Considering Buying Your Own Truck? Read This.

This is a parable (not from the Bible, but it's a parable.)

Once there was a man who held a job like so many here...shining brass cannon around a courthouse.

He did this for years...but he was not getting ahead in the world. So one day he quit his job, drew out his savings, bought a brass cannon – and went into business for himself.

(Robert A Heinlein, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress)

Thanks, Errol. I appreciate that.

So he is paying some one to shine his brass cannon now?

So he is paying some one to shine his brass cannon now?

The polisher is in businesses for himself. He needs to get his own canon polish now, and he can hire someone else too, I suppose.

(M. polywog, I assume you "got it", but I just wanted to expand your contribution a bit.)

It wouldn't be prudent to let just anyone polish your cannon. Being selective is a necessary evil, so like most things in trucking, you should take your time and not allow yourself to get in a hurry.

I thought we weren't supposed to talk about leasing and owning? But its ok for moderators to do so?

Phil

C'mon Phil, Errol just tossed in a little humor this morning. Helped get my brain cells going and crack a smile

Years ago I went to a really fantastic small business seminar hosted by a group called SCORE. They define themselves as " a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow and achieve their goals through education and mentorship."

We had a gentleman that spoke for about 30 minutes. I can't recall his name but he spent most of his career, 25 years if I recall, in middle and then upper management at General Electric. He said so many things that really stuck with me over the years and one of them was simply, "Do not buy yourself a job." He went on to explain that you're foolish if you're making $10/hour as an employee and then go out and start your own business doing the same thing and end up making the same $10/hour.

He explained that you want to go into a business that rewards you for the extra time, money, work, and risk that goes into owning a business. "Why would you go through all of that for nothing?" he asked. "Find the right business to be in; one that offers you a worthwhile profit for the sacrifices and risks you'll take."