My Unfair Advantage

1.     Knowledge of the car business and how it works.

VRIN: As opposed to not knowing the industry, I know the ins and outs and what is required to make this business successful. I do not know  a lot of 20 yr olds who have been acclimated to the car business world and can point to any car and tell the year, make, model, and how much it is worth from a wholesale standpoint. I think a lot of people can decide they want to open a car business, but so many people do not understand how difficult it really is and how much knowledge and connections are required. I think there are other resources, but being around my dad’s business since I was born, I think I have the upper hand experience wise.

2.     Connections with people in various division in the car business.

VRIN: This will come in handy when I am needing all the outside help that is required when having a business like this. This is rare because while a lot of people have a “car guy” in their network they  don't have the “mechanic” or “tire guy” or “key guy” in their circle.  This is hard to copy being that these connections have developed over the years, and besides being in the business, I do not think one could make these connections.

3.     While I do not have enough in savings to start this business, I know a myriad of people who would invest.

VRIN: This is valuable because starting up a business like this requires a boatload of money and fortunately I am great family friends and even family with multi millionaires. This is rare to know so many and be good friends with them. This is pretty easy to copy though, being that I’m sure everyone knows a few millionaires. Having a bank loan would also provide the same benefits.

4.     Connection with a wheel chair van dealer in North Carolina.

VRIN: Knowing that I will already have someone that can stock my inventory is extremely beneficial. I do not think a lot of people know how they are going to produce/buy their main product they are looking to sell. It is fairly easy to copy, but having the dealer as a friend could provide me with a lower wholesale price as opposed to just finding a dealer. Finding a dealer would provide the same benefits, but again it would say me money.

5.     Having my dad as a backbone for starting up the company since he has been through this before.

VRIN: I have someone to lean on every step of the way, and any problem I encounter he has conquered in his past. Having a dad in the exact same line of business I would say is fairly rare.  This is hard to imitate and I do no think another resource could provide the same benefits as my dad has for me.

6.     Knowledge of how much wheelchair vans are worth verse down the road.

VRIN: This financial benefit provides me with the upper hand in so many ways as I will know when I need to sell some inventory vs purchase and I will not be losing money.  I think this could be copied by others it requires research but having years of experience out weighs the other resources that could provide the same benefits.

7.     I am capable of putting all of my time and energy into this business.

VRIN: This is extremely valuable as I do not have any other distractions holding me back, but I think a myriad of people are in my same position so it would be easy to copy.

8.     I have an entrepreneurial mindset.

VRIN: Again, while this holds a lot of value there are so many people that start a business that have to have an entrepreneurial mindset so I do not think that this specific resource is necessarily unique.

9.     I have knowledge and connections of all the other companies I will need to partner with on the side (ie, detailers, mechanics, insurance).

VRIN: This is valuable in the sense that I will not have to spend nearly as much time in the start up process looking for connections since I already have those. Yes, I think this is extremely rare since all of the resources necessary to start this business I have in my circle. I think this can be easily imitated because a lot of people need to think this part through prior to starting the business but I do not think that a different resource would provide the same benefits.

10.  I know multiple commercial real estate brokers specific to the Orlando area.

VRIN: This is valuable when I go searching for a location near the airport since that land is highly priced. This isn’t necessarily rare because like I said before a lot of people have a “real estate guy” in their circle so this would be easy to copy and going into a firm and finding a broker would provide the same benefits.

I know my connections are my top resource. They prove to be so valuable in just about every aspect of the company. Not only would I technically not have to know anything about the business because I have them to lean on, but they will cut my start up time in half. Not only will these connections be useful for start up, but throughout the entire time of running the business.