Who here started in their garage?

[LeLuni]

Hi Y'all,

I'm curious if any members started their small business in their garage or home within the last 10 years or so. Could you provide any anecdotes on how you outgrew the garage and made the leap into a dedicated space.
How did you do it? Please share your bootstrapped entrepreneurial story.

thanks,
John
(currently based in my garage, but thinking big)

 

[Salmoneye]

The most important thing that I could offer is to not operate like you are a 'garage shop'. It doesn't matter where your equipment is located; you still need to produce the same quality, and a sign is still worth what a good sign is worth. These two things will make your transition easier. Good luck.

 

[SignManiac]

Forty years ago started in 1,000 s.f. Basement. Moved to new state and moved into 3,200 s.f. fifteen years after that moved to 6,000 s.sf. Then six years after that moved to 27,000 s.f.

 

[grampa dan]

Our timeline is much longer than you asked for but our story is relevant I believe.

I started in our home almost forty years ago. We lived in a mobile home at the time and the rooms were small. With two small kids and a business in a 60x12' space it was tight! Eventually we purpose built a home with a proper studio and separate entrance. My shop was in the basement/garage. Much of our work was done at our customer's place of business. The business grew and prospered as my skills grew.

The business stayed in the house/garage until 2003 when we bought a small acreage and finally built the shop of my dreams in the backyard. It is 3,100 square feet. The business continues to grow and prosper.

I intentionally chose to work from our own property since the day we started. We chose a lifestyle rather than a business/life that is two separate things. I walk 300 feet to work, am home at the kitchen table for lunch every day. I see my family all through the day.

I also get to choose exactly the kind of work we do. I say no to everything else. Customers seek out our work from around the world.

Being home based does not mean our business is second rate - not in the least. It can be anything you want it to be. Our successful business is PROOF.

-grampa dan

 

[Banners Signs Etc.]

I started in someone else's garage...does that count?

Actually the living room...had nothing but a plotter. Moved out to the garage got an IPF 8000...if you looked at the prints funny they would scratch.

Moved from there to strip mall, got a legit (mutoh falcon outdoor jr..) solvent printer, then new strip mall and back to garage..

I moved on to more stable things after the second strip mall...I think he's back in a new strip mall now.

 

[Gino]

I worked at other sign shops my first 10 years or so, from 1972. Actually, I was making signs before that, but not as a professional. On the side, started my own business in my basement and my Dad's garage for lettering trucks. After moonlighting, went full throttle in a rented 4 bay garage in 1984. Two years later, moved to a 4,000 sq ft shop. 10 years later, moved into a 13,500 sq ft shop and in 2001 bought our present building of 10,000 sq ft.

We outgrew every location due to the reputation we strived for. As our customer base grew, so did our capabilities. We always tried to stay ahead of the pack technology-wise and quality-wise. Making sure we produced a better product than our competition was key. To this day, we still provide excellent products and service.

You don't get ahead of the pack by trying to get every job that comes down the pike based on underpricing [lowballing] the other guy. Remember, there are three components to business...... Price, quality and service. You can't have all three, so pick the two you wanna make yours and fly with it.

 

[ddarlak]

Started 17 years ago in my apartment, after three months of making no money I bid on a $115,000 job...

Didn't get the job, but went to the company who won it and told them, "I know this job inside and out, if you need help, call me."

Three weeks later I got a call, they gave me half of the job. I ended up making more money than them. The guy who worked on the project for the other company was fired. They lost their a$$ because they were a large photo place attempting to bid on a large sign project...

Once I got the job, I borrowed $3K from my grandma to rent a place and get supplies. Took about three years to get established and start taking regular pay checks and haven't looked back since. Paid grandma back when i got the check from that job.

 

[Billct2]

Actually I started in my mentors garage, because that's all he ever needed to support his family, painting & carving signs. that and a pick up truck, fishing pole & dog. I worked out of my parents garage, my apartment, my truck inbetween jobs in other sign shops. Now have 3500 s/f and 3 employees, and long for the days of nothing but a sign kit, a pick up truck and my dog (never did like fidhing).

 

[Stephenedwardgraphic]

My wife was a stained glass artist and had a small Roland GX24 cutter that she used for cutting sandblasting resist. In 2009 I started using her cutter to cut decals for people and would weed them on an old coffee table that we had in a 100 square foot room in our basement. I worked for a large commercial printer as workflow specialist and started to moonlight selling my graphics. Eventually started buying more equipment and outgrew our basement. This last summer we bought a new house that has a 1000 square foot shop above our garage. I now have a large Graphtec cutter, our original Roland GX24 cutter, (4) wide format printers, a t-shirt heat press and (4) 4' x 8' tables for weeding graphics and we have hired one employee and my wife now works for me full time now too. After moving into our new location I can already see that I'm out of room -- but that is a good problem to have.

Start small - Dream BIG -- work on a cash basis and don't go into debt.

 

[phototec]

I started in my garage and house (3,200 s/f house with 3-car garage) in 1997, most of the front end work (design workstation), plotters and printer are in my home office, the laminator, production table and photographic studio are in the garage.


I do graphic design, commercial photography, vehicle wraps and signs as a one-man shop with very low overhead.


Had a friend who left is home based business to go out and rent a store front downtown, he lasted two years and ended up having to file for bankruptcy within two years. He had to make the high $ rent payment and additional utility payments every month no matter if business came in the door or not.


Because when you first leave the home based business and venture out into the downtown location, you overhead cost will jump up very high, yet you are in a new location and not yet established there, so you better have at least 12 months of overhead mooloa saved up for the transition until yet get established in the new location.


I have had a few opportunities to go bigger, but I'm happy-happy-happy, making a living and don't stress out about making the rent on someone else's building and having to deal with employees, etc.


I have ben doing this for 16-1/2 years now.

 

[James Burke]

I intentionally chose to work from our own property since the day we started. We chose a lifestyle rather than a business/life that is two separate things. I walk 300 feet to work, am home at the kitchen table for lunch every day. I see my family all through the day. I also get to choose exactly the kind of work we do. I say no to everything else.

Being home based does not mean our business is second rate - not in the least. It can be anything you want it to be. Our successful business is PROOF.

-grampa dan

I have had a few opportunities to go bigger, but I'm happy-happy-happy, making a living and don't stress out about making the rent on someone else's building and having to deal with employees, etc.I have ben doing this for 16-1/2 years now.

I've been garage based for eight years and love it. And while there are certain limitations, my two favorite "liberties" are mentioned above. Thanks guys...the extra encouragement is just what I needed to start the new year.


JB

 

[KevSign]

I started from our mobile home then bought a house with 3 garages 700 sq.ft. 8yrs for the shop.
April 2012 move to commercial unit 1500 sq. ft. already out of space, but I will stay 2 more yrs here, then our plan move and buy a building invest same time.

Working hard like a dog

 

[AceSignsOnline]

This company was started 7 years ago in a garage. Hard work, dedication, and quality helped us expand into one of the largest operations in the South. We used to farm out everything but vinyl. But these days, it isn't uncommon for us to fabricate storefront signage for our competitors. Ambition can take you places, though the headaches certainly have a way of increasing as you go.

We just moved into a new facility back in February and doubled our square footage. I'm really proud of our new place! It's a mess in these pics, but these were taken during a "snow day". I don't see how that's an excuse, but I'm using it anyway haha.

Guess I'm done tooting my own horn... For now at least.

 

[James Burke]

This company was started 7 years ago in a garage.

Nice digs...

 

[MikePro]

we started in a garage, approx. 65 yrs. ago.
our original owner, an Iwo Jima Marine veteran, took up neon fabrication/service/install after the war and ran a 3-man operation with his wife running the paperwork from the house.

 

[premiercolour]

+ 1 garage.

Nice and warm garage in southern california. I remember that I would check emails in the morning with pajama on. Tuned in to 10:00 AM Jerry Springer show for an hour, reply some emails during commercial. Judge Judy for the next hour; pause the tv while picking up calls from my cell phones. Cook off the stove at 12pm. Ready to work at 1pm. No need to worry about rent, no need to worry of anything else. Anything you make - pocket cash. life was good.

It is changed. Make sure you have enough clients to rent an office. Business failure starts there; but business success starts from there too!

Francis

 

[Craig Sjoquist]

It is not where your work is done, it is your work, it is the image you present.

Yes a showroom & shop together presents a great image, that looks good.
A fairly new or great looking ride.
So does your fairly good personal looks.

But what really is important is what you do, who you are, how you handle whatever dealt with.

If you are your own customer, what would you think being approached, selling the job & doing it.

 

[LeLuni]

Wow!

This has been a humbling and inspiring thread. Thanks to all who have shared, and continue to share, their stories.

I think a continuous theme is to start small and without debt, and to focus on quality and service.

So far, I have a 3' x 4' 100W laser cutter, a 60" aqueous inkjet printer, and a remodeled and insulated garage workshop under my belt.

That took me nearly two years to accomplish, but I suppose slow and steady really does win the race.

Next up is a Laminator and a Graphtec (or similar), purchased with cash. I'm really excited where this will take me.

Thanks again, and keep the stories coming...
John

 

[AceSignsOnline]

This has been a humbling and inspiring thread. Thanks to all who have shared, and continue to share, their stories.

I think a continuous theme is to start small and without debt, and to focus on quality and service.

So far, I have a 3' x 4' 100W laser cutter, a 60" aqueous inkjet printer, and a remodeled and insulated garage workshop under my belt.

That took me nearly two years to accomplish, but I suppose slow and steady really does win the race.

Next up is a Laminator and a Graphtec (or similar), purchased with cash. I'm really excited where this will take me.

Thanks again, and keep the stories coming...
John

Sounds to me like you've got the right idea! The more you can do without putting yourself in debt, the better.

As far as a laminator is concerned... I've heard a lot of great things about the Big Squeegee. I know there is a merchant member here who I believe is the one that developed that product and sells them online. And although I wouldn't trade my laminator for the world, you might look into that as an efficient solution until you're able to pick up a decent laminator.

 

[Goat]

Apple and Microsoft....

I believe both Apple an Microsoft started in a garage.