If you were me!!!!

[precisionlawnandlandscape]

First of all i would like to say hey to everyone. I have been visiting on this site for a long time now but figured it was finally time to join. Here is my dilema. I used to have a part-time lawn and landscape business about 9 years
ago but sold it when i took my current job. To start with i love my job that i have now (that's not really the problem). I work for a Nascar Sprint Cup team
as a design engineer/cnc programmer. My problem is that i desire to have my own business. I'm currently debating between getting back into the green industry or starting my own machine shop. If i start my own shop i would probably specialize in racing components and custom street rod parts (design some of my own products). Just curious what some of you guys would do if you were me. I live in a very small town so that would hinder my growth in the green industry business. This is a somewhat low income area although we are getting more and more retired people moving here all the time. My own shop however would allow me to sell products globally with the use of the internet and such. The startup cost associated with the shop would be alot more of course. I wouldn't have to fight weather conditions and the seasons either. There are pros and cons to both it's just a matter of which one i see the most potential with in the long run. How far would you guys be willing to travel to service an account. I do have some better markets within an hour including a lake and several larger cities. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks to all!!!!!!

[punt66]

First of all i would like to say hey to everyone. I have been visiting on this site for a long time now but figured it was finally time to join. Here is my dilema. I used to have a part-time lawn and landscape business about 9 years
ago but sold it when i took my current job. To start with i love my job that i have now (that's not really the problem). I work for a Nascar Sprint Cup team
as a design engineer/cnc programmer. My problem is that i desire to have my own business. I'm currently debating between getting back into the green industry or starting my own machine shop. If i start my own shop i would probably specialize in racing components and custom street rod parts (design some of my own products). Just curious what some of you guys would do if you were me. I live in a very small town so that would hinder my growth in the green industry business. This is a somewhat low income area although we are getting more and more retired people moving here all the time. My own shop however would allow me to sell products globally with the use of the internet and such. The startup cost associated with the shop would be alot more of course. I wouldn't have to fight weather conditions and the seasons either. There are pros and cons to both it's just a matter of which one i see the most potential with in the long run. How far would you guys be willing to travel to service an account. I do have some better markets within an hour including a lake and several larger cities. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks to all!!!!!!

If i were you i would continue to do what your doing. A business owner does not get to punch out and go home thought free. There is a reason why you sold your business. Do you remember what it is? Keep your job, go fishing.

[Toy2]

Keep your daytime job, as smart as you are, if the need arises start a small machine shop in your garage, it takes brains to run CNC machines, etc......it takes manual labor to mow, and besides any brainless/illegal can do it.......

[precisionlawnandlandscape]

Thanks guys for the replies. I realize that business owners don't get to "punch out" and go home (my dad owns 3 different businesses and has been self-employed his whole life). Trust me my job doesn't let me do that either. I have a laptop that goes with me everywhere after i "punch out" and go home. I spend alot of time at home designing parts for cars that are racing that same week. There is way more stress doing my full time job than i ever had mowing. Nascar is a performance based sport and you are under the microscope at all times. People get fired on a daily basis because "we just had to make a change". Nascar is no different than any other professional sport where people get let go from their contract for no other reason that "we had to make a change". I'm just trying to figure out where the most potential lies down the road.

[TL1981]

Whatever it is that you desire to do then just do it. Don't let someone tell you not to... or that you are too smart to run a lawn care business because you can program cnc's. There are people in this biz that may take offense to that statement. Anyone can cut grass but not everyone can run a legit and profitable business. I went to school for CNC programming, ran a shop for 4 years, moved to the sales side for a few years and now working on this biz.

Pros and cons to both as I'm sure you know... the after market parts/ custom parts industry is extremely competitive.