Workin’ Hard for the money
Nudey-Dude Window Washing.
That was one company name idea tossed around for Bryce Cranney’s new business during a brainstorm with his cousins. After his cousins asked him what group of people he was targeting for his window-washing business, Cranney said middle-aged women would most likely be answering doors he knocked on during his advertising.
“What would appeal to a middle-age woman?” he said. “Well, OK, maybe we could call it Nudey-Dudes, Nudey-Dude Window Washing.”
Now, after almost a year in business, Cranney said he’s grateful he decided to name his business something different.
Downright Window Washing is mainly a seasonal business servicing residential and commercial buildings. Cranney said since his busiest seasons are spring and summer, managing a business while being a student is not that difficult.
“It is very conducive to school,” Cranney said. “The first year I did it, I knocked a lot of doors, talked to businesses, but at this point I have all the business I want and can keep up with.”
Cranney, a senior in management and human resources, said the best part about starting his own business is the experience of real-world application that a lot of students may not get while still in school.
“Especially as a business major, you sit in class and to really understand, oh, what is a tax write-off and how is this going to benefit me and accounting, marketing,” he said. “All those classes come to life.”
Chelsey Christensen, a senior in social work, said she started her own floral business in June 2005 after three years of previous experience.
The number-one piece of advice for students trying to become self-employed, Christensen said, is to “start small.”
“When I started there were so many things I had to learn that I didn’t plan on happening,” Christensen said. “You try to plan things out, but if there’s too much then it’s hard to balance everything and still have a happy customer in the end.”
Because Christensen is the only employee of Bliss Floral Design, she said there is a lot of pressure on her to make sure everything goes well.
“If something goes wrong, there is just me,” she said.
Being the only employee, however, helps keep prices at a minimum.
Cranney, like Christensen, said being the only employee helps him avoid paying for extra things such as employee insurance and employee taxes.
“I kind of like the freedom of having it be my own deal,” he said.
The best part, Cranney said, is making his own hours and appointments. “Being out in the sun in the summer, I can go to work in my Tevas and shorts, and I just work and throw my iTunes on, and no one bothers you,” Cranney said.
“You don’t have to talk to anyone. You don’t have to answer to anyone.”
Although most of Cranney’s work is done in the warmer seasons, Christensen’s work is year-round.
Christensen said most of the floral designing is done in the evening, after she ends her day of school and training at Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency. Since she does not own a cooler for the flowers to stay in overnight, Christensen said she opens windows and turns down the heater to make sure the flowers stay fresh. Since weddings are the most elaborate occasion for flowers, Christensen said it helps her out when the wedding dates fall on weekends because it gives her more time to prepare.
“I can do this while I am a student and working and have an internship,” she said.
Cranney and Christensen had to contact Logan City to begin the process of obtaining a business license. From there, both had to “buy their names” by going online and paying money to register the new businesses. The online process also helps the buyer to avoid buying the same name as another company. After buying the license from the city, business owners have to remember to renew the license each year.
One thing Christensen said helped her decide to start her own business was hearing friends complain about average prices for wedding flowers. Most of the friends said they wished they could have more flowers for the price they paid, so Christensen said she wanted to help them out.
“I really enjoy doing this,” she said. “I just want to provide a good product at a lower price and provide something different.”
Cranney said his advice to students in the same situation is to “just do it.” If the business is easy enough to start up, Cranney said there is nothing to lose.
“And from my experience (people), especially older people, they are totally willing to help you succeed,” he said.
Christensen said a challenging part of being self-employed is getting the word out on a small budget.
“I try to hang up fliers and things like that. The best thing I have found is word of mouth. If someone is getting married and they know me, then they know I can give them a good deal and do good work.”
Not only does Christensen order and design flower arrangements, but she also delivers them to her clients. Christensen said she has delivered flowers to weddings in Salt Lake City and as far as Manti.
“My husband helps me out a lot,” she said.
The downside, however, is calculating the extra time and money spent for driving long distances because Christensen said it can be tricky and can “cut into the little profit that I do make on it.”
Students with their own businesses can take it one step further by choosing to earn a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship from USU. The program is offered through the College of Business’s department of management and human resources. This degree helps teach potential business owners the ins and outs of managing and growing a small business.
Lindsey Thurgood, adviser for this major, said this degree teaches both theory and practice in regards to starting a business. With 35 students currently enrolled in the program, Thurgood said any other students interested can access additional information at www.usu.edu/cob/ceo.
“What I would recommend for students interested in this major is that they come and speak with an adviser,” Thurgood said in an e-mail. “I encourage students to come in early and often.”
To set up an appointment for advising for this major, please call 797-2272. For more information concerning Bliss Floral Design, log onto www.blissfloraldesignutah.com. For more information concerning Downright Window Washing, call 1-801-787-0884.
-britg@cc.usu.edu