<DIV> <DIV>Thanks guys for the advice.  I think I will concede to greater experience and wisdom and just wait a while to see what my needs are after I am actually doing this full time.  And, I have no problem just hanging on to the 7 grand the trailer would have cost new.  I did like the bakery truck idea, might have to look into that more at a later date.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For now I will move my attention to figuring out how to best organize my little Pontiac Vibe (actually a Toyota Matrix) for tuning business.  Basically this is a mini-SUV, back seats will fold down to make a flat 4.5' w x 5' l surface.  Anybody with good ideas on how to organize a vehicle for this business please feel free to comment.<BR><BR><B><I>Clyde Hollinger <cedel@supernet.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Rick,<BR><BR>Before you do that, ask yourself a few questions.  How much work do you have that will call for such an arrangement?  How much will it cost to set it up the way you envision?  How many jobs will you have to turn down if you *don't* purchase outfit the trailer?<BR><BR>I really think you should start at the other end.  Wait until after you are full-time.  Then if it becomes obvious that this would be a profitable way to go, go for it.  Don't run the risk of spending what appears to be a lot of money and then have it sitting idle nearly all the time.<BR><BR>I have been full-time for 12 years and part-time for 12 years before that.  Granted, I do not have any clients a two-hour drive away, but I have never seen the need for a mobile shop.  I don't know if there are any others out there or not.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Clyde Hollinger, RPT<BR><BR>Rick Bazemore wrote:<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE cite=mid20040522232323.66701.qmail@web20416.mail.yahoo.com type="cite"> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV>I am 1-2 years away from going full-time with my career as a piano technician and am considering the purchase of a Wells Cargo 8'X12" Fiber Optic Splicing type trailer to set up as a mobile shop.  This trailer maximizes cabinetry and work surfaces (also has ac/heat, power, and cargo ramp rear door with room to tote at least one piano) that would allow most bench work but not complete rebuilds (of course).  My question to those of you who are much more experienced than I is how useful would this type of set up be in a business that will be more tuning/in home repair based as opposed to rebuilding/in shop repair at least at the outset.  I am anticipating taking advantage of at least 3 out of town locations (in state locations less than 2 hours away) where I have previously served as Church Music Director and would have a good clientele base at each location.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Please tell me your opinions.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Rick Bazemore, RPT</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV> <P></P> <HR SIZE=1> <FONT face=arial size=-1>Do you Yahoo!?<BR>Yahoo! Domains - <A href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=23613/*http://smallbusiness.promotions.yahoo.com/offer">Claim yours for only $14.70/year</A> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><p> <hr size=1><font face=arial size=-1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>Yahoo! Domains - <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=23613/*http://smallbusiness.promotions.yahoo.com/offer">Claim yours for only $14.70/year</a>