Any tips on starting a PIM/Sweep testing business?

[MegaTechNerd]

I'm thinking about starting my own PIM/Sweep testing business and would like to know if anyone has some insight that might be helpful. The company will consist of myself, a tower hand and a climber hired when needed. The only major cost I see so far is test equipment rental but I might not be seeing the whole picture.

How much should I charge? Per line vs Per site?
How to land contracts? Sub & general...
Would this kind of business model work?
How long does it take to get invoices paid?
What type of insurance is needed, if any?
S-corp vs LLC?

[MegaTechNerd]

Please feel free to send any advice you would like to keep private to megatechnerd.nyc@gmail.com

[Marconi]

I'm thinking about starting my own PIM/Sweep testing business and would like to know if anyone has some insight that might be helpful. The company will consist of myself, a tower hand and a climber hired when needed. The only major cost I see so far is test equipment rental but I might not be seeing the whole picture.

How much should I charge? Per line vs Per site?
How to land contracts? Sub & general...
Would this kind of business model work?
How long does it take to get invoices paid?
What type of insurance is needed, if any?
S-corp vs LLC?

Are you in the business already? If you are already known in the region as an expert in PIM testing and sweep testing then you have a pretty good shot at making it go. If you do not have much previous experience or contacts in the industry then you better have a lot of $$ backing to get you through the time it is going to take to become an expert in the industry.

Starting the business is easy. Just Google "starting a business in New York" and you will find exactly how to do it.

If you work directly for a major carrier they will require a certificate of insurance that meets their requirements. This is expensive and will be a major part of your start up and ongoing expense. Talk to a good commercial insurance guy. He can get you some ball park numbers to put into your business model.

Start off with a good accountant. Have them set you up on a good accounting package. QuickBooks is probably the most used for small business. Study and learn how to do the day to day transactions. After initial start-up use the accountant for quarterly and year end close out and tax filings. As the business owner you need to know where every dime is coming from and where it goes.

Hope this helps. If you chose to go ahead with this business feel free to list it in the vendor section here.

good luck

[Tower Monkey]

Based on my experience, trying to do this type of work for the major carriers is a tough sell. If you have an established name in the business and they know you then maybe you can get it going. Most of them have a vendor approval process that is long and really requires an established business to complete. It is a lot easier to go after the small regional carriers. They have lower insurance requirements and are much easier to contact the decision makers.

I wish you luck.

[49Rhodes]

As with any business started you hear two things most new businesses don't consider and why many wind up in small claims when things go wrong: getting it in writing and keeping records. I realize we live in a computer age now so most everything is kept on computer disks and/or USB but, really, this does nothing if you don't keep them as hard files so that you can bring them out if you need to. No one thinks disputes happen between friendly business folks but it does and the better you're prepared, the better things will go. Get everything you do in writing be it estimates, invoices, contracts between vendors and you and anyone you bring in as a partner even if they're family or friend. I only wished I listened to my own advice and had to learn the hard way when you don't get paid for work done. There's little recourse when you don't have proof in files or in writing by way of a contract/service agreement.

[Deborah1962]

Just curious if the original poster ever went through with the business, how it is doing and whether or not they're still in business. It might be great to share what he learned if anything from his experience. I know times are tough all over, so I am hoping he'll post soon and update us as to how it's going.