Establishing Your Small Business: It's Not the Size but the Success that Counts
Jack Muradyan saw his first small business success with a big rig company he owned and operated. He didn't even have a DBA or "doing business as" at the time. It was just his name and phone number in the yellow pages under the trucking category. Jobbing out two trucks on a freelance basis, the sole proprietor discovered, took a lot of effort. "Being in an office on the computer all the time gave me a headache," he claims. "I wanted to be out in the field, working with my hands." He knew he had to make a change and, fortunately, this small business owner had a plan.
Jack sold the trucking business and started the rebuilding process with an opportunity as an apprentice electrician that led to journeyman in the next few years. Along the way he acquired a few tools of to the trade and a lot of expertise, to the point that he was able to take and pass the California contractor's exam-all part of his plan for doing business. As a businessman with a plan, he was on his way.
In September 2006 he set up shop, basically a cell phone and a van with custom lettering. He found himself doing business as-what else?-Jack's Electrical Services. All it took was filing a simple DBA and placing an ad in a small local newspaper, both essential for this sole proprietor until he built up his business by referrals and word of mouth. Although today this small business owner operating under his DBA has his share of referrals, he still relies on the local weekly that targets a specific affluent community in Southern California.
Doing business as Jack's Electrical Services, the sole proprietor specializes in both indoor and outdoor custom lighting: Pendulum lights and chandeliers, recessed lighting, under-the-counter lighting, landscape lighting and more. His business philosophy is simple: Say what you mean, mean what you say and provide quality craftsmanship.
But Muradyan is more than just a sole proprietor. He's his own boss. He calls the shots, and it works for him. When we spoke, he was enjoying a day off during the workweek. Jack's initial investment of $5,000 has turned into about $100,000 in annual revenue in little over a year. Not bad for a start-up business with plans to establish a main office, add employees, and possibly to take on a partner in the future. He may be doing business as Jack's Electrical Services today, but tomorrow he could be doing business as National Electrical, Inc. The name of the small business game is growth.
According to The Small Business Economy: A Report to the President, released in December 2007 for the 2006 business year, small businesses were at the heart of economic expansion. The report further cites that business income and profits were up, and the estimated number of firms and self-employed individuals increased. It was during this time Jack started doing business as an electrical contractor and began growing his business. He may be a statistic...but he's also quite the success.
