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watergal

posts: 129

Apr 11, 2006 1:31 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Awesome Assistant, love your website, I am in NJ and I am almost done with my startup which is called "tomsriverconcierge.com". I would like to ask, if you dont mind, how many people are in your business? It`s only me right now and some of my services are like yours and some are different. I noticed that you offer web design amongst other services. Do you do all these things yourself? if so you must be very talented! or do you hire contractors for other services that you don`t do?
Also I saw your pricing and I dont know anything about dallas at all, but do you find that people think your pricing is competitive on the majority? Since I am alone right now at this, I would prefer services scheduled in advance so I am thinking that you must have other people that are working with/for you. One last thing, I need bonding and liability insurance, do you have any info on that for me. (sorry for all the questions, but this is a first time business for me) and there really arent any other concierge business in my state that I am aware of.
Appreciate your comments so much and thank you!
jo in NJ

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Jo
NJ

AwesomeAssistant

posts: 5

Apr 13, 2006 11:50 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Jo,

Right now the business is me and my mother. I do think that very soon there will be too much work for just the two of us to handle. We do everything ourselves. Our skill sets compliment each other. I feel like our pricing is very competitive, lower than others that provide services in Dallas. As far as the insurance goes I am lucky that I have a friend that is an insurance person so I just told her what I was doing and she took care of everything else. She also does other insurance so a good place to start may be calling your agent and asking them if they can help you and if not can they tell you who can. I hope I have answered all your questions. There are books out there that you can buy - some of them not too expensive. Feel free to email me anytime. Best of luck!

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Awesome Assistant

watergal

posts: 129

Apr 13, 2006 12:44 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

To Awesome Assistant
Thanks for getting back to me. Its tough just 2 people, I myself am alone in this
venture - I saw on your site that you also advertise for contractors. That is
very interesting to me. Do you have success with people getting back to you?
Do you have to check out their backgrounds, to see if they have adequate
insurance, complaints filed against them, criminal background (heck you
never know!). Do they tell you what they charge and then you take a % of
it for yourself, if so how much would be reasonable?
I know your`e very busy and probably cant get back to me right away

but when you can I would appreciate hearing back. Thanks !
jo

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Jo
NJ

watergal

posts: 129

Apr 13, 2006 12:56 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

TO AWESOME
another thing please

how do you advertise in your area? do customers appreciate the type of service that you and your mom are providing for them? do they comment on the rates at all? or do they feel it is competitive? and what kind of services are popular ?
Also will you hiring employees maybe in the future (that will use their own vehicles)? or using contractors for errands? Cause that would be a problem for me with car accidents, and insurance too.
I feel one day this business will be all over but right now in NJ, there is nothing at all. Tks again

jo

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Jo
NJ

Tiny

posts: 1

Apr 14, 2006 3:40 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hello All!
I have been striping parking lots and doing related asphalt maintainence for over 11 years. I just was layed off (again) from the car business and want to transition into marking parking lots full time. I have most of the basic equipment and stencils,etc. needed but have them in my shed and I am looking for some seed money to pay some household bills and to purchase an enclosed trailer to keep from having to transport all of my "stuff" from the shed to my truck at the beginning and at the end of each day. I also need to get a web site running and a second phone line & number. I already have several jobs underway and a few done but payment is usually 60-90 days in coming and I have to pay paint bills,etc. as I await theer payments. Can someone help?
Don Curtis

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B2Bpartner

posts: 3

Apr 14, 2006 5:48 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Dear Awesome Assistant

Concierge services are a God-send! I`m trying to find someone local (Forest Lake, MN) and I haven`t found anyone yet. So my MOM is helping me. Sounds like this was how your business started!

This kind of business (Personal Assistant) is fascinating to me. Are you interested in franchising it? I know a team of people interested in starting this kind of business and it would be great to not have to reinvent the wheel.

It might help you to know that I specialize in helping micro to small to mid-sized businesses with startup, identity, development and management systems that are super affordable, dramatically effective (they pay for themselves very quickly), and easy for anyone to use. Our systems are so effective that they provide the foundation for franchising a business.

Kind regards,

B2B Partner (St. Paul area of Minnesota)

"Emerging Business Systems equip a small to mid-sized business with the tools to LOOK, FEEL, and RUN like a Fortune 500 Company!"

-------------------------

Jump Start Your Business!
EMERGING BUSINESS SYSTEMS, LTD.
www.ebsystemsltd.com
CS - Minnesota

BurninGreen

posts: 209

Apr 15, 2006 1:30 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

We also home-school our 3 kids, have been since `00. We are in Texas and it is the single largest home-school state in the nation with an estimated 400,000 kids. We have many contacts and resources here and I am interested in learning more about your services and how I may be able to assist your company. See my profile for some background.

BurninGreen

posts: 209

Apr 15, 2006 1:42 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

If you want to stay solo but just need to get over the time delay of payments, you may consider factoring, the practice of selling your receivables to a factor/finance company at a discount. It may seem steep on the rate, but may be cheaper than giving up a big part of your business for short-term financing. On the other hand, if you are wanting to grow to several crews, add a sales/marketing person, etc., then an active partner may the the way to go.

AwesomeAssistant

posts: 5

Apr 17, 2006 2:09 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

No one has contacted us about the contractors yet - but yes we would have to check them all out first - can`t recommend anyone that we didn`t know/trust

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Awesome Assistant

AwesomeAssistant

posts: 5

Apr 17, 2006 2:12 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

we have done fliers, not a great response on that, joined the local chambers of commerce, donated services for a silent auction (I bid an won a banner ad for 1 year) when we joined the chambers we got free ads in the local papers, we go around almost every Friday and pass out business cards and free homemade candy to local businesses, networking

hope that helps

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Awesome Assistant

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