Advice starting a new business?

[coconuts 10]

I am thinking about starting a Linishing and Polishing business up.

 

I have all the equipment and have over 20 years experince.

 

I am having trouble getting orders and into companies thou.

 

If anyone has any advice or suggestions or wants to help me please message me.

[skinz 10]

Have you figured out your potential max capacity working on the basis of a one man business.

 

By what method are you approaching potential customers?

[Alcoblog 10]

I am thinking about starting a Linishing and Polishing business up.

 

I have all the equipment and have over 20 years experince.

 

I am having trouble getting orders and into companies thou.

 

If anyone has any advice or suggestions or wants to help me please message me.

You don't say exactly what you linish and polish, so this is probably of no use. Have you tried specialist electro-plating companies? Also, maybe you could advertise at such places as Harleyworld, custom bike shops etc?

 

Good luck anyway!

[Mecky 10]

Unfortunately people in that line of business tend to employ their own linishers, buffers and polishers

[truman 10]

You learn something new every day..I had no idea what "linishing" was...

[Jeffrey Shaw 90]

You learn something new every day..I had no idea what "linishing" was...

It's a bit like a line...

Serious reply- here's what The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/linish tells me:

 

Linish

 

To linish is an engineering term that refers to the process of using grinding or belt sanding techniques to improve the flatness of a surface. The flatness may be two-dimensional, i.e. with the view of achieving a flat plate, or one-dimensional, e.g. with the view of achieving a perfectly cylindrical shape. The machine that does this may be called a linisher or a linish grinder. The technique may also be used, with finer grades of grindstone or sanding belt, to polish a surface.

 

A specific use of the term linishing is for the preparation of the ends of rubber extrusions that will be fused together to make a closed loop.

 

The origin of this word may be a Portmanteau combination of linen and finish.

[coconuts 10]

You don't say exactly what you linish and polish, so this is probably of no use. Have you tried specialist electro-plating companies? Also, maybe you could advertise at such places as Harleyworld, custom bike shops etc?

 

Good luck anyway!

 

HI thanks I can do all types of metals ive done everything from bath feet to motorbike parts !! Im just wanting more work ive placed adverts on few bike website and had no replys

[truman 10]

It's a bit like a line...

Serious reply- here's what The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/linish tells me:

 

Linish

 

To linish is an engineering term that refers to the process of using grinding or belt sanding techniques to improve the flatness of a surface. The flatness may be two-dimensional, i.e. with the view of achieving a flat plate, or one-dimensional, e.g. with the view of achieving a perfectly cylindrical shape. The machine that does this may be called a linisher or a linish grinder. The technique may also be used, with finer grades of grindstone or sanding belt, to polish a surface.

 

A specific use of the term linishing is for the preparation of the ends of rubber extrusions that will be fused together to make a closed loop.

 

The origin of this word may be a Portmanteau combination of linen and finish.

 

I know..I looked it up yesterday just before I posted..

[Marx 10]

Do you have a business plan? You need one.

[Mecky 10]

Do you have a business plan? You need one.

 

No he doesn't

[Conrod 10]

We've been struggling to find somebody who can provide polishing to the right standard and price, so perhaps can send some work your way when we have custom and restoration work ongoing (motorcycle and car components).

 

I'd suggest mailshots to all the specialised motorcycle and car restorers/builders you can identify - and don't just look locally, people will ship items nationwide or even internationally to you if they want your work. Also spend some time getting active on web forums for owners' groups of target audiences you'd like to aim for.

 

If you can invest a few hundred quid, get a properly optimised website set up. It doesn't have to cost a fortune (I did mean a few hundred, not thousands), many developers charge by the page and loads of pages aren't necessary, but a website does need to be properly structured to get you onto the front page of Google when people search for your services. Websites made by talented amateurs and low-end ‘professionals’ can look good for peanuts, but they're only worth peanuts if they don't get you up the search engines. We pay a not unreasonable monthly sum for web optimisation which pays itself 50 times over in the monthly revenue it directly generates from enquires, local, UK and international. I do not exaggerate that figure.

 

Do you have a web presence already? I'd say at least 80% or our new business comes from it, either directly or indirectly.

 

Build a photo portfolio of the sort of work you do - either for web publication or use on flyers, very worthwhile, and there are companies that will print A5 flyers in quality gloss for surprisingly little. Go to car and bike shows and spend a few hours leafleting.

 

And, be prepared for at least a year before the effect of referrals and repeat business starts to show, after which, with luck, you'll need staff.

 

If you want to be small/stay small and comfortable, you can do your own book keeping and accounting, but if you want to drive things and aim for success I'd suggest starting from scratch with a good accountancy firm. I tried to penny-pinch by doing my book keeping and using a cheap accountant for the essentials only for the first 2 years, and deeply regret it. Every hour you spend doing your books/vat returns/tax returns/wage runs etc is an hour you're not focused on the profit-generating side of your business. Releasing your time to generate business makes paying an accountant a bit of a no-brainer.