"When you first started your business, did you already have customers that you had established a relationship with at your previous job?"
I had one job left to do for my former boss, that I knew he needed me for. I told him he could pay me hourly at the same rate , but he ended up making me bid on the job. Other than that I had nothing solid lined up.
"Did/Do you get your new work by "cold calling" local GC's, realtors, or property management companies? Did you go to work sites like strip malls and the like with vacant lease spaces and post your business card?"
All I did was run index card size ads in 3 town newspapers. There are 2 saying that will bring in tons of work: "No Job Too Small" and "We Return All Phone Calls"
"What did you do to get your business up and running and how do you find work in the slow periods when your regular customers don't have anything in the works?"
There are always customers that have aditional work that they say can be done any time. I ask them if I can save it for slower winter months and that's usually acceptable. I keep a list going .
"Without spending a fortune on yellow page advertising, how do you promote your business to the public? Do you use flyers or small ads in local papers?"
Yellow pages are a joke! My biggest mistake yet. Stick with local papers.
"What do you do for help when you find bigger jobs that might last for a short while...do you use a labor service? Do you want to remain a one man shop? If so why?"
I had friends that I would hire for a day or 2. Now I have a full time (almost) employee. He's ok with having a day off now and then.
"Are you building a business or are you just self-employed? As a one man shop, did you set your business up as a sole proprietor or an LLC?? Do you work from your home or do you rent or own a "office/shop"??"
Self employed sole-proprieter working out of an office in my home (great deduction!)
"What do you do for medical insurance?"
My wife carries the insurance
"Do you use an accountant/tax person? Do you have an attorney you use for business purposes?"
I have an accountant but saw no need for a attorney yet. The accountant does my employee's payroll for $10/pay period which is every 2 weeks
