<WBR>One very important thing that should be part of any agreement is a non-compete clause. A Non-compete clause prevents the persons from whom you bought the business from competing with you in the future. It doesn't make much sense to buy a business, and then have that person come back a year or two later and try to get back the business you bought. <br> <br> A non-compete clause can legally be for up to 7 years and can include a geographical area. <br> <br> <div style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<br> Piano Tuner/Technician<br> Mililani, Oahu, HI<br> 808-349-2943<br> Author of: <br> The Business of Piano Tuning<br> available from Potter Press<br> www.pianotuning.com</div> <br> <br> -----Original Message-----<br> From: Dave Davis <dave@davispiano.com><br> To: pmc033@earthlink.net; Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org><br> Sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2008 11:07 am<br> Subject: Re: Buying Customer List or Existing Business<br> <br> <div id=AOLMsgPart_2_dddcd890-9d1d-4c5e-9852-c57d6d06b411> <STYLE type=text/css> #AOLMsgPart_2_dddcd890-9d1d-4c5e-9852-c57d6d06b411 DIV {margin:0px;} </STYLE> <div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"> <div>Hi Paul,</div> <div> </div> <div>I'm in a similar situation, buying the business of someone who is moving away (actually he's moving into your neighborhood <grin>). I looked at it several ways, but made my offer to him based on my acquiring his phone numbers. My logic is - (1) I'm not entirely convinced his current customers will schedule with me since I charge $30+ more for tuning, (2) I already have some of the customers from his database, (3) it prevents him from changing his mind about moving, since he will no longer have the phone numbers that have been plastered around town for about 20 years. </div> <div> </div> <div>One thing to be cautious about, you mention that your guy has been downsizing over the past several years. That's one thing in my favor, my guy has continued to market his business strongly.</div> <div> </div> <div>Best wishes,</div> <div> </div> <div>Dave Davis, RPT<br> </div> <div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><br> <div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><FONT face=Tahoma size=2> <HR SIZE=1> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Paul McCloud <<A href="mailto:pmc033@earthlink.net">pmc033@earthlink.net</A>><br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Pianotech <<A href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A>><br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Friday, October 24, 2008 5:49:13 AM<br> <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Buying Customer List or Existing Business<br> </FONT><br> <div> <div>List:   </div> <div>    I have been offered first dibs on a piano business that has been gradually downsized over the past several years.  The owner, retiring at the end of the year, has been a technician for 60 years, most of which were spent here in San Diego.  He used to have a store location with various new and used pianos, but has given up piano sales, and does part time tuning.  What he's offering is his customer list, a few rental pianos (returned), tools and supplies, and a few odd piano benches and other accessories.  I know there has been some discussion in the past about purchasing an existing business or customer list, but I can't seem to find much in the archives.  Maybe I need a better search keyword.  </div> <div>    I'm leaning towards some kind of arrangement where I would pay for any customer on the list that actually becomes my client.  Paying for  a couple thousand names where most of them are dead, moved, or otherwise useless to me doesn't make sense.  I've got plenty of those anyway.  I'm thinking that I would pay a certain amount for any client I got from his list that actually became a customer.  I could put out a mailer that would introduce me to his clients, asking them to call me for their next service.  Someone suggested to ask if he has a list of his most recent customers, and how much business he has done in the last year with them.  That figure would tell me what I could expect to make if I did purchase his list.  I'm also keen to acqure his telephone number.  He has moved into the shop where I work, and has a corner of the room.  When I'm there, I hear his phone ring and I listen to the p! hone calls that come in as his answering machine takes messages.  </div> <div>    If any of you could offer advice, I'd be very glad to have it.</div> <div>    Respectfully,</div> <div>    Paul McCloud, RPT</div> <div>    San Diego, CA</div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div>Paul McCloud</div> <div>Service Technician for <A href="http://pianosd.com/" target=_blank>PianoSD.com</A></div> <div><A href="http://www.pianoservsd.com/" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.pianoservsd.com</A> </div> <div>Created with free BlueVoda software:</div> <div><A href="http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9" target=_blank rel=nofollow>http://www.vodahost.com/partner/idevaffiliate.php?id=9223_1_3_9</A></div> <div> </div> <div> </div> <div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id='MAILCIADB024-90aa4902758d76' class='aol_ad_footer'><BR/><FONT style="color: black; font: normal 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF;"><HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"></HR>McCain or Obama? 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