Failing Business Need Suggestions.

After retiring from the Army, I built a small chain of restaurants, and in 2006 I saw the writing on the wall. I sold the entire business lock,stock and barrel and retired to Sunny Fl.

I told most business folks to do the same, nobody listened.

I am loving life and livin large.

Basically OP, it's too late.

Last Edited by Lupe_Ate_My_Tacos on 02/01/2013 04:21 PM

Contact other limo companies. Someone will buy them. I have a friend who does the websites of 2 local limo companies. PM me your info if you are interested

Service businesses are closing left and right.

These are things that during a bad economy people can do without.

Flower Shops
Nails
Hair Salons
Message Therapist
etc.

How good is the insurance?

include hookers for a nominal fee. sex sells

Him and I have been friends for 30+ years and you are so right. He is laying in bed right now hoping someone will call.
On a positive note, he has been eating really well and started exercising. He stopped drinking and messing around.

I believe a new door will open for him. He has perfect credit and owns his home. He wants to work for someone else for awhile and learn a new trade.

LOL ... not going there. You have no idea.

Or a theft and a total smash

sale it to carmax, duh! i sold my 2007 chrysler pacifica with 56,000 miles on it and got 7996.00 not bad

Is there any way he can "specialize" in something and give the company a particular focus?

I am thinking just doing airport shuttles and taking a group of people at a time. Making regular runs to the airport both ways if there is one near him.

Are there any fancy hotels/casinos in the area he can partner with? Spas?They could incorporate his services into their services?

Or how about making it a business that centers around shuttling kids to and from sports practices and other events. "Kid Cab" and he can get the vehicles "wrapped" with a new kid friendly logo. That might work a bit better in this type of economy.

Just throwing out some ideas! LOL

He has stretch limos so it's not worth taking them out for an airport run. Well it would be worth it if he had a ride coming back.
Two of his limos are really nice, older but in perfect shape. He has so much money into them. They are like show cars. He has a hard time taking them out. OMG if they get dirty he freaks.
Wax on wax off. The guy has ODC.

I really don't think there is hope for this business. I am serious there are no calls. ZERO
Like I said I've been hanging around him since he started I watched the decline.

I am not going to tell him I told you so because I kept telling him since 2008 to sell the entire business.
He went down with the ship.

He may need to drop his prices, try doing an email send to a few companies offering to take people to corporate or business lunches.

When someone is trying to catch a big fish, for example when a company is trying to get a sale they often take the client out to wine and dine them.

He could provide the transport, but he needs to advertise this to the right companies. He needs to contact companies asking them to keep them on their books. There may be some work If he tells companies he can offer them a discount for driving clients to business lunches etc or pick up clients from the airport. Worth a shot maybe.

Good luck to him, hope he makes it through the depression, ots not just him thats depressed its the economy.

contact other limo companies to see if they will by some of his inventory.

take out an add in the local paper for deep discount deals on weddings, prom, etc.

aren't those all things welfare queens spend their money on?

theres gonna be a hoard of angry black women storming the streets because they can't get their hair and nails done.

Did you see my post? Just trying to help since you are asking for help right? Both companies here seem to be thriving they could possibly buy a limo or two. Anyways your call but good luck to your friend

That's a great idea about the business lunches. I am going to tell him

Had to sign in I will PM you
Thanks, I didn't see your post sorry

Getting a limo to and from the airport is often cheaper than doing a super shuttle, etc. Does he advertise that way?

Thanks for the pin. I wish it was a happier subject

What part of the country are y'all in? I own a transportation service business and we are buried.

For airport runs you need a sedan that won't need to be washed everyday. If you do an airport run in the stretch then you have to clean it asap. Then he doesn't make money.

He has 6 stretch limos and 2 older fancy tricked out ones.

NE Ohio

If he wants to keep running, one thing to concentrate on is weddings. People get married all of the time, we do a huge amount of wedding business. Get to know the wedding planners, go to bridal shows, get to know other wedding vendors. Great steady business, and if he happens to own a classic/antique car that's real cool, I'd market that for the bride and groom getaway car and let the wedding parties go in the limo.

Last Edited by snark on 02/01/2013 05:01 PM

Run it like a cab company until business picks up. Put up flyers at pubs, etc where people will need a cab. Charge a little more. Taxi service with style.

I just reserved one for my wedding In October

VALENTINES DAY!!!


Could he offer a ride as a competition prize to local radio stations?

Improvise, adapt, overcome! If a business can't be flexible it will whither and die.

tell him to do some good like maybe go to seniors centre and take them out for night on the town for free. Ask for his angels and guides to help after he helps someone else and watch the abundance.

No debt? Then why is he selling?

In these times you need to think out of the box -

How far from the airport is he? He should be taking his car(s) out there and soliciting for hire. A one-way fare is better than nothing. Also, he should going around to all the hotels and drumming up car service with the valets and concierges in the area - may need to slip them a little incentive money to put his name on their speed dial. What are the tourist attractions around - advertise for sight seeing tours, sporting and concert events, girls night out, etc. Short day-trip destinations as well (wine tasting, etc.). Also kids tween and teen birthdays, quincietta (sp?), bat mihtzvas, etc. Parents spend a lot of money on their kids. Valentine's dinner, Mothers Day brunch...Hit up the indoor play centers (bounce houses) there's a lot of business out there just waiting to be serviced.

You also have to adapt to market online - use social media religiously - Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Google+

Good Luck!

My two cousins used this site, www.meridiancapitalfunding.net.

I own a small business as well but it's more on the side. Good luck to your friend.