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sgorny... buying an optical to start my own business. I mean, I work for myself now, doing locum tenens (per diem) work, but my only overhead is gas. I have to find the work, then get there and do it, but then I just wait for the paycheck to come in. As long as I get the work, life is manageable.
But there is this little optical in the next town over, that's been there since 1958. The owner died 3 years ago, and it's been running on autopilot with 1-1/2 employees while the family figured out what to do. The kids aren't interested in it, so they are selling.
Cons:
1) The space is small - about 1200 sq ft, most of it with windows. And no room to expand.
2) There is not a room big enough for an exam lane - remodelling is necessary. Also, another room must be added for a business office area - although that could be a room without floor-to-ceiling walls, since the ceilings are at least... 12-14 feet? Less cost for those, I think.
3) The decor is that russet orange & shiny gold stripes from the 70's - which definitely has to go.
4) The overhead lighting is kind of the reverse of a "disco floor" - big plastic panels with raised circles, that lights up with fluorescents behind it.
5) The frame selection is... bad. Well, there is a small percentage of usable frames, but most are old aviators or plastics.
6) The displays & counters suck - they are old/ugly/take up too much space.
7) I'll still have to work at least 3-4 days a week at other places, initially, until the doctor side builds up patients.
8) My meds still aren't adjusted right, and I've been having problems dealing with stress. And this would be a world of stress.
9) Can't forget - the huge loan that will be needed to do this...
Pros:
1) Great location! Big parking lot, near Lakewood Town Center (the big shopping center in Lakewood). Near Fort Lewis military base, so can get a lot of military families.
2) Great natural lighting (see the big windows comment, above). Of course, that will need to be controlled somewhat, because it can be blinding, but that's what shades are for, right?
3) The changes needed are cosmetic (mostly) - only one main internal wall needst o be moved to make a bigger room for exams. The rest should be easy... but probably a bit expensive.
4) The business has been coasting for 3 years, but still made as much in the optical as the previous office I worked at (if you subtracted out the doctor fees). So it could run as an optical while I built up the doctor side of it.
5) I have 3 employees from where I worked before that want to come work for me. Which is also a con, since I could only take 2 initially, and I feel bad about hurting the other ones feelings. But I can't afford 3 people at once, when it's been running on only 1-1/2 people. Maybe eventually...
So right now, I'm waiting for the floorplan to see how I can redo the space to get what I need. Then I need to get with a remodeller to find out the cost of that, then I need to get a thorough frame inventory to see how many are discontinued (which means they aren't worth anything, since you can't get replacement parts), and what it would cost to get new lines in (since you have to buy them). Also what it would cost for an exam chair, and equipment stand, a projector, since that's what I need at a minimum. Plus, I need to plot out all the surrounding doctors & opticals, to make sure I'm not moving into a too saturated area... although the optical has been running itself for a few years (without profits, or losses) on autopilot.
Christ, there is a lot to think about.
But there is this little optical in the next town over, that's been there since 1958. The owner died 3 years ago, and it's been running on autopilot with 1-1/2 employees while the family figured out what to do. The kids aren't interested in it, so they are selling.
Cons:
1) The space is small - about 1200 sq ft, most of it with windows. And no room to expand.
2) There is not a room big enough for an exam lane - remodelling is necessary. Also, another room must be added for a business office area - although that could be a room without floor-to-ceiling walls, since the ceilings are at least... 12-14 feet? Less cost for those, I think.
3) The decor is that russet orange & shiny gold stripes from the 70's - which definitely has to go.
4) The overhead lighting is kind of the reverse of a "disco floor" - big plastic panels with raised circles, that lights up with fluorescents behind it.
5) The frame selection is... bad. Well, there is a small percentage of usable frames, but most are old aviators or plastics.
6) The displays & counters suck - they are old/ugly/take up too much space.
7) I'll still have to work at least 3-4 days a week at other places, initially, until the doctor side builds up patients.
8) My meds still aren't adjusted right, and I've been having problems dealing with stress. And this would be a world of stress.
9) Can't forget - the huge loan that will be needed to do this...
Pros:
1) Great location! Big parking lot, near Lakewood Town Center (the big shopping center in Lakewood). Near Fort Lewis military base, so can get a lot of military families.
2) Great natural lighting (see the big windows comment, above). Of course, that will need to be controlled somewhat, because it can be blinding, but that's what shades are for, right?
3) The changes needed are cosmetic (mostly) - only one main internal wall needst o be moved to make a bigger room for exams. The rest should be easy... but probably a bit expensive.
4) The business has been coasting for 3 years, but still made as much in the optical as the previous office I worked at (if you subtracted out the doctor fees). So it could run as an optical while I built up the doctor side of it.
5) I have 3 employees from where I worked before that want to come work for me. Which is also a con, since I could only take 2 initially, and I feel bad about hurting the other ones feelings. But I can't afford 3 people at once, when it's been running on only 1-1/2 people. Maybe eventually...
So right now, I'm waiting for the floorplan to see how I can redo the space to get what I need. Then I need to get with a remodeller to find out the cost of that, then I need to get a thorough frame inventory to see how many are discontinued (which means they aren't worth anything, since you can't get replacement parts), and what it would cost to get new lines in (since you have to buy them). Also what it would cost for an exam chair, and equipment stand, a projector, since that's what I need at a minimum. Plus, I need to plot out all the surrounding doctors & opticals, to make sure I'm not moving into a too saturated area... although the optical has been running itself for a few years (without profits, or losses) on autopilot.
Christ, there is a lot to think about.
