Running a one man shop was the hardest thing for me to do! It's insane the discipline and organization you must follow to stay sane and successful.
Here is the secret to success, and it's so simple you will dismiss it out of hand because it is so simple to be true.
It's all about your way of thinking, change how you look at things and think about them.
1. Fear of losing out. You don't have to take all the work all the time.
Customers are looking for a reliable, trustworthy mechanic. Be honest, let them know you are a one man shop, and hold them to a higher standard, don't let them muck with your time. If they are no shows, drop them as clients.
2. Plan your Budget, know your dashboard numbers by heart and hit your targets.
If you know you have to sell $2,500 a week in revenue, stick to it, if you have to stay late do it, then slack off. In the opposite side, if you make your numbers within a few days, don't waste your time shaming around, instead clean the shop, pickup the phone and sell, market, teach a clinic, etc.
3. The number one time sink will be the phone, learn to be brief and courteous. LEARN TO SAY NO!
All kinds of people will come to try to sell you stuff, do yourself a favor, be polite and learn to say no. It helps them and you by keeping your time on YOUR schedule.
4. Hire professional help, use the best program to track your business.
You accountant/bookkeeper will help you save money and grow your business, excellent accountants can help you make wise decisions on how to grow your money and business by investing wisely.
5. As soon as you can, hire the best help you can afford, they paid themselves and make you money.
Good help is never an expense, they pay for themselves my knowing exactly how to do the job right.
6. CHARGE WHAT THE MARKET WILL BEAR! Know the difference between markup vs margin. YOU NEED TO MAKE A PROFIT TO STAY IN BUSINESS! Turning wrenches just for the sake of turning wrenches is no fun as a business owner, besides your kids need to be properly fed, clothed, and raised. If you can't make a profit, leave the business and get hired as a tech. else wise you hurt yourself and other by driving prices down.
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HarrytheCarGeek's post in Contracts was marked as the answer
Pick up the phone and call Hotels, contractors, cable installers, delivery companies, etc. The hard part will be the first calls and the nasty people that will hang up on you and tell you that they don't need your service.
Once you have introduced yourself to enough people and made enough appointments you may start to see some business trickle into the door.
This is a very slow process, but effective in getting new business through the door.
Keep in mind most fleet managers will not switch shops overnight, it is a slow and tedious process of developing a relationship with the fleet managers.
They will try you out and see if you can deliver solutions to them, and at the beginning they will watch your pricing and delivery like hawks!
