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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
“I was dead-broke, unemployed, and I had no direction,” Schoeniger said, comparing his predicament to those being laid off due to economic downturn.<\/p>\n
“I knocked on homes and offices, offering my services to clean their gutters and windows,” he recalled.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
To share his experience and to motivate others, the Mentor resident conducts seminars and workshops on entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
“Opportunities are available to anyone,” Schoeniger said. “But many people are paralyzed with fear of uncertainty.”<\/p>\n
The Euclid High School graduate urges entrepreneurs to start small projects with limited or no investments and then develop them into major companies.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
Taking cues from Schoeniger, Ron Samnik fulfilled his dream of becoming a business owner.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Samnik named the business Father and Son. His son, Dan, is also involved in the venture.<\/p>\n
Since starting three months ago, Father and Son has flourished, Samnik said.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
At age 55, Samnik quit his job as a chief financial officer for a private college to become an entrepreneur.<\/p>\n
“I looked at businesses without big franchise fees and investment,” he said. “People think a lot of money is needed to start a business.<\/p>\n
“They are hung up on the corporate environment with proper infrastructure and employees.”<\/p>\n
Business owners can outsource legal, accounting and other responsibilities instead of hiring staff on a full-time basis.<\/p>\n
Schoeniger urges people with full-time jobs to consider starting businesses on the side as a safety net in case they become jobless.<\/p>\n
Besides, on retirement that venture can be developed into a full-time operation.<\/p>\n
His audio book, “Starting from Scratch…” is available on Amazon.com.<\/p>\n
Schoeniger can be reached at (440) 255-6145 or his Web site, opportunityiseverywhere.com.<\/p>\n
—–<\/p>\n
To see more of The News-Herald or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http:\/\/www.news-herald.com<\/p>\n
(c) 2003, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio. Distributed by Knight Ridder\/Tribune Business News.<\/p>\n
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