Ducati Monster Forum

i went into the city today to register a business name and thought given the usual agro i'd just ride minnie with the summer gear and strip off to shorts, shirt and crocs on arrival because it's 35 make the beast with two backsing degrees.

i made it to within about 2 blocks of the consumer affairs building and minnie failed to proceed any further.  she started ok when leaving, but gave me two roadside stops on the ride home to hawthorn - which is not far.

so whadaya reckon?  i'm screwed?

Sounds like you've found your first customer!

 [laugh]

big

Nah  [evil], bike was asking "were's your gear???  ??? go back and get it".

But it was an empty threat...
bit like when you were a kid, sitting in the back seat of the car on long trips, making noise. Your pearents would threaten that if you didn't shut up they would "turn this car around and go back home!!".... - Chris

Nah, I don't believe in that shit.

You're starting a service orientated business  - market demand, good planning, business ethics and hard work are ingredients that'll make it work.

Oh, and a catchy name! I don't suppose you're gonna tell us that quite yet!

Just stay focused Brad...

Good things come to those who persevere (or wait)  :-\

Didn't know ya live in Hawk City!!  I'm in Auburn Road...   If ya need a beer, you'll find me proping up the bar at the Auburn Bowls Club most nights!!! ;D

Ita

No such thing as omens Brad. You have made a good decision, so hang with it.

Like Goldfish, if I lived in Mubourne, you would have my business...ducsport

The things that come to those who wait, maybe the things left by those who got there first..........

Howdy.

Does this mean the invoice for first customer is already taken?

Cherrio

Madalf.

well, the name.  hmmm.

i wanted bikeboy, as i have the website already - www.bikeboy.org.  but someone already had "bike boy", and bikeboy was too close to that.  as was pretty much anything that started with bikeboy.

so standing there at the counter wasting the lady's time i settled (on my last allowed try) for "brad the bike boy".  it didn't sound too good then and even less so now, but it has the bikeboy tie in and my name and, well, what other bullshit can one think up.  and what people will remember is more important than the actual name i guess.  like purple pig.  plus i didn't want a name like redline or turn one or that sort of connotation - not that i have anything against those businesses.  i was almost going to try "brad inc", i kind of like that.

i think i'll answer the phone "bikeboy".

so hopefully that was the extent of the omen.  dunno what was wrong with minnie.  some fuel supply issue.  i ended up pushing her across the road to the caltex on the corner of barkers and high street and filled her up.  8.3 litres, but the higher level must have helped - it ran fine for the remaining 2km or so.  i'm not much of a macguyver, more a thrower of hissy fits.

those expecting a big opening party will have to do so in the knowledge that i pretty much drink only water, so anything not water i have very little idea about.  even coffee, which some people seem overly precious about. [laugh]  i do like a nice sarsaparilla, the schweppes old style one reminds me more than any other of the kooweerup pub on a saturday afternoon after fox shooting.  my two cousins and i would have a sars for each round of beer for the adults.  i remember getting to 17 or 18 one night - man did that make me piss.  it only occured to me years later how much my dad was drinking some times before driving home.  the good old days eh!

anyway.  lots more to do before i congratulate myself on how much money i'm making.  all i've got so far is a name, abn and a shit load of tools and crap.  still need premises (that will need some fitting out at least), accountant, solicitor and some idea of wtf i'm meant to be doing and what it takes to run a small business.

how hard can it be?

g'donya Brad for takin the plunge!   [thumbsup]

I gotta be honest..  "brad the bike boy" dosn't really grab me!...  but thats what they said to Arnold Schwarzenegger!

here's to ya   [drink]  <-----sarsaparilla      :)

ps,  when veetwo decided to focus on manufacture and drop the servicing and rebuilds, Justin, the mech with 12/13 there, decided to open his own business (protwin). You cant get in his w/shop now for bikes.  He has the same passion you seem to have...
I'm sure you will do really well.

What's in a name???   It's what's behind the name that maters... [thumbsup]

Good luck with it mate...  You have a long way to go but at least you are having a go...   Win lose or draw you will always be able to say I gave it a go...

I'm sure the Melbourne guys will help you with business as well as any other assistance...  When ya find a premises if ya need a hand moving stuff or whatever, I'm sure you will have volunteers!!!

Ita

A bad omen ... no way.

Your business is about getting bikes running nice and smooth (or deep and growly). So having your first 'customer' so soon after registering your name is a bloody good omen ... and an easy fix - even better.

As for the name - the important thing is the name is out there, not what it is.

Good luck with the new venture.

what about Bike Boy Brad

I don't know you and will most likely never meet you (other side of the globe), but I remember your knowledge and willingness to share from TOB and after a while, here. Knowledge is powerful and with your people skills you will succeed without a doubt. Customers won't be a problem, you "only" need to learn how to charge them for everything with the assurance that you're worth it. Good luck bike boy!

My 2c, I think you should have used your name. You are the commodity here, your skills, knowledge and research is where the value to your potential customers lies. Don't get me wrong it will not make or break it, but bear this in mind when planning your business and look to target your market. I think your I.P (intellectual property) is worth more than you give credit. GOOD LUCK.

You can always do the "trading as" route :).

I shall be interested to see how you go. If I could book an S2R1k for a 30,000 km service in late June next year that'd be great :). Given the guys up here three chances, and with the inlaws in Melbourne I can kill two birds with one stone... so to speak.

     IF you ever were to screw up - that would be a Brad Omen? [roll] [cheeky]

I thought you were from Norway, not a native of Pungary?

How would I know - it's my tenth night with clear paint and other solvents fuming up my apartment, DucPainter says it's got to be warm to dry and harden.
TEN days  [bang] I don't know - Pungary sounds about right at this point.

Is this what they call a thread jack? (Sorry, I'm just an ignorant foreigner)

Yes, this is a thread jack :).

I presume you're doing some painting for your Monster? Funnily enough, I'm gassing myself in my garage, painting bits for my other red naked project bike. It's fun :P. Having experienced the fun that was a Norwegian end of summer, I can only imagine you have to crank the heat up to help things dry. Just to rub it in it was a lovely 25 degrees at 8am this morning, and not a cloud in the sky. Thunderstorms this arvo though... might make for some good photos.