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I have been lurking since 9/11, but have never replied or posted before. Your situation is very similar to mine and I think I can offer a little advice.

My husband has been in auto body, auto glass, and management for 20 years. Two and a half years ago we were asking ourselves many of the same questions that you are asking now. We opened an auto glass business on a hope, a prayer and a 2nd mortgage and we are just getting to the point where we can live on what we are making. It has been an incredibly fulfilling and exciting two years.

If you feel like you are paddling upstream to make this happen, maybe it is not God's will. If things seem to just fall into place, I say keep praying and go for it!

You should have a plan for how you will pay your bills for the next 2 years, just in case you need it. Be sure to over-estimate what you will need.

Marketing, Marketing, Marketing. Check out shops, similar to yours. Do they look sucessful or do they look run down. Notice how they advertise and then advertise MORE! We have had several other companies pull away from our area since we started, including a national company.
Try different forms of advertising, keep track of where business is coming from, and put your money into what is working.

Call or drop into shops in another city close by. Ask them where they advertise and what kind of respose they recieve. We did this and it was very helpful, just be sure to go far enough away from where you will open that you won't be in competion.

Never underestimate the power of "word of mouth". Make sure every customer is thrilled with everything you do. When you mess up, go out of your way to fix the problem and that customer will send you even more customers. If you send away an unhappy customer, you've really messed up. I know this is true because I get calls from people who are unhappy with my competion and they sure like to talk about it!

Our lives have changed in so many ways since we went out on our own. My husband feels so good about himself and his job now, it just shows all around him like sunshine! We work very hard, but the rewards have been great!

I assume your post was intended for moi?

Thanks for your input.. I do appreciate it. Good advice.

Regards & Welcome to FR!

I realize your post was meant for JHoffa, but I'd like to echo what balrog pointed out from your thoughts. It is excellent advice for any company, be it a company of one or a Fortune 500 Corporation, good customer service before and after the sale is so important and all too often neglected.