It's summer and very hot outside. Yesterday my air conditioning unit broke. Friday afternoon, 2 PM and this thing just decided to die on me. It was literally just blowing hot air. I checked the basics, but all I could see is that the fan on the outside unit had stopped spinning. I do have a service contract with a local AC repair company and receive preferred treatment on repair calls and when in need of a quick repair job. I also receive 10% off labor and parts. Still, in the end it was a painful and very expensive experience with a price tag of close to $500. Afterwards I spent some time thinking through the entire situation. I do run my own business and I am always trying to analyze the business side of things to see if there is something I can learn and use in my own business. Running an AC or Heating related business is definitely a very interesting idea as for at least 8 months of the year you can dictate how things go and the customer has not much choice to shop around. Why? Read on.
Most often when people call an AC repair business they do not a choice, they need someone who is willing to come out and they make decisions under the pressure of knowing that shopping around might delay the repair for a long time. Their Air Conditioning unit or their furnace is broken and they need help fast as they feel cold or very hot and uncomfortable. As mentioned, they do not have much choice or time to really shop around for better prices. You do not argue too much, when it is 98 degrees outside and 90 degrees inside and all you want is your AC to be running again. You already know that the repair guys are extremely busy and that you will be lucky to get someone out the same day if at all. The businesses know this and accordingly their repair prices always end up to be in the upper range even if the damage does not seem so dramatic.
So, does it eventually make sense for you to start your AC repair and service business? As an example, if you are a talented technician it might be time to stop making money for the man and to start putting your great talents to work for yourself. Or if you know a really good and talented AC repair technician, you can team up - he runs the technical side of things while you take care of business in regards to sales, accounting and all the white-collar items associated with running a business.
Conclusion: This article cannot go into all the details of what is involved in starting an AC repair business, but it is rather an idea igniter. Something that makes you think. Go, and start a business. Now.
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