Information on Business:
Basics:
You will be helping auto enthusiasts to meet for trading, selling or buying their cars. Your promotion skills will be crucial in order to succeed, so getting the message out that you are holding these events will make the business profitable. This business requires you to know where to find ideal locations and with the right partners you can set up food stands, snack shops and the like to complement the event. Car lovers will appreciate that you helped them enjoy their visit and will likely help you promote the next one.
To Get Started:
You will need about $15,000 to $20,000 to start the business. First you need to secure a meeting place such as a parking lot or a warehouse, you can do that using a real estate agent that works on commercial space rentals. You will then need to obtain liability insurance in order to get business owners to partner with you and also to facilitate the rental negotiations. Some owners will ask you for a flat fee to rent their parking lot or warehouse which usually run about $75 to $150 per day, some will ask you to give them a small percentage of your revenue. You will need to advertise online, at auto repair shops, dealerships, newspapers and bulletin boards. You should be able to charge from $30 up to each participant and $5 to $10 admission fees for attendees. Negotiate with snack shops and food stand businesses to complement the event. Make sure pizza, hot dogs and soda are offered.
Tips:
This business requires constant attention to advertising. If advertising is not a top priority participants and attendees will not know of the event and the event will not be profitable. You should also keep an eye on liability insurance costs and make sure the event is run well and properly organized in order to avoid mishaps that would increase your liability insurance costs. This business is not ideal for a home business, since you will be on site to run the vents and traveling to meet partners and close negotiations. This business is a good opportunity for persons with disabilities. A staff will be required to help you run the event and assist you with business details. For additional information do a search on auto swap meet promotions.
Definition:
A business that helps individuals and groups sell, trade or buy cars by providing a place to meet.
Revenue Range:
$50,000 to $120,000 per year
Education and Training Required:
Negotiaton skills, interest in cars, excellent marketing skills.
Equipment Required:
Basic office equipment to keep track of schedules, locations and partners. Communications equipment, basic office supplies, the ability to rent warehouses, or parking lots for each event.
