Okay, so I’ve been kicking around this idea of getting into the elevator business. Sounds kinda random, right? But I’ve been doing some digging, and it seems like there might be something there. So, I figured I’d document my whole journey, from clueless newbie to… well, hopefully, a successful elevator magnate! (A guy can dream, can’t he?)
Phase 1: What the Heck Do I Do?
First things first, I needed to figure out what “elevator business for sale” even meant. Was I buying a company that makes elevators? One that installs them? One that fixes them? Turns out, it could be any of those things! My brain was spinning. So I hit the internet, hard.
- Started with simple searches, just to see what was out there. Typed in things like “buy elevator company” and “elevator service business.”
- Browsed through some listing sites. Lots of vague descriptions, lots of dollar signs.
- Started reading some industry blogs,trying to get a feel about this business.
Honestly, it was overwhelming. I felt like I was drowning in information, and most of it didn’t make sense. I needed a plan.
Phase 2: Narrowing it Down
I decided to focus. What part of the elevator business was I actually interested in? Making elevators seemed way too complicated. I’m no engineer. Installing them? Maybe, but that sounded like a lot of heavy lifting (pun intended!). Servicing and repairing them, though… that seemed like it might be a good fit. I’m pretty handy, and I like figuring out how things work.
So, I started refining my searches. I added terms like “maintenance” and “repair” to my queries. I also started looking at specific locations. I live in Chicago, I should stick with the surroundings, so it made sense to start local.
I started to find some more promising listings. Companies that specialized in elevator maintenance, with existing client lists and contracts. That sounded good! Recurring revenue is always a plus, right?
Phase 3: Making Contact
This was the scary part. I’m not exactly a smooth-talking businessman. But I knew I had to start reaching out to these companies to get more information. I drafted a simple email, basically saying I was interested in exploring opportunities in the elevator service industry and wanted to learn more about their business.
I sent out a bunch of emails, and… waited. Some never replied. Some sent back generic responses. But a few actually seemed interested! I set up some phone calls. I had not felt like that since my first job interview.
Phase 4: The Deep Dive (and the Doubts)
The phone calls were… interesting. I learned a lot about things like preventative maintenance schedules, service contracts, and the joys of dealing with grumpy building managers. Some conversations were encouraging, some were total duds. I started to question if I was crazy for even considering this.
One company, though, seemed promising. They were a smaller operation, but they had a solid reputation and a loyal client base. The owner was thinking about retiring and seemed genuinely interested in finding someone to take over the reins.
I’m still in the middle of this process. I’ve got a meeting scheduled with the owner next week to tour their facility and meet some of their technicians. I’m nervous, excited, and completely terrified, all at the same time. This whole “elevator business” thing could be a total disaster, or it could be the best decision I ever made. Wish me luck!
To be continued…
