Years ago my first business was importing industrial commodities from Asia. Due to mismanagement, the businesses failed and I learned a host of valuable lessons. I didn’t have or need much then to run the businesses: just a fax machine, telephone, and an old PC.
I came away from my first business with some valuable insights. The first was a Chinese proverb which goes something like “start small and get big, don’t start big and get bigger.” I also learned not to count my chickens before they’re hatched. The final lesson is to not name a company JointAir because it invites increased police patrols.
In those days I would spend hours on the internet scouring manufacturers. Once found, I would prepare a fax with the items I was requesting price quotes and send the same fax to several vendors. After all the price quotes were returned I would negotiate further by phone.
About the only Chinese I know is “Nǐ huì shuō yīngwén ma?” which means “Do you speak English?” So, the first words out of my lips were just that. Most of the time I ended up speaking to an English speaking representative, but there were many times I didn’t have that luxury so I was forced to communicate electronically.
Luckily for me, foreign language translation websites started cropping up and I quickly bookmarked Yahoo’s free version. With a few mouse clicks I could translate English to just about any other language. Granted the Chinese wasn’t perfect, but it got the job done.
It was about this time my company started having financial difficulties. At the same time, I was going through a divorce and moved from my house. My little company took a nose dive into the abyss of all failed businesses.
Shortly after closing the doors I was asked to help another import company. I was hired as a contractor and on my first day shown a host of technology. I had one computer, they had five. Their fax machine was tied into the computer network. They paid a subscription for live translators. Their business went the same way as mine and probably sank a lot deeper.
I had nothing when I opened and started the business with an ancient computer and fax machine my last employer was tossing. Making overseas calls is expensive so I used prepaid cards I purchased at the convenience store. Aside from poor decisions, my little business ran just fine with a minimal amount of technology.
Through my present business I talk to people everyday who are starting their own business and are looking for pointers on the types of equipment to purchase. Entrepreneurs budget ridiculous amounts of money for technology to start a business that has made nothing. The first thing I tell overzealous owners is their notions are simply overkill.
Startup ventures don’t necessarily need the most sophisticated equipment and can get away with an old home system. Granted, there are some with specialized needs; however, the bulk of businesses have minimal needs. Hair salons, dance schools, and used clothing stores are some of the businesses that simply don’t need to spend money on technology.
Every business has to start somewhere and that somewhere is always zero. Starting a business in the red is never a good thing. My advice is to acquire the minimum the business needs and budget for better later. Don’t plan for the future because, unfortunately, the future may never happen. My current business was started with an old home PC and $200.00. Although I’ve been through several computers since, with a daughter in college I still have only $200.00.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can call him at (978) 919-8059 or visit www.LocalComputerWiz.com.)