants to lose a customer because they dont have the manpower. (( sub-contract of sorts))

[barronj]

Develop an online presence. Buy a domain ($10), search for one on GoDaddy.com (I pm'd you a good one available for $8.99), get a small page (you can build them for super cheap) built that has your contact information on it and a summary of the kinds of work you do. You don't have to pay for presence on google, but if you have a web page, it helps people who want to use you, but want to see you online, it adds to your credibility. Facebook is a great way to network also, so I'm told :^)

Make sure your business card has your web address on it, your email on it, that you're licensed and bonded. Business cards will cost you $60 for 1000 (roughly), don't have to be super fancy, but should have some art work.

Advertise on Craigslist every day, it's free

Leave your cards at all parts stores (minimum 5), and anywhere automotive related that you have an established relationship with.

Get vinyl letters or a magnet advertisement for your truck so that when you're out and about, people can see and get your information, and when you pull up on the job site, people immediately know why you're there.
Phone # & web address on your vehicle

Always have a polished appearance here (clean truck)