Could use advice on opening a store

[britechguy]

As an aside, what is a ada?.

Americans with Disabilities Act.

 

[callthatgirl]

LinkedIn
Get some ads for your vehicle
Start up newsletter for your current clients
Post signs at places that allow it
Get your website updated to state you only do remote
Use an online scheduler program. MS365 Bookings or Calendy is free
Offer tune up specials/virus removal
Sell prepay tickets to your current clients
When you help a current client, ask if they want a scheduled quarterly appt
Ask for testimonials for your website and Linkedin
Talk to your local paper about a business executive spotlight
Call the radio station and see if they do any business shows/get on them
Find local podcasters/get on their shows
Finally, organic SEO

All are free

 

[britechguy]

Get some ads for your vehicle

The only caution I'll add about this is find out what impact this may have on your car insurance. Just slapping a magnetic sign on the side of your car can, in the eyes of the insurance company, make it fall into "business use" even if it's never actually used for a single job-related thing. And "business use" very often costs quite a bit more even when mileage is exactly the same.

Many people just chance it, which is a valid choice, but some wouldn't want to, which is also a valid choice. Checking with your agent is what you need to do to see what your insurer says.

 

[callthatgirl]

Yeah I get it, well I didn't have insurance for my first 2 years of business. I didn't know I needed it. My truck brought in $1000's of dollars those first years lol.

 

[Markverhyden]

There is a lot of misunderstanding of when you can lodge a complaint about under the ADA, particularly for home-based businesses, and even more particularly when the home is not being used as "a storefront" in any meaningful sense.

My business is home-based, but I virtually never have anyone drop anything here except, on rare occasions, existing customers I know well. I have been deeply irritated (but kept that to myself) the two or three times over 13 years that someone turned up, unannounced, on my doorstep.

Every bit of online presence that I have clearly indicates I'm a "by appointment" business and that I almost exclusively perform services on site. I would never think about turning up on the doorstep of any home-based business unless I had made prearrangements. In fact, even for social calls, the idea of just dropping in out of the blue without at the very least having called first to check if "it's a good time" is anathema. It's just bad, bad manners.

My comment is about a storefront in the home, not running a business out of my home. I never worried about just running my business in my home since I only went to customer locations, including picking up and/or dropping off.

 

[Markverhyden]

As an aside, what is a ada?.

Assistant District attorney?.

Im homebased also. Have been for over 16 years.

As above, usually by appointment only, as I have tje dogs out in the garden all day with me. Last thing I want is a complaint that one of them has made a client claim them being dangerous dogs!.

Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped some people just coming down the garden willy-nilly!!.

Really pees me off

Sorry should have spelled it out since it's an US Federal law thing.