Jul. 11–People can be entrepreneurs with little or no capital at all, says Gary G. Schoeniger, author of the audio book “Starting From Scratch: How To Start A Business When You Don’t Have Money.”
More than the start-up money, determination and commitment are the driving forces to succeed in business, explains Schoeniger, who started a gutter-cleaning service 17 years ago with a borrowed ladder.
“I was dead-broke, unemployed, and I had no direction,” Schoeniger said, comparing his predicament to those being laid off due to economic downturn.
“I knocked on homes and offices, offering my services to clean their gutters and windows,” he recalled.
Gradually, his clients gave him other sundry jobs. That led him to expand his business and even hire employees, said Schoeniger, who now runs a multimillion-dollar construction business.
To share his experience and to motivate others, the Mentor resident conducts seminars and workshops on entrepreneurship.
“Opportunities are available to anyone,” Schoeniger said. “But many people are paralyzed with fear of uncertainty.”
The Euclid High School graduate urges entrepreneurs to start small projects with limited or no investments and then develop them into major companies.
“We’re not talking about Silicon Valley-type businesses with venture capital. We’re talking about mom-and-pop kitchen-table start-ups,” he said.
Taking cues from Schoeniger, Ron Samnik fulfilled his dream of becoming a business owner.
With a modest investment, the certified public accountant bought a heavy-duty lawn mower, clippers and brooms, and printed fliers to market his landscaping and home-maintenance business.
Samnik named the business Father and Son. His son, Dan, is also involved in the venture.
Since starting three months ago, Father and Son has flourished, Samnik said.
“We’ve made more than 300 percent return on the investment,” the Mentor resident said. “Now, I have 12 regular lawn-mowing contracts, and another 20 projects coming. It’s pretty much a full-time job for me.”
At age 55, Samnik quit his job as a chief financial officer for a private college to become an entrepreneur.
“I looked at businesses without big franchise fees and investment,” he said. “People think a lot of money is needed to start a business.
“They are hung up on the corporate environment with proper infrastructure and employees.”
Business owners can outsource legal, accounting and other responsibilities instead of hiring staff on a full-time basis.
Schoeniger urges people with full-time jobs to consider starting businesses on the side as a safety net in case they become jobless.
Besides, on retirement that venture can be developed into a full-time operation.
His audio book, “Starting from Scratch…” is available on Amazon.com.
Schoeniger can be reached at (440) 255-6145 or his Web site, opportunityiseverywhere.com.
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(c) 2003, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
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