Would love to be a framer - own a one man business

[JohnR]

Currently, I work in the computer field and to be honest, I'm getting very sick of it. It has given me experience dealing with vendors and people. I've framed as a hobby and have done 20 or so pieces. Last week I finished a piece for a friend at work and he was delighted. I like to make people happy and give them a good job. I work very hard. After a full day of work, I come home and work more with my Ebay business.

I am single and my only debt is my house payment that I've worked it down to under $600 per month. After some figuring, I can live comfortably on $32K a year.

I guess some of my questions are rather vague, but here goes...

How doable is a one man operation? Will I work myself to death to meet my salary requirement? (considering I can even get the business)

I have some of the tools already, but is there a list of recommended tools a small operation would need?

What is good study material for the certified framer test?

Thanks!
John

[HannaFate]

Run away! Run away! Picture framing will destroy your mind!

It'll happen slowly, you won't notice... until one day... A customer will bring in a bunch of fishing flies, and want them shadowboxed on black velvet, mounted on clear plastic tabs so they look like they are floating in air. He'll want to be able to open the frame and remove the flies in case he ever decides to use them. And you will TAKE THE ORDER.

Then, late at night, when you are painstakingly sewing the flies into place, it will occur to you..."I must be out of my mind!!!"

[Ron Eggers]

Will I work myself to death to meet my salary requirement? Yeah, you'd think the amount of money you make would be a direct function of how hard you're willing and able to work. That was pretty much true 20 years ago.

Now it's often a function of how much business you can actually get through the door. There are some VERY hard-working framers that have never seen anything close to $32,000 in profit.

Some of them probably don't see that in sales.

[Tommy P]

John

Remember, first, that Hanna lives in New Mexico....all that "enchantment" has hurt her brain. (Just kidding Hanna!) ;)

I did about nine months ago what you are contemplating.....and I feel reborn!

The stress is NOWHERE to be found compared to what I did and what you do!!!

I am poor as **** but am making a living....

Go for it.....you will make people, and yourself, "Happy".

[CAframer]

I used to be in the information systems world too ... had a big job ... retired from it and started framing ... I now work more than I ever did! 7 days a week, many hours a day, making a fraction of what I used to make. But here's the important thing .... for some bizarre reason I love it! As HannFate said, "I must be out of my mind!"

Sounds like you have a LOT of homework to do. Make sure you do enough research, have a well thought through business plan, and most important adequate capital. More than you think you need! Not just for FF&E, but also marketing, legal, admin, insurance, living expense, etc. Remember more businesses fail due to under-capitalization than to any other cause!

Also remember that what you may enjoy as a hobby you may hate as a living!

Start your research by reading everything you can on owning & operating a business. Study the demographics in your area, look at the competition, figure out your angle, why would people choose you versus others? Develop an exit strategy as well as a start-up plan.

Good luck ...

[EllenAtHowards]

And let us not forget PPFA. The Professional Picture Framers' Association. I think there is a chapter somewhere in Ohio. I know the ones right next to Pittsburgh go to a chapter there, and I assume there is one near Columbus. This is an excellent source of cameraderie and (as long as you aren't next door) lots of good tips, help, etc. (Now I have to say that I and two other framers in this town of 35K folks get together every Friday for breakfast, combine orders, swap needed matboard, but we are definitely the exception)

[Cliff Wilson]

I was high-tech for 25 years. Last job was running an engineering dept.

Started my framing business less than three years ago. have taken a salary greater than your number since day one. showed a loss in year one and broke even in year two (after salary and company owned car) and gave myself a raise this year and expect to make a profit on top of that. Make sure you CAPITALIZE the business sufficiently!

I did multiple three year business plans. did detailed layout plans for each possible site and demographic analysis before choosing and opening. If you do your homework, it can work.

Consider looking at one of the franchisors, even if you don't go that route. It isn't a bad route if you need help with business systems and setup. I did not do it myself, but I did investigate it and do business plans with that model before rulling it out for me. There is a lot to be learned from that exercise.

oh yeah, I am working fewer hours and having more fun than when I was a software engineer or manager!

I plan on hiring my first part-timer the end of the sumemr.

Study material and study guide for the CPF exam are on the PPFA web site. You are supposed to be a "professional framer" for one year before taking the test.

Good luck, I believe it takes more preparation and planning than actually "hard" work, but it it doable.

[Marion P]

Cliff,

What is considered a "professional framer"?

HOw can they tell if you are? As I would love to sit for my CPF.


Marion

[Cliff Wilson]

Marion, the short answer is "I don't actually know."

I think the idea is it should have been your job for at least a year. That is, you should have been paid for it. Go to the PPFA web site and email them. They will explain and answer any questions.

Also, the exam isn't easy, but if you read the material they recommend it seemed pretty straight forward to me. Good Luck.

[Jerry Ervin]

JohnR

You sound very much like me a few years ago. I was both a Microsoft and Novell Engineer and made very good money but hated the work.

I have been in the framing business for 12 years after buying an existing business. The first 6 years I continued contract computer work and still do short term contracts from time to time.

Unless you have an almost perfect location in todays world it is almost not do-able as a solo operation. Your goal was my original goal. I have not been able to achieve it yet. I now have 2 store locations and multiple other outlets for my product. With that comes employees.

The reason I say it is almost not do-able is that one of two things happen. Either you can't keep enough coming in the door to cover your expenses or you get too much and need help to do the work.

There are some successful solo operations out there. I have visited some. I am also envious of them.

Please feel free to e-mail me if you need another computer geeks view of the framing business.

[Emibub]

I don't know if I completely agree with that. Not that I am living proof, cause Lord knows I am not successful. But, I recently read somewhere, can't remember where of course, that in the current climate the industry is in the smaller entities are the ones easier to keep a float in a downswing economy. Reason being there was less overhead. Smaller square footage, few if any employees. The less baggage you carry the easier it is to lay low and stay out of the line of fire. It is easier to feed one than several. I guess it is all relative. Since I am a one person shop I choose to believe it is possible to be successful, otherwise, what the flip am I doing here?

Just make sure you do your homework first John. Good luck in your decision!

[JohnR]

Thanks for all the feedback. There is much to be considered!
John

[Marion P]

Thanks Cliff for your honest answer... I got a chuckle out of that.

I realize that the exam will be tough and I am willing to put 110% into it, when the time comes.

JohnR-Good luck with the adventure. I gave up being an educator in the cosmetic world and went to being a housewife and mother to a framer. I love being a framer, I'm not making alot of money, but the people and the adventure I am taking is wonderful. Like everyone said, do your homework in your area, visit a few frame shops around, see how they have set it all up, and also introduce yourself to them as they might give you a few pointers, or if they aren't very nice, point to the door. But I find people here on the grumble and in the outside FRAMING world are very helpful and a great bunch.
Enjoy what ever you decide in the future!

Marion

[David N Waldmann]

Originally posted by Marion P:
What is considered a "professional framer"?
Cliff's answer is the correct one - ask them what they mean.

The question is related to the "professional" part of the term, the crux of the matter is "What does 'professional' mean?"

According to www.dictionary.com, (http://www.dictionary.com,)
</font> A person following a profession, especially a learned profession.</font> One who earns a living in a given or implied occupation.</font> A skilled practitioner; an expert.</font>

[ERIC]

Originally posted by Jerry Ervin:
Either you can't keep enough coming in the door to cover your expenses or you get too much and need help to do the work. That is so true.

And it seems to go back and forth between the two on a weekly basis!

[JRB]

John, if working yourself to death is a concern, you should probably continue working for others.

It takes years of hard work and long hours to build and keep a clientèle. Thirty two thousand dollars a year is not all that much money in todays world, however, that is not how you would look at it as a small business owner.

You can not concern yourself with how much money you make in a given length of time. As you build your business you take each crises as they come up.

Rent on shop, that's due in a few days, gotta come up with the money. You get on the phone, you bang on doors, you come up with the rent. Utility bill is due, same dance.

House payment is due, you already missed last months payment, can't miss this one, borrow some money, bang on doors, come up with the money any way you can. Taxes are due, here you go again.

This is the way it is at first, just have to live with it. There are absolutely no guarantees, it is all up to you.

Again, if hard work and worry are not your cup of tea, don't quit your day job.

By the way, anyone who is employed by someone else, and you resent the money they make, this is what they had to go through to give you your job. It is not for weeks, or months, it translates into years of hard work, sweat, and worry.

John

[JohnR]

In some ways my little side business is giving me experience. I have stock to deal with, packaging supplies and tools. I made a little spreadsheet to calculate costs, profit and weight just by entering the item size. I have to watch all the costs to be sure I'm making a profit. I have a few returning clients. I started this last fall and a few months ago, I decided that if I'm to continue this, it has to perpetuate itself. I'm not putting any more money into it, just some time. So far it has, but not enough to support myself on, just extra play money.
John

[Sister]

Like Marion, I too was an educator--28 years. Not only did I need to supplement my retirement, but I had had an interest in framing for about the same number of years. I only thought I was busy when teaching; I am far busier now but absolutely love it. It is my therapy (I knew there was a life outside of teaching school).

If you are truly dedicated, you can be a "one-man show". I have help cutting and joining some frames, but for the most part I do all the rest. If you do the research and make your choice to take the plunge, be sure you spend time getting and staying organized. We have 4 frame shops in our small town of 15,000, but from what I hear from customers, my shop gets the most traffic (business is seldom slow and never idle).

Successful? yes ... Profit? yes . . . Rich? not yet but I am working on it. :D

[Jay H]

John, how have you been able to remember those days so clearly?

It's my wish that when this is over with I will have forgotten all about it.

[JRB]

Jay, I don't understand it myself. It seems to hit me in waves when I least expect it. I try my darnedest to forget those years, but they continue to haunt me.

Seriously, I almost miss those days. Building a business from scratch is a lot of work and worry, it is also a great adventure.

I have surprisingly been able to actually learn something from all of this, now that I am winding down my career.

It really is the journey that counts.

That is helping me a lot with this flying thing. I am in no big hurry to get my license, I am having a lot of fun now, making my way toward it, even if it is a lot of work and money.

John

[Dermot]

John R

I framed as a hobby many years ago….my business background was sales of science/laboratory, safety, test, supplies and equipment ……..I was quite good at what I did.

Due to a family situation now resolved about 10 years ago I gave up my job with the intention of starting a framing business….which I did……I had some reasonable business success framing…….but in the final analyses I just could not fully make the transition from a hobby which I loved to running it as a business……..I know some people have made that transition very successfully…….it just did not happen for me……perhaps I could not be ruthless enough to turn my hobby into a business……..that said I had a great time framing and have made some great friends in the framing community who I know will be friends for the rest of my life despite the fact that I no longer frame………the framing community is wonderful and in particular the community at the Grumble…….

I have now retired from framing to concentrate on another business venture which has brought me back to the area of business where I sent most of my business life…..and I’m astonished at how well I now feel about business………and how well thing are going…….yes it mad at present the business opportunity arrived more or less out of the blues even though I was looking……in an Irish context it is a major scoop I picked up the agency/distributorship for Ireland for a world class US company www.notrax.com (http://www.notrax.com) ……it a developed market in the US but is only strarting in Ireland…this is a big opportunity for me…….and this is what I'm best at getting something like the NOTRAX range off the ground in Ireland…

Good luck with your venture…..don’t set your goals to low i.e. mainly what you want to earn…..and think about if you can truly turn a hobby into a business ……..I have very close contact with some of the people at Dell so I have a good idea where you are at at present……..like some of the other offers feel free to give me a call if you want to +353 87 2575059……I can call you back…..calls from Ireland are cost little more than making a local call

Good luck with your plans…….but do plan it out…

Dermot
www.matting-systems.com (http://www.matting-systems.com) hopeful this site will improve in the next few months I think I have finally found someone that will work on it ……..though even as it is it is brining in a few significant sales….