how to get started as AC broker?

(Looking for serious replies please...)

I am a ATP pilot with a general aviation background, and am growing
tired of the insecurity of the (no matter where you work) "pro pilot
job." Pagers, on call, no real vacations, etc, etc.

Another friend of mine, also an ATP, feels the same way. However we
both want to remain connected to aviation and are thinking of opening
a small aircraft sales/brokerage business, focusing on basic airplanes
such as Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior, Beech Bonanza, etc.

Basically planes that already sell themselves....

No, we are not going to put Van Bortel or Jack Prewitt out of
business, I realize that.

Nor was Rome built in a day. We would like to get started slow, then
maybe over a 5 year time frame, have an established business running.

Not that it matters, but we both sold used cars in college and are
both BA's in Business.

This is a serious question, no flamers please. Van Bortel, Jack
Prewitt, Clay Lacy (all respected brokers) got started SOMEHOW, and I
refuse to believe that with the right mindset, business practices, and
a good plan, the playing field cannot let another newbie come into the
business.

Comments, input, etc wanted

Fly Safe

we both want to remain connected to aviation and are thinking of opening
a small aircraft sales/brokerage business, focusing on basic airplanes
such as Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior, Beech Bonanza, etc.
[...]
I refuse to believe that with the right mindset, business practices, and
a good plan, the playing field cannot let another newbie come into the
business.

Find a niche. Here's one I'd suggest - focus on putting people together who would make a good partnership in buying a plane, and then sell them the plane. There are many people who are beyond the FBO, not ready to buy a plane, and the other easy
option is a flying club. It's a good option but has its limits (such as performance and availability), and the next step towards ownership would be a partnership with (say) four or five people. However such a partnership is difficult to find, set
up, and manage, and there are "bad partner" issues that increase the more partners there are. If you made it your mission (and marketed yourself that way, and were good) there's a big opportunity for getting people one step closer to the freedom of
their own airplane.

I'd say that to make this work, you should have connections with A&Ps, and with consellors (of the type that could help determine who would make a good match with whom, and who could be called upon when a partnershp has rough edges). Also, as you
make more connections and create more partnerships, there will be more options for fixing one that goes sour, and a possible "upgrade" route for individual partners.

Where are you located?

Jose
--
for Email, make the obvious change in the address
Note - Since the OP is crossposted to r.a.misc and r.a.owning (which I don't follow) as well as r.a.piloting (which I do), I posted the reply to all three groups. For me to see replies, include r.a.piloting in the list.

Jose wrote:
we both want to remain connected to aviation and are thinking of opening
a small aircraft sales/brokerage business, focusing on basic airplanes
such as Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior, Beech Bonanza, etc.
[...]
I refuse to believe that with the right mindset, business practices, and
a good plan, the playing field cannot let another newbie come into the
business.


Find a niche.




Exactly. Piper Cubs, Cessna 180/182/185/205/206. Stick with these and
people will beat down your door. They are also recession proof. Take
in the occasional cherokee on trade but only when the economy is good.
These things have a knack of sticking around the lot. I bought my plane
from Stancil in Placerville, CA. I have been watching his site for the
last 6+ years. The turnover is fantastic, although he doesn't deal in
Cubs. He's got a 1976 Warrior that he can't get rid of, now the price
is lowered to $38.5. Same for a cherokee 6, although that one has 8.50
mains, and a 73 Arrow. http://www.skywagons.com/shop-mall.html

"Newps" wrote in message
...

He's got a 1976 Warrior that he can't get rid of, now the price is lowered
to $38.5. . http://www.skywagons.com/shop-mall.html


What's wrong with it? When I was looking for my Warrior a few months back
every
time I'd find a good prospect it would be sold in a day or two.

OtisWinslow wrote:

"Newps" wrote in message
...

He's got a 1976 Warrior that he can't get rid of, now the price is lowered
to $38.5. . http://www.skywagons.com/shop-mall.html



What's wrong with it?

Must be something, it's been on the lot for at least 6 months.

Bill wrote:

(Looking for serious replies please...)

I am a ATP pilot with a general aviation background, and am growing
tired of the insecurity of the (no matter where you work) "pro pilot
job." Pagers, on call, no real vacations, etc, etc.

Another friend of mine, also an ATP, feels the same way. However we
both want to remain connected to aviation and are thinking of opening
a small aircraft sales/brokerage business, focusing on basic airplanes
such as Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior, Beech Bonanza, etc.

Basically planes that already sell themselves....

No, we are not going to put Van Bortel or Jack Prewitt out of
business, I realize that.

Nor was Rome built in a day. We would like to get started slow, then
maybe over a 5 year time frame, have an established business running.

Not that it matters, but we both sold used cars in college and are
both BA's in Business.

This is a serious question, no flamers please. Van Bortel, Jack
Prewitt, Clay Lacy (all respected brokers) got started SOMEHOW, and I
refuse to believe that with the right mindset, business practices, and
a good plan, the playing field cannot let another newbie come into the
business.

Comments, input, etc wanted

What will you offer that they don't? That is the key determinant of
your likely success or failure. It is hard for "just another" business
to join a market. You need an angle such as Wal-Mart with their low
prices spurred to a large degree by their business model of vendor owned
inventory, for example.


Matt

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
Bill wrote:

(Looking for serious replies please...)

I am a ATP pilot with a general aviation background, and am growing
tired of the insecurity of the (no matter where you work) "pro pilot
job." Pagers, on call, no real vacations, etc, etc.

Another friend of mine, also an ATP, feels the same way. However we
both want to remain connected to aviation and are thinking of opening
a small aircraft sales/brokerage business, focusing on basic airplanes
such as Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior, Beech Bonanza, etc.

Basically planes that already sell themselves....

No, we are not going to put Van Bortel or Jack Prewitt out of
business, I realize that.

Nor was Rome built in a day. We would like to get started slow, then
maybe over a 5 year time frame, have an established business running.

Not that it matters, but we both sold used cars in college and are
both BA's in Business.

This is a serious question, no flamers please. Van Bortel, Jack
Prewitt, Clay Lacy (all respected brokers) got started SOMEHOW, and I
refuse to believe that with the right mindset, business practices, and
a good plan, the playing field cannot let another newbie come into the
business.

Comments, input, etc wanted

What will you offer that they don't? That is the key determinant of your
likely success or failure. It is hard for "just another" business to join
a market. You need an angle such as Wal-Mart with their low prices
spurred to a large degree by their business model of vendor owned
inventory, for example.


Matt

Not true. If you work hard and take care of your customers any company can
do good. I would say the other most important thing is being properly
funded.
If you have to keep running to the bank the bank will make all the money.
JMHO

aluckyguess wrote:

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...

Bill wrote:


(Looking for serious replies please...)

I am a ATP pilot with a general aviation background, and am growing
tired of the insecurity of the (no matter where you work) "pro pilot
job." Pagers, on call, no real vacations, etc, etc.

Another friend of mine, also an ATP, feels the same way. However we
both want to remain connected to aviation and are thinking of opening
a small aircraft sales/brokerage business, focusing on basic airplanes
such as Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior, Beech Bonanza, etc.

Basically planes that already sell themselves....

No, we are not going to put Van Bortel or Jack Prewitt out of
business, I realize that.

Nor was Rome built in a day. We would like to get started slow, then
maybe over a 5 year time frame, have an established business running.

Not that it matters, but we both sold used cars in college and are
both BA's in Business.

This is a serious question, no flamers please. Van Bortel, Jack
Prewitt, Clay Lacy (all respected brokers) got started SOMEHOW, and I
refuse to believe that with the right mindset, business practices, and
a good plan, the playing field cannot let another newbie come into the
business.

Comments, input, etc wanted

What will you offer that they don't? That is the key determinant of your
likely success or failure. It is hard for "just another" business to join
a market. You need an angle such as Wal-Mart with their low prices
spurred to a large degree by their business model of vendor owned
inventory, for example.


Matt


Not true. If you work hard and take care of your customers any company can
do good. I would say the other most important thing is being properly
funded.
If you have to keep running to the bank the bank will make all the money.
JMHO

Suit yourself, but if all of the other companies are working hard and
taking care of their customers, then you doing the same as them won't
likely make you a big success as folks will always go with the company
with a long track record all else being equal.


Matt

Buy an airplane and then sell it. Simple as that.
Oh, try and sell it for more than you paid for it. Not so simple after
all.
But really, that's all you have to do. Call the expired TAP ads and
see if they are still interested in selling. Offer them 20K less than
you think you can sell it for. Remember, airplanes are easy to buy,
and hard to sell.

(Bill) wrote in message om...
(Looking for serious replies please...)

I am a ATP pilot with a general aviation background, and am growing
tired of the insecurity of the (no matter where you work) "pro pilot
job." Pagers, on call, no real vacations, etc, etc.

Another friend of mine, also an ATP, feels the same way. However we
both want to remain connected to aviation and are thinking of opening
a small aircraft sales/brokerage business, focusing on basic airplanes
such as Cessna 172/182, Piper Warrior, Beech Bonanza, etc.

Basically planes that already sell themselves....

No, we are not going to put Van Bortel or Jack Prewitt out of
business, I realize that.

Nor was Rome built in a day. We would like to get started slow, then
maybe over a 5 year time frame, have an established business running.

Not that it matters, but we both sold used cars in college and are
both BA's in Business.

This is a serious question, no flamers please. Van Bortel, Jack
Prewitt, Clay Lacy (all respected brokers) got started SOMEHOW, and I
refuse to believe that with the right mindset, business practices, and
a good plan, the playing field cannot let another newbie come into the
business.

Comments, input, etc wanted

Fly Safe

Doug wrote:
Remember, airplanes are easy to buy, and hard to sell.

We've been just the opposite...

Guess we're those pesky picky tire kickers...

Drove over 10k rental car miles in 1.5 years looking at planes in just 2
states (Florida & Ohio). Bought 3 planes in that span of time, 2 within
40 miles of home...