Whew...good weekend

Well I survived a busy first prom weekend. Had some highs and lows. But all in all, weekend was great.

saturday - worked from 7am till noon for the popo, then went home and "field dressed" the car, inside and out, iced down, etc. we headed out and when we got to the house, here mommy is with a freaking camcorder filming us coming in. We pull up, get the kids in the car (only 2 riders for 8 hrs) then the freaking car smokes on me as were backing up....Im like damn! whats the deal, this car doesn't smoke. Well, we get pictures and get them to the school, i get the car home real quick....damn oil is overfilled where i just got it changed! so i race to the firestation, change from suit to shop clothes, and drain the oil. refill it, and then it stopped. that crap is so embarassing. then i go back to the school, wait on kiddies, and then we get out they want us just to drive around. Well, shortly into the drive, we believe some , as john calls it "hucklebucking" was going on, then we took them home. good deal, loved the ride completely.

sunday-funeral run, went great, not really much to say about that, only thing is this was the first time i had a car load. when the car is under a load, it has like a vibrating and a humming noise after a few miles. im thinking wheel bearings, but im not sure....any ideas.

right now got inquiries for the next three weeks....at least im making some payments on that car!
check in later- wore ass out

LIMOS DOT COM

Whew....this is something else. I joined Limos.com about a week ago, and in the last two days, I've had so many freaking inquiries, its hard to keep up with them! ITS GREAT. I mean seriously, every time I get on the computer or on my PDA to check email, there's a new inquiry. Of course that is costing me, but I've already made one reservation from them, and hopefully the cash from another will be arriving soon. Its really a great thing.

Other than that, I bought Jon (my driver) and myself brand new black suits. I didnt go with the solid black tie, I went with something with just a subtle hint of taste in silver/black. Very sharp. Pictures will be here saturday night or sunday.

Later!

Dang!

Glad I'm here where I'm at and not in Portland! I've been so freaking busy this last week. First off, I have a problem with making car payments.....NOT that I can't make payments, but I'm saying I don't like doing it. My deal is, I don't like paying on something that has no possibility of making my money back. So, (this sounds crazy) but I bought another car, and I'm going to sell the truck. The deal is, my car was only 900 dollars. I know that doesnt sound like much of a car, but it's a 1999 Crown Victoria, old police car. It's really a good ride. I'm one for a paid for car, and I can work on Fords. This by the way is like my 10th crown Vic. So I'm getting my truck ready to go on the sale block. It sounds crazy, but no monthly car payment and 20 bucks a month insurance is great.
Ive also been working on a police boat for our local sheriff's dept. I do a little light/siren/radio installs for local people around here. I can do about anything odd! I was going to go into business doing that, but it frustrates me too much. And it's actually tougher work that it looks like. Nothing says I won't ever do it, or at least hire someone to do it.

Now, onto the Limo. Things still going well. Just letting advertising do its thing for me now. No hard times here! I'm going to get Jonathan (my friend and driver) and myself new suits next week. Not really much happening other than that.

As for what's going on about 2000 miles away, not my business. I just hope everyone can get along with each other from now on. Like I've said, I can agree if things were wrong, but there are two sides to every story, and the only people that really know whats going on are the people that were there. All I'll say is my car is nowhere near showroom quality and I still get compliments daily on it. And I'm not kidding when I say I do all that, and only for 75 bucks an hour.

Well, I'm still thinking about a second car this fall. I'm really talking myself into a 180 Lincoln. I still cant justify the SUV, like presold talks about. I'm not really a huge numbers man, but I'm a big "out of the red into the black" man. I wish I were better at numbers that I am, but I'll learn. I'm off to bed, ya'll keep it real!

Finally Made a Run!

Well, things are running slow right now. I made a one way trip run to Harrah's in Metropolis, IL. the other day. I've got two proms reserved now. It's by no means a huge income, but things are getting more steady, which I planned on 6 mos-to-1 yr before things were going to be somewhat busy. I have several calls already coming in, which is great, and lots of support. I'm doing a silent auction charity limo run for a nearby chamber of commerce. It's for a good cause, and I like being charitable when I can, not to mention its advertisement. I have had several phone calls for limousine runs for 14-20 people. I don't know if I need to down the road look into an excursion (damn) or just get a 180 inch LTC. I love lincolns, and they drive so damn well I think I should just keep going with them. I guess I should put my two cents in on the comments made by our Portland, Oregon friend. I too have just started a Limo Service, I went very conservative with an 8 Passenger Lincoln that is a 2001 model. It's not the greatest, it has flaws, but you know its mine, and I do what I can with what I have. I never one time said my car is the biggest and baddest limo around. And I prove that with what I, and everyone I deal with, feel like are reasonable rates. If I do buy an excursion, it probably will have flaws, but it too will be at a reasonable rate. And I'll provide the best service I can with it and keep it in as good of condition as I can. But I'll never one time ever say I'm the biggest and baddest anything....because no matter how big and bad you are, there's always someone bigger and badder than you.

Just an update

Well, a whole lot has been worked on. I got body work done, it looks fantastic. I got the air conditioner recharged. It's Ice Cold. I'm going to change the sub from that chamber to a small box. ANd I've been advertising a lot. Thats about it. I was gone a week to the police academy, so thats had be held back for a while. But things are moving forward.

Just Checking in...

Long break, sorry for not updating more regularly. My posts aren't quite as exciting as Marcus' video posts. I'd break a camera! lol Well, here's the news....I got my 2500 business cards today, and they look FANTASTIC! Better in person than on the digital proof....I've only had about 10 people look at them, and they floor everyone! So that was a momentum booster. I called about authority for the counties, and they said that is going fine. So good news there. And I received a phone call in regards to a possibility of doing some "dedicated part time" work for a Luxury Marina here in this area...that would be awesome.

I saw my competition in our neighboring town today. White 120" 10 pax, about like mine - 1998-2002 series, only it was dirty, you could see the paint starting to separate from where the vinyl top comes to the body. The guy had taken someone to a fancy dinner and was sitting in a gas station next door drinking coffee. Nice Fellow though. You know, I'm taking my car to a body shop to get some minor cosmetic repairs tomorrow, and then when I see this car, it reminds me that mt car is really a nice unit. Although it does remind me why I do and don't like white cars.

HEY WHY ISNT ANYONE IN THE LIMOS.COM CHAT ROOM??????? I WOULD GET IN THERE IF OTHERS WERE!!!

Business Card

Hey, I forgot all about this...here is a proof of my business card. I think it looks quite nice. Not a damn thing going on today. Later!

Well, not a good day

Well, first off I'm pissed. I went to fire dept training tonight and I left my personal portable radio on the back of the truck, drove off and tore it up. It got ran over. So I'm quite infuriated now.

OK, back to the limo. I've been looking for custom floor mats....that is a bitch, an expensive bitch. So that's not going well. But thats no real biggie. Now, not to sound like I'm coming into a money pit, I'm having some body work done to the stretch. There are signs of minor paint bubbling and waviness in the fiberglass lower panel. And I noticed in direct sunlight, the stretch paint color is a couple shades lighter than the rest of the car. Took the car to my body man, 900 dollars he will paint the entire stretch to match the car and fix the fiberglass panel. Is it worth it? I dont know. I'm thinking about working it through prom and then getting it worked on. Any ideas? I mean its not that noticeable. I've had the car out in the daytime several times and just noticed it today. I'm thinking about it.

Fistfull of Dollars

Well, I have finally completed two of the three things that I needed to do to be getting closer to reality. I have purchased business cards and insurance. I think I told everyone 3500 per year? Well thanks to the book Wheels of Gold...It's already saved me 1600 dollars! I just got a year of 1.5 mil insurance for 1900/year. I'm excited as hell. So now we're down to just the authority. Hopefully that wont be a big deal. well, its 330 am im off to bed. later

Audio Work

Well, I worked on my car again today. Been a Long day. I spent most of the day working on the Audio. I wanted the TV audio to work through the car stereo in the back. The stereo in the back wouldn't work for what I wanted, so I got a new stereo. That worked out great then. Audio is awesome now. People may not care, but I like it. Then we put a decent amp and small sub in. Its not a big booming thing, I just wanted decent mellow bass sound, which I got. Here are two photos, one of the car jacked up where we were working, and one of my buddy Will who is my car stereo expert. Other than that not a thing.

Also, I'll take this moment to thank Palma-Briensburg FD, because I'm a firefighter there, but they are allowing me use of the work bay, since I don't have inside storage right now.

Night Work

This is the side of I-24 at about 930 PM. This is just a shot from my cell phone as we're getting ready to leave this traffic stop. One of the guys arrested the driver for operating on a suspended drivers license. Would have been fine, but they had to be going 89mph in a 65zone. Dumb asses.

Nothing new in limo world. Insurance, authority, and business cards. Thats my three main goals in life right now. Later.

Interior shots - not too good from my phone

Well, not a lot going on, especially on a Saturday. Another day, another 10 hours of work. Took my friend on his first ride in the car tonight. He's going to be my backup driver when I'm unavailable. He's really getting into it. Probably Tuesday or Wednesday we're going to have a little Limo Drivers Training. Also, here are some crappy photos of the interior of my limo. My track lighting I know how to change colors and intensity with no trouble, may do that. on the lights in the bar, I'm having a little trouble its like tiny bulbs in a strip, and a couple of them are out. I don't know what to replace them with if more go out. These show the LCD i installed, i think looks pretty good. Im going to work on the stereo Monday. Also, does anyone know where I can get those crystal square alcohol decanters? I was looking for some for me. Any ideas let me know.

What a gorgeous day.

Well, its raining like hell here today. Cold too. We were supposed to get a batch of severe weather, so I kept the limo in the bay at the fire station for a little while longer. The fire department I'm on is gracious enough to allow me to store my limo in the work bay during this repair time and for inclement weather. It's great to have that ability. But unfortunately, I'm going to have to bring it home sometime. I guess I'll get a car cover for it. That's gonna be a hell of a car cover. I think I'm going to have an upholstery shop fix up a custom floor mat, the ones I look at on the internet are high as hell.

Insurance still sitting on 3500 dollars per year, so I guess I'm stuck there. That's only 47 Hours of limousine service provided. Not too bad I guess, considering there's 8760 Hours in a year.

Moving SLOW.

Well, just got off work about an hour ago. Those 12 hour shifts suck. Of course, that three day off break is good. I ordered "Wheels of Gold" - thought since a Successful Limousine Company Owner recommended it, I should go for it. I'm ready to read.

I received my information on any Limousine Companies that have certificates in the area, there are only two and both are in McCracken County, thats a really good thing. Of course, my main competition is running without for-hire authority. Not a good thing.

Still waiting on insurance. Thats a bitch. I'm ready to turn some wheels. Going to sleep now.

Not a lot new going on.

Nothing really new to post, just sitting around. I've been working on business cards. I've had a few feelers out there, nothing solid yet. I'm not taking reservations until I'm legal to run. Oh, here is a picture of my car. Its not a great picture, but it is my pride and joy. Its a 2001 Royale 100 inch stretch 8 passenger. It looks good until you get right down on the paint, it has some swirl marks and stuff, but its mine and I love it. Hopefully, it will get a lot of customers. I'll update tomorrow, I may have an insurance lead by then.

Ahh, so much to do.

Well, what a last few days I haven't had with the Limo. Wednesday through Saturday are my regular work days, so I have had to do the police thing while my car sits in the bay waiting on me to buff and wax it. The last few days have really been eye opening on some aspects on regulation of limousines in Kentucky.

First off, to run INTRAstate, or inside Kentucky, I have to have county level limo licenses. That means that for each county I pick someone up in, I have to have operating authority for that county. At 25 dollars a county, It is really something to make you want to pull your hair out. Now, INTERstate authority is simple and takes about 45 minutes to get took care of. The county level stuff takes 30-45 days to get. GRRRR...

Insurance I've been working on, my first quote for 1 million dollars in liability for only inside Kentucky is 3500 dollars a year....OUCH. I really think I can get that under 3000. Of course thats the first quote...hopefully I can do some work and get that changed around a bit.

Well, I did manage to get the LCD tv mounted in the limo tonight. Man it is freaking sweet. It just looks so flush in there, I will have to get some pictures of before and after. I'm getting phone calls and some word of mouth, a whole lot of people wanting quotes on trips, just got to get all this going so I can start making $$ to pay off this rig.

Well, I'm off to bed...the waxing and buffing starts tomorrow.

A Limousine Repair Day

Busy as hell day today. After crashing and burning from that long as busy day I had another busy day. Woke up went to Paducah and ate, then to Lourdes hospital to check on my wife's father. He's doing better, but still not well. He passes out when he stands up is his only problem. Hope he gets better. I told him I'd drive him to Vandy or St. Thomas in the Limo if it was running.

THen I worked on that heater core. Started about 8, got the bad one out at 11. Not too bad, but it was a pain compared to a crown vic. Theres a ton more connections and hoses. I tested the old heater core, and sure enough, it leaked like crazy. So were about 3 hours from getting that baby back in and done. If anyone needs a heater core replaced, its a job and a half. No wonder ford charges a thousand dollars almost for it. Did some measuring for an LCD tv to replace the old busted color, which really is nice. I also talked to a buddy that is a pro in stereo equipment. We're going to examine locations for a subwoofer for the stereo. It desires a little for good sound. Nothing crazy just good. I've going to work the audio where you have the option to run it through the stereo, or just run it by itself. I've had really good comments on the unit as it sits so I can only imagine what i'll get when i get it going. Shotting for April 15th. I'll update tomorrow.

My Limo is Finally Home

Well, I beleive I had the most exciting day I've ever had today. After working a 10 hour shift, I woke up bright and early at 6 AM, with four friends of mine, we took off on a 275 mile drive to Southern Tenessee to look at, and pick up, a Limousine. I've been looking for quite some time for a decent Limo, something that I wouldn't be ashamed to take out and let people ride around in. Well, after that long ride down past Chatanooga, TN. we arrive at where the Limousine is. It is quite a nice limo. It's not perfect, but no used car will ever be. The guy with the car lot tells us to drive it around, take it to a mechanic, whatever we need to do. We go through it quite well, find some minor imperfections or small problems, and then went back to the dealer. The only problem that needs to be addressed is that the heater core was bypassed. Well, being that we have experience on the Crown Victoria heater core removal, we will do that as well. Its a 4 hour job working hard. No biggie. Dash Removal. I even got a couple hundred dollars knocked off on the price. 47.99 for a heater core. we can do that. Other than that, we couldnt find anything that cant be fixed in minutes. The car rode well, drove even better. Motor smooth, tranny strong. We managed to get that baby home with no problems.....AND it got 21 mpg. You cant beat that!

Well, hopefully I will get the web address and licensing issues in kentucky took care of in the next two weeks....I already have three uncomfirmeds, though when I'm up and running, there will be reservations with deposits, not verbal guarantees.....I need to start looking into some paperwork and contracting issues on charters. SO MUCH TO DO....I've been up for 18 hours, time to sleep.

I BOUGHT A LIMO TODAY

Its true...I've made that step from plans and ideas to tangible property. I bought a limo today. I think I got a decent price for what I got....hopefully. I'm going to throw some insurance on it, and then go get it saturday. I'm really tired from work so I'm going to go to bed, I'll comment on it more tomorrow.

AAHH Passwords

Well, It took me forever to get all my password stuff back in order. I had to reset the password on the blogger. Do you ever think that you might have waay too many passwords and usernames? I sure do! I hate making them all the same, then you are vulnerable to someone obtaining EVERYTHING, instead of something.

Well, I found a limo that I absolutely think is one in a million, its an ebay deal, but it is really nice. I've spoken to the dealer, and I'm quite ready to go take a look at it. Its a six hour drive to where its at, no biggie.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300078047057&rd=1,1

If that works.... I like the interior, its really something. I've still got a lot of hurdles to cross before hand, so more than likely I'm not going to cross the finish line in time for that unit. But I might! Thats about it, I'm going to a fire dept meeting.

Okay, now that I've made comments to others posts, I can start my story. I'll keep it short. I'm 26 years old, married with a child on the way. I'm a police officer. Not a street beat walking police officer, more of a regulatory officer. VERY flexible schedule, easy hours, kind of the job you've dreamed about really. I have for my entire life had entrepeneur blood in me. I've always wanted to do something on my own for a long time. It doesnt have to be so big it harvests money with a combine (that would be nice) just something that eliminates that paycheck to paycheck life. I have combed over many business opportunities and about six months ago, I was sitting in my cruiser and I saw a limo go by where I was, and thought, "you know, theres really not one of those things around here." And it has went from there. I haven't made a lot of progress with the business, I've had some home hurdles to jump and I've done TONS of research and planning, and a lot of Q and A with people in this area about a Limo Service. I'm at the stage where all I need to do is turn in some paperwork go to the bank get the money and I'm on the road. Unfortunately, I'm not buying a limo I can't see in person and they don't grow on trees here. So I'm taking this slow. I imagine I will miss prom season, but that's not a huge problem for me. Basically, my thirst for this is based on the fact that I've been an ambulance driver for six years, a DMV tester for three years, and I've been driving police cars and fire trucks for going on 10 years now, I guess I'm supposed to drive for a living.

And now its time to stop saying I'm going to do something and do it. So if anyone knows where a limo is that is decent and within a day of KY, let me know. I'm looking!

A beginning

Hello. I want to say that I have never blogged, but this is a great place to start. My name is Brian, and I am interested in a new limousine company in West Kentucky. I am starting this because I have read two other bloggers on this site that I support and wish to talk to in order to see if I am crazy and should take the plunge or not. I am going to post in my next blog a little more about myself and my intentions.