Moving on - AGAIN

Good luck, Moddy. Having spent time with you, I get the sense that you're one of those folks who'll find a way to excel no matter what you do.

I'm not sure how or when I'd need your company's services, except if you have a subsidiary that peddles booze and hookers. If so, please put me down for three of each.

 

Good luck. Let's start an SportsJournalists.com slogan contest.

Harris Media Services - "This thread will not end well."

Just kidding Mod.

 

xoxo

 

Wow

Best of luck.

How many years did you need to have at VCU to qualify for VRS retirement?

 

Moddy, can you talk a little more about why you're leaving a high-paying and seemingly secure job in a crappy economy to start your own business? Does it have a lot to do with the standards you were talking about?

 

W-B, if his position at VCU is new, it is not safe at all.

We have 129 teachers in my school district who have been told we will not need them next year.

 

Almost inconceivably impressive to me. You are a man among boys, again.

 

Moddy, best of luck in this new venture... as Sonner said, if there's anything at all I can do, you know where I am.

 

Good luck.

The fact that you have one client lined up already is great. Your business will grow on referrals. The first account is huge.

It's going to be hard, but it'll be -- ok aside from your family -- the most rewarding thing you will do. Building a business is exhilarating. You'll take pride in it. You'll get excited every time you open the mail box and discover a check mixed in with the bills.

And you won't have to deal with office politics.

My business took off pretty quickly. The hardest part for me hasn't been doing the work, it's been running the business -- ordering parts, writing invoices, following up on invoices, tax preperation, etc.

I hope you don't mind if I give you some basic advice based on experience (in a completely unrelated field, though it is a service business).

Setting up your LLC, and getting your business license, State tax id, and federal tax id is easy. Don't pay a lawyer or service for this. You can get it done yourself.

Buy Quicken and some database software. If your wife can help you with paperwork, that would be great, but involve her early so it wil be easy for her.

Don't compete on price. Provide the best service. You don't have to be the cheapest, and you probably shouldn't be the most expensive. If you price yourself too low at first to get business, you'll be underpaid for a long time. Price raises are tough to put through.

Have fun, be yourself, work hard, and provide great service. The work will come to you.