My 2 cents:

In nearly every garage business you end up putting more into it than you
get out of it, so if you aren't doing it for pleasure, then don't do it.

Wear armor cladding.  Don't take what 1% of your customers may say about
you or your product personally, because what can possibly be said, will
be said.

Remember, it's a business, not a charity.  Customers like it when you go
out of your way for them, but make it clear that it's not normal for you
to go against your policies (you do have a business plan with customer
policies, right?).Don't bend over backwards for every little problem,
because back problems last a lifetime (both figurative and literal).

Make it clear up front what you are offering, both in terms of product,
but especially in terms of support and service.  You may lose customers
if you can only offer 24 hour turnaround support via email, but it's
often better to have not had a customer than to have an angry customer
which you still can't help.  If someone needs your product, they can and
will work around the limitations of your business until they find
something better.

Send me free samples.  ;-)

-Adam

Traveler Hauptman wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I'm considering starting a business selling some electronics/microcontroller
>modules I'm developing as a side venture. Does anyone have stories of their
>own successes/failures they could share so I can get a better idea of what
>I'm getting myself into? What kind of volume do you get with your niche
>product? Nightmares with suppliers or product support? Anything that might
>bring me to my senses and make me return to being a slave to the Man?
>
>Regards,
>
>Traveler Hauptman
>
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>
>
>

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http://www.piclist.com hint: The PICList is archived three different
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