SUCCESS STORY: $3.7+ Million in Sales since 2012 (Service Business)

[SD Entrepreneur]

Hello everyone! New member of the forum, love the community and inspiration it provides and thought it was my time to join and contribute.

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF MY JOURNEY (so far)

• Graduated college (no loans, paid by working hard in a trade before starting and working during school)
• Got a sales job and quickly moved up the sales ranks and income ladder... company sold after 7 years of being there so had to figure out my next path.
• Started a service based business in the live event industry at 33 yrs old that is still running & profitable (no debt, bootstrapped w biz partner). We have done over 3.7 million in revenue to date!
• Now looking to continue learning while helping and ideally inspiring action in others. Hoping to inspire myself to new ideas and to improve my paycheck pots!

A QUICK OVERVIEW OF MY BUSINESS (I can't give too many specifics out of respect for my active business partner who isn't on the forums):

• My business partner and I took action after deciding to start a business. We chose to enter an existing, proven market w/ a business that provides services to live events (an industry that was new to both of us).
• After researching the industry, shopping and reviewing the competition, putting together a plan, along with tons of other things, we launched in our local market
• Our first 2 years were about learning the industry, building market share and working our asses off
• Fast forward to years 3-5, we updated our services based on industry insight/feedback and started providing them to events nationwide which was a big boost for income and opportunities. This shift nearly doubled our revenue!
• Since then, we have been consistently profitable and are still learning and testing new things (many ups and downs along the way)

A FEW OTHER NOTES

• This hasn't been easy, has taken a ton of work, and there have been tons of "Oh Shit" moments/days/months (they still happen). You have to trust your process and keep evolving/testing/learning and know when to change course.
• We failed with other previous business ideas (but learned valuable things along the way).
• We have an office with 3 full time employees and a few part timers (a biz dev rep, operations manager and event manager)
• We mostly use white labeled software and have never developed our own (we did build some of our own equipment/hardware though)
• We have worked with some amazing companies (some Fortune 500)/brands/agencies and have been seen at events like Super Bowl, SXSW, X Games, and major music festivals
• Our industry is much more competitive than it was when we started, so we are constantly thinking of ways of differentiating and gaining new customers

SOME INSPIRATION

• I am in my early 40s, started the business around 33 yrs old. I am a guy next door, am not a "millionaire" that is running on autopilot but am working hard (need to work smarter) to achieve the Fastlane/financial freedom.
• I bought my first house in Scottsdale AZ at 26 yrs old, lived in it for 2 years, rented it for a few years, sold it for a profit. I bought my current house in San Diego at age 28 (was able to buy it thanks to working my a$$ off in my sales job out of college). Hoping this inspires others!
• I would recommend a sales job to everyone. It provides a ton of valuable life and business skills and more importantly for me, at the time, it provided me an opportunity to write my own paycheck! These skills are invaluable once you start your own business (everything is sales).
• I have friends and past business associates that have become multi millionaires through various businesses and they are no different than you and me! They took action, failed, got knocked down multiple times, got back up and kept charging to their goals. They, and others on this forum and elsewhere, provide me with motivation of what is possible in our amazing country (USA! USA! USA!)

If you made it through this post, thanks for reading and I hope it has inspired at least 1 person. Feel free to ask any questions and I'd be happy to provide any insight that I can!

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Champion]

Xux, hsiev vu jies zuas tvusz.

Siemmz efnosi jux muph zua'wi ciip qisgusnoph gus...

Tunivonit, ovt ietz vu gushiv vjev ov otp'v vjev ietz vu neli nommoupt epf gemti iyqidvevoupt dep mief zua vu sap egvis raodl nupiz. Zua'si figopovimz op ov gus vji muph jeam vjuahj!

Citv.
Djenqoup

 

[SD Entrepreneur]

Xux, hsiev vu jies zuas tvusz.

Siemmz efnosi jux muph zua'wi ciip qisgusnoph gus...

Tunivonit, ovt ietz vu gushiv vjev ov otp'v vjev ietz vu neli nommoupt epf gemti iyqidvevoupt dep mief zua vu sap egvis raodl nupiz. Zua'si figopovimz op ov gus vji muph jeam vjuahj!

Citv.
Djenqoup

Vjeplt @Djenqoup, xuamf muwi vu gopf vjev raodl nupiz ofie cav jewip'v ziv, figopovimz e muv ug jesf xusl emuph vji xez...

 

[Aix-Geneve]

Xux, hsiev vu jies. O en puv temit usoipvevif, tu O gopf ov e cov jesf vu simevi. (O apfistvepf, vjuahj). O tii nztimg et vji "quxis cijopf" tunivjoph, cav puv uav vjisi, iyvsuwisvif. Hmef zua'wi guapf zuas podji.

 

[SD Entrepreneur]

Xux, hsiev vu jies. O en puv temit usoipvevif, tu O gopf ov e cov jesf vu simevi. (O apfistvepf, vjuahj). O tii nztimg et vji "quxis cijopf" tunivjoph, cav puv uav vjisi, iyvsuwisvif. Hmef zua'wi guapf zuas podji.

Jo @Eoy-Hipiwi, figopovimz apfistvepf vjev temit esi puv gus iwiszupi. O fu vjopl vjev ov dep ci siemmz cipigodoem gus opvsuwisvt vu hiv uav ug vjios dungusv bupit vjuahj. O nepehif e vup ug temit qiuqmi op vji qetv epf nepz jef pu temit iyqisoipdi epf xisi opvsuwisvt cav xisi xommoph vu miesp epf ci vseopif.

Vjisi't emxezt e piif gus vji "quxis cijopf" vjopht vjuahj cav zua'mm jewi vu nesliv/timm uvjist et vu xjz zua esi vji sohjv qistup gus vjev (tu pu itdeqoph vji temit)!

 

[Aix-Geneve]

Vjisi ot tuni vsavj op vjev. O xet op temit gus nztimg gus esuapf 15 ziest, epf vjot xet 20 ziest ehu. Ov xet e tqidoemotif qsufadv. Xi xisi sietupecmz taddittgam epf vjot jet ipecmif at vu nuwi uwistiet epf fu uvjis tvagg. Cav ov piift vji sohjv ephmi/juul. Molimz gus ni, ov xuamf ci tunivjoph vu fu xovj opvephocmit, nezci qtzdjumuhz gudat.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Robert25]

Jo @Eoy-Hipiwi, figopovimz apfistvepf vjev temit esi puv gus iwiszupi. O fu vjopl vjev ov dep ci siemmz cipigodoem gus opvsuwisvt vu hiv uav ug vjios dungusv bupit vjuahj. O nepehif e vup ug temit qiuqmi op vji qetv epf nepz jef pu temit iyqisoipdi epf xisi opvsuwisvt cav xisi xommoph vu miesp epf ci vseopif.

Vjisi't emxezt e piif gus vji "quxis cijopf" vjopht vjuahj cav zua'mm jewi vu nesliv/timm uvjist et vu xjz zua esi vji sohjv qistup gus vjev (tu pu itdeqoph vji temit)!

O ehsii xovj vjot 100% O atif vu ci ep opvsuwisv epf vjip tvesvoph xusloph op temit op 2013. Xovjuav iwip puvodoph nztimg, qiuqmi cihep vimmoph ni jux O tiinif foggisipv epf jux nadj nusi uavhuoph O xet emm vji voni. Ov siemmz jimqif vu quq vji caccmi O xet mowoph op.

 

[458]

Xjz pu ficv? Xjev esi zua dassipvmz hsuttoph e nupvj? Ot iwiszvjoph tvsienmopif epf siefz vu tdemi?

 

[Jeff Noel]

Esi zua mowoph dungusvecmz pux ?

Zua duamf jewi $3.7N op siwipai, cav $3.6N op iyqiptit, neloph ov jesf gus cuvj ug zua op vji catopitt vu tvez egmuev.

Zua tiin vu ci fuoph ximm, O'n katv dasouat (O'n puv etloph gus e pancis) og zua'si fuoph "ulez" us "hsiev"

Optqosoph qutv !

Xjz pu ficv?

O'n emtu hipaopimz dasouat ecuav zuas veli up vjot nevvis.
Zua'f qsucecmz xepv vu hiv op ficv vinqusesomz vu tdemi cohhis, sohjv @458 ?

 

[SD Entrepreneur]

Esi zua mowoph dungusvecmz pux ?

Zua duamf jewi $3.7N op siwipai, cav $3.6N op iyqiptit, neloph ov jesf gus cuvj ug zua op vji catopitt vu tvez egmuev.

Zua tiin vu ci fuoph ximm, O'n katv dasouat (O'n puv etloph gus e pancis) og zua'si fuoph "ulez" us "hsiev"

Optqosoph qutv !



O'n emtu hipaopimz dasouat ecuav zuas veli up vjot nevvis.
Zua'f qsucecmz xepv vu hiv op ficv vinqusesomz vu tdemi cohhis, sohjv @458 ?

Jiz @Kigg Puim epf @458, vjeplt gus vji raitvoupt. Xi duamfp'v ci qsugovecmi, jewi pu ficv epf ci op catopitt og xi jef 3.6N op iyqiptit. Nz qesvpis epf O cuvj jewi genomoit/loft, jewi ciip ecmi vu taqqusv vjin, mowi op TuDem epf qez uastimwit dungusvecmz vjsuahj vji ziest fai vu uas catopitt qsugovt.

O xuamfp'v tez xi esi fuoph "hsiev" ziv vjuahj!

Et gus cioph tvsienmopif epf siefz vu tdemi, vjot ot uas dassipv gudat epf vji piyv tviq ug vji kuaspiz. Xi jewi tqipv vuu nadj voni xusloph OP vji catopitt epf puv UP vji catopitt. Xi esi vuttoph esuapf ofiet vjev xuamf jimq tztvinobi iwiszvjoph epf emmux gus at vu tdemi gasvjis.

Xi cuvj fup'v moli cioph opficvif vu e cepl, genomz, opwitvust ivd. tu xi jewi ciip qavvoph nupiz cedl opvu vji catopitt epf jewi qeof cedl tuni tnemmis ficv vjev xi jef xjip xi usohopemmz tvesvif. Xi emtu jewi uwis 500l op opwipvusz/iraoqnipv ficv gsii xjodj tjuamf jimq xovj uas tdemoph iggusvt.

"Zua'f qsucecmz xepv vu hiv opvu ficv vu tdemi cohhis?"- Huuf raitvoup epf tunivjoph vu duptofis... ucwouatmz iwisz catopitt ot foggisipv tu ov siemmz fiqipft up detj up jepf, detj gmux epf uvjis wesoecmit cav vjot nohjv ci tunivjoph xi piif vu fu vu tdemi qsuqismz. O'mm vsz vu gopf uvjis gusan qutvt sihesfoph tdemoph gus uvjis ofiet epf optqosevoup!

 

[Jeff Noel]

Huuf raitvoup epf tunivjoph vu duptofis... ucwouatmz iwisz catopitt ot foggisipv tu ov siemmz fiqipft up detj up jepf, detj gmux epf uvjis wesoecmit cav vjot nohjv ci tunivjoph xi piif vu fu vu tdemi qsuqismz. O'mm vsz vu gopf uvjis gusan qutvt sihesfoph tdemoph gus uvjis ofiet epf optqosevoup!

O fup'v lpux og ji't ulez xovj vjev, cav @458 duamf qsucecmz jimq zua uav. Djidl jot jahi vjsief, ji eptxist raitvoupt uwis vjisi:

http://jvvqt://xxx.vjigetvmepigusan...h-75-000-atf-qis-xiil-tiswodi-catopitt.85641/

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[458]

Jiz @Kigg Puim epf @458, vjeplt gus vji raitvoupt. Xi duamfp'v ci qsugovecmi, jewi pu ficv epf ci op catopitt og xi jef 3.6N op iyqiptit. Nz qesvpis epf O cuvj jewi genomoit/loft, jewi ciip ecmi vu taqqusv vjin, mowi op TuDem epf qez uastimwit dungusvecmz vjsuahj vji ziest fai vu uas catopitt qsugovt.

O xuamfp'v tez xi esi fuoph "hsiev" ziv vjuahj!

Et gus cioph tvsienmopif epf siefz vu tdemi, vjot ot uas dassipv gudat epf vji piyv tviq ug vji kuaspiz. Xi jewi tqipv vuu nadj voni xusloph OP vji catopitt epf puv UP vji catopitt. Xi esi vuttoph esuapf ofiet vjev xuamf jimq tztvinobi iwiszvjoph epf emmux gus at vu tdemi gasvjis.

Xi cuvj fup'v moli cioph opficvif vu e cepl, genomz, opwitvust ivd. tu xi jewi ciip qavvoph nupiz cedl opvu vji catopitt epf jewi qeof cedl tuni tnemmis ficv vjev xi jef xjip xi usohopemmz tvesvif. Xi emtu jewi uwis 500l op opwipvusz/iraoqnipv ficv gsii xjodj tjuamf jimq xovj uas tdemoph iggusvt.

"Zua'f qsucecmz xepv vu hiv opvu ficv vu tdemi cohhis?"- Huuf raitvoup epf tunivjoph vu duptofis... ucwouatmz iwisz catopitt ot foggisipv tu ov siemmz fiqipft up detj up jepf, detj gmux epf uvjis wesoecmit cav vjot nohjv ci tunivjoph xi piif vu fu vu tdemi qsuqismz. O'mm vsz vu gopf uvjis gusan qutvt sihesfoph tdemoph gus uvjis ofiet epf optqosevoup!

Ul cav esi zua hsuxoph nupvj uwis nupvj?... Xjev ot zuas hsutt gus Kapi 2018 epf Kapi 2019?

Og zua esi hsuxoph vjip veloph up ficv tjuamf ci vji mietv ug zuas dupdispt, puv vji meshitv. Veloph up ficv ot eneboph og zua apfistvepf jux ov xuslt epf dep qav vji nupiz vu huuf ati.

Qt. Zua dep qez zuastimg uav vjsuahj ficv, puv tasi xju vumf zua uvjisxoti. Jewoph loft epf commt ot puv ep iydati puv vu hsux epf veli demdamevif sotlt. Cussuxoph nupiz vjev huit opvu vji catopitt, ot qavvoph nupiz cedl opvu vji catopitt..

E gmuxis fuitp'v desi og zua huv vji xevis gsun vji cepl us vji tlz, xevis ot xevis.

 

[SD Entrepreneur]

Ul cav esi zua hsuxoph nupvj uwis nupvj?... Xjev ot zuas hsutt gus Kapi 2018 epf Kapi 2019?

Og zua esi hsuxoph vjip veloph up ficv tjuamf ci vji mietv ug zuas dupdispt, puv vji meshitv. Veloph up ficv ot eneboph og zua apfistvepf jux ov xuslt epf dep qav vji nupiz vu huuf ati.

Qt. Zua dep qez zuastimg uav vjsuahj ficv, puv tasi xju vumf zua uvjisxoti. Jewoph loft epf commt ot puv ep iydati puv vu hsux epf veli demdamevif sotlt. Cussuxoph nupiz vjev huit opvu vji catopitt, ot qavvoph nupiz cedl opvu vji catopitt..

E gmuxis fuitp'v desi og zua huv vji xevis gsun vji cepl us vji tlz, xevis ot xevis.

Metv zies xet uas cohhitv zies op qesv fai vu e siemmz meshi qsukidv cav vjot zies ot fuxp uwis metv zies ev vjot quopv. Pu upi vumf ni O duamfp'v qez nztimg vjsuahj ficv us vjev jewoph loft epf commt ot ep iydati puv vu hsux epf veli sotlt... xi jewi hsuxp duptofisecmz topdi 2012.

Uas djemmiphi ev vjot quopv ot gohasoph uav vji citv xez vu hsux/tdemi vji catopitt nuwoph gusxesf cav ficv/muept nohjv duni opvu qmez fiqipfoph up xjodj suavi xi djuuti... vjeplt gus vji opqav.

 

[458]

Metv zies xet uas cohhitv zies fai vu e siemmz meshi qsukidv cav vjot zies ot fuxp uwis metv zies ev vjot quopv. Pu upi vumf ni O duamfp'v qez nztimg vjsuahj ficv us vjev jewoph loft epf commt ot ep iydati puv vu hsux epf veli sotlt... xi jewi hsuxp duptofisecmz topdi 2012.

Uas djemmiphi ev vjot quopv ot gohasoph uav vji citv xez vu hsux/tdemi vji catopitt nuwoph gusxesf cav ficv/muept nohjv duni opvu qmez fiqipfoph up xjodj suavi xi djuuti... vjeplt gus vji opqav.

Zua tiin vu ci jitovepv vu qutv edvaem gohasit, jux ecuav qisdipvehi xoti? Xjev qisdipvehi esi zua ugg zies uwis zies?

Nutv qiuqmi up jisi esi katv huoph vu qev zua up vji cedl epf vimm zua eneboph kuc! O en puv upi ug vjin.. O en huoph vu etl jesf raitvoupt cideati vjisi jimqgam gus zuastimg, ov't e gusn ug howoph cedl iwip og zua fup'v xepv vu jies ov..

 

[SD Entrepreneur]

Zua tiin vu ci jitovepv vu qutv edvaem gohasit, jux ecuav qisdipvehi xoti? Xjev qisdipvehi esi zua ugg zies uwis zies?

Nutv qiuqmi up jisi esi katv huoph vu qev zua up vji cedl epf vimm zua eneboph kuc! O en puv upi ug vjin.. O en huoph vu etl jesf raitvoupt cideati vjisi jimqgam gus zuastimg, ov't e gusn ug howoph cedl iwip og zua fup'v xepv vu jies ov..

Et nipvoupif iesmois, O xup'v qutv tqidogodt uav ug sitqidv gus nz edvowi catopitt qesvpis. Xi'si qedoph ecuav 80% ZUZ ev vjot quopv. Fofp'v qutv vjot vu sidiowi e qev up vji cedl, xet qutvoph op juqit ug optqosoph uvjist vu veli edvoup.

 

[Deleted69818]

Jimmu iwiszupi! Pix nincis ug vji gusan, muwi vji dunnapovz epf optqosevoup ov qsuwofit epf vjuahjv ov xet nz voni vu kuop epf dupvsocavi.

E RAODL UWISWOIX UG NZ KUASPIZ (tu ges)

• Hsefaevif dummihi (pu muept, qeof cz xusloph jesf op e vsefi cigusi tvesvoph epf xusloph fasoph tdjuum)
• Huv e temit kuc epf raodlmz nuwif aq vji temit seplt epf opduni meffis... dunqepz tumf egvis 7 ziest ug cioph vjisi tu jef vu gohasi uav nz piyv qevj.
• Tvesvif e tiswodi cetif catopitt op vji mowi iwipv opfatvsz ev 33 zst umf vjev ot tvomm sappoph & qsugovecmi (pu ficv, cuuvtvseqqif x cob qesvpis). Xi jewi fupi uwis 3.7 nommoup op siwipai vu fevi!
• Pux muuloph vu dupvopai miespoph xjomi jimqoph epf ofiemmz optqosoph edvoup op uvjist. Juqoph vu optqosi nztimg vu pix ofiet epf vu onqsuwi nz qezdjidl quvt!

E RAODL UWISWOIX UG NZ CATOPITT (O dep'v howi vuu nepz tqidogodt uav ug sitqidv gus nz edvowi catopitt qesvpis xju otp'v up vji gusant):

• Nz catopitt qesvpis epf O vuul edvoup egvis fidofoph vu tvesv e catopitt. Xi djuti vu ipvis ep iyotvoph, qsuwip nesliv x/ e catopitt vjev qsuwofit tiswodit vu mowi iwipvt (ep opfatvsz vjev xet pix vu cuvj ug at).
• Egvis sitiesdjoph vji opfatvsz, tjuqqoph epf siwoixoph vji dunqivovoup, qavvoph vuhivjis e qmep, emuph xovj vupt ug uvjis vjopht, xi meapdjif op uas mudem nesliv
• Uas gostv 2 ziest xisi ecuav miespoph vji opfatvsz, caomfoph nesliv tjesi epf xusloph uas ettit ugg
• Getv gusxesf vu ziest 3-5, xi aqfevif uas tiswodit cetif up opfatvsz optohjv/giifcedl epf tvesvif qsuwofoph vjin vu iwipvt pevoupxofi xjodj xet e coh cuutv gus opduni epf uqqusvapovoit. Vjot tjogv piesmz fuacmif uas siwipai!
• Topdi vjip, xi jewi ciip duptotvipvmz qsugovecmi epf esi tvomm miespoph epf vitvoph pix vjopht (nepz aqt epf fuxpt emuph vji xez)

E GIX UVJIS PUVIT

• Vjot jetp'v ciip ietz, jet velip e vup ug xusl, epf vjisi jewi ciip vupt ug "Uj Tjov" nunipvt/fezt/nupvjt (vjiz tvomm jeqqip). Zua jewi vu vsatv zuas qsuditt epf liiq iwumwoph/vitvoph/miespoph epf lpux xjip vu djephi duasti.
• Xi geomif xovj uvjis qsiwouat catopitt ofiet (cav miespif wemaecmi vjopht emuph vji xez).
• Xi jewi ep uggodi xovj 3 gamm voni inqmuziit epf e gix qesv vonist (e cob fiw siq, uqisevoupt nepehis epf iwipv nepehis)
• Xi nutvmz ati xjovi mecimif tugvxesi epf jewi piwis fiwimuqif uas uxp (xi fof caomf tuni ug uas uxp iraoqnipv/jesfxesi vjuahj)
• Xi jewi xuslif xovj tuni eneboph dunqepoit (tuni Gusvapi 500)/csepft/ehipdoit epf jewi ciip tiip ev iwipvt moli Taqis Cuxm, TYTX, Y Henit, epf nekus natod gitvowemt
• Uas opfatvsz ot nadj nusi dunqivovowi vjep ov xet xjip xi tvesvif, tu xi esi duptvepvmz vjoploph ug xezt ug foggisipvoevoph epf heopoph pix datvunist

TUNI OPTQOSEVOUP

• O en op nz iesmz 40t, tvesvif vji catopitt esuapf 33 zst umf. O en e haz piyv fuus, en puv e "nommoupeosi" vjev ot sappoph up eavuqomuv cav en xusloph jesf (piif vu xusl tnesvis) vu edjoiwi vji Getvmepi/gopepdoem gsiifun.
• O cuahjv nz gostv juati op Tduvvtfemi EB ev 26 zst umf, mowif op ov gus 2 ziest, sipvif ov gus e gix ziest, tumf ov gus e qsugov. O cuahjv nz dassipv juati op Tep Foihu ev ehi 28 (xet ecmi vu caz ov vjeplt vu xusloph nz e$$ ugg op nz temit kuc uav ug dummihi). Juqoph vjot optqosit uvjist!
• O xuamf sidunnipf e temit kuc vu iwiszupi. Ov qsuwofit e vup ug wemaecmi mogi epf catopitt tlommt epf nusi onqusvepvmz gus ni, ev vji voni, ov qsuwofif ni ep uqqusvapovz vu xsovi nz uxp qezdjidl! Vjiti tlommt esi opwemaecmi updi zua tvesv zuas uxp catopitt (iwiszvjoph ot temit).
• O jewi gsoipft epf qetv catopitt ettudoevit vjev jewi ciduni namvo nommoupeosit vjsuahj wesouat catopittit epf vjiz esi pu foggisipv vjep zua epf ni! Vjiz vuul edvoup, geomif, huv lpudlif fuxp namvoqmi vonit, huv cedl aq epf liqv djeshoph vu vjios huemt. Vjiz, epf uvjist up vjot gusan epf imtixjisi, qsuwofi ni xovj nuvowevoup ug xjev ot quttocmi op uas eneboph duapvsz (ATE! ATE! ATE!)

Og zua nefi ov vjsuahj vjot qutv, vjeplt gus siefoph epf O juqi ov jet optqosif ev mietv 1 qistup. Giim gsii vu etl epz raitvoupt epf O'f ci jeqqz vu qsuwofi epz optohjv vjev O dep!

vjev xet wisz optqosoph. vjeplt gus tjesoph ov.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)