[BnC Custom Ink]

First off, thank you all for all your help up to this point. Even tho you might not have seen a post from me about a question, I have found almost every answer that I have been looking for here in these forums. And at this point I realize who some of the bigger players around here are and I'm glad that they spend their valuable time helping the rest of us along. I was in the auto repair industry for 15 years and if there's one thing you can count on it's that your competitors will never help you and will badmouth you any chance they get. This is an exciting change to hear people helping each other.

Here's the thing, I started B&C about six weeks ago with a Roynet starter kit and a whole lot of ambition. I have made enough to pay off the equipment purchase and upgrade my film/printer setup. To me this is proof of concept. However I am doing this as my primary source of income(i know not smart) so I need to keep it growing at a faster pace. I don't want to push to fast as to make careless mistakes but I need to start earning an income as fast as I can.

My long term goal is to build a print shop with 4-6 manuals and maybe an auto, I dont want to be a corporate powerhouse but I want out of the basement asap. Sorry to go long on this but heres the question, What is the next step to get there? I am planing to hire an outside salesman to bring me business, I don't have any designs or shirts of my own I just like printing. I have learned from past experience that I am a horrible salesman but I am mechanically inclined and passionate about what i do so I would have a problem trying to sell and hiring someone to print for me.

I can't keep a steady pace doing everything by myself. I have already found that doing so has a roller-coaster effect on the production flow. It is hard to sell while in the middle of a run, and hard to run while trying to make an individual sale.

What type of systems are some of you employing?
How many employees do you have? What positions?
One man shops what are your yearly sales? Are you in garage/basement?

I have run many numbers and I know what I need to sell to make money, and I have some room to pay a salesman and still make an acceptable profit. again sorry to go so long what are your thoughts?

Brad

 

[sben763]

Brad first off I have to what's funny is I was in the auto industry in 85 while in high school. Honor student Sarasota vo-tech graduate in 88. I am originally from Des Plains.

Here's what I do for sales but I am not bad at sales. I do have someone that does get some jobs and his pay is commission based. You can probably find someone that is eager to sell taking a small salary or low hourly wage but have a commission or bonus system. Right now any one that works for me in either business is a subcontractor. My first business is home/apartment repair and in that industry I am allowed to have 1099 employees. This saves tons of money on taxes, unemployment insurance, workers comp. If your state allows this o at least temporary to see if it works out with him or her and with you. The printing business I do out of my garage and can do all the design, printing, invoices and so on. I work 6 days a week 3 for each business some time more or less for each. I am currently working a deal for a building then I will need someone there and may train them to do some spot color printing. I also recommend a no compete contract for any employee with a 5 year clause or what ever term your state allow. This way you don't train someone and soon as the know enough the go into competion against you. I am only allowed to specify my county on my no compete. Good luck

 

[BnC Custom Ink]

What'd even more funny, is I went to college at Triton in River Grove, and I lived in Sarasota for two years.... Small world.

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[BnC Custom Ink]

Any other printers hire sales staff?
How did u find them?
What pay system do u use?
Is it working?


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