STARTING A BUSINESS

Hello everyone! I started in the tinting business in 1996 as a installer and eventually managing my families shop. Im currently not a installer but work in the car business. Sending work out for window tinting knowing that I could do it is annoying. So im getting the bug to start up. what professional advice do you have?

have at least 6 months worth of bill paying power, not a credit card either....if you put your bills on the credit card then you will spend a lot of time in the hole...this means your bills too, not just the shops bills! If you have a sugar mama,or sugar daddy, you might be able to just have enough for shop bills...

get a in good sized shop where you can fit one car/SUV at least with plenty of moving around room. One with a front office or something that separates the garage from where people are is always nice...

research local pricing, research how long the competition has been around and what they sell. How will you take business away from them? Have examples of different tint choices for the custy to see....the more you show them and the more you know about what you are selling the more educated your customer will be on selecting the right tint for their car...stay legal if you can...(we are only able to because we have other products to pay the bills)

Get about 1000 nice business cards, don't make them yourself, you want to appear as professional as possible...and really find out what, if any, the complaints on the competition are. You might be up against a really nice shop or a really crappy shop, but be prepared for the dumbest of questions...have a grand opening sale if your area is big enough and offer free t-shirts, gift cards, or some discounts on the first 20 customers to get your name out there!

Right now, all the local car shows are taking off, put your car in if you have a nice tint job, and it helps to have a pretty car, display only, put BC all around the glass, dress professionally, actually dress to get the customer you want, if you wear sweat pants to introduce yourself, you will get sweatpants custys...not that I don't wear them, but not to car shows...remember you are selling a product that everyone "knows" about, so in reality you are selling yourself...God bless in your pursuit life, liberty, and happiness....

where you from?

Learning how to apply window film would be a big plus....

Im from southern california, Huntington beach, ca

get new car dealership accounts. there are some do's or don'ts for that as well. as long as you have dealers to pick up your slack on slow days, you can't lose IMO. get very acquainted with those guys. it will make you money. you know this already if you're in the car biz. you've seen the pin stripe guy, dent doctor, paint dude come to the lot once a week. do that but with tinting. be there same day and time every week so they know you're serious and you can pick out about whatever car you want to tint. (trucks and suv's for me ) oh, and ............location, location, location. if they can't see you, they don't know you're there unless you're spending big $$ on advertising. with patience, i found a killer spot last month and i've had appointments everyday just from drive ins. haven't posted an ad yet.

Thank you for your expert advice tintshopky,you seem to have a successful business. I see what your saying about being consistant. Same day, time, and place. It's true what they say "the squeeky wheel gets the grease". I'm looking into starting a business and all this is really helpful...