American Veterans Transit, Theodore Sosebee
My journey began in October 2020 when I applied to become an LLC. I purchased my first vehicle: a 14-passenger van. However, this was during the COVID shutdown. I delayed my grand opening till April 2021. This period was difficult as well. Americans began to travel, and I had no marketplace recognition. I didn't book my first clients until June 2021. It was a 30-dollar trip.
I joined the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and started to make contacts. I went to a Women in Business meeting, sponsored a table, and told my story. Being a veteran, I wanted to give back to post-9/11 disabled veterans and help create awareness for that need. I met two ladies who were/are very influential in 2 large upscale communities.
The requests slowly came in, and I didn't turn any work away. I continued to put myself in public and doing events. I was doing all the driving and bookkeeping. I bought an SUV to do airport transit because that business was picking up. I used a payment system where clients had to give card numbers over the phone and kept bookings on Excel spreadsheets.
I built a good beginning client base at the end of the first year. In April, for my anniversary, I donated approximately several thousand dollars to various veteran organizations, including a fishing trip for three veterans. My business continued growing, and I revamped my website for a fresh look and enabled clients to pay online. One weekend in May, I had to turn away approximately 3 thousand dollars in trips because I was already committed to other trips. I knew that I needed to add drivers.
I tried various resources in finding a driver, ZipRecruiter, Dept. of Labor, and word of mouth. I had little or no response. Eventually, a contact knew someone, and that person contacted me. It worked out, and I hired that person, but they wanted primary nonweekend work. In a set of circumstances, I met a person who drove for Uber on the weekends, we talked, and they decided to work with me, so now I had a weekend worker. Since that time, I added another weekend driver to help out. I had hired an administrative person, but I put the cart before the horse and didn't have enough business to support that expense.
I finished 2022 in really good shape, and depending on my CPA final numbers, I might end up in the black after two years. I am projecting a 40 percent growth in revenue for 2023.
My goal is to purchase another 14-passenger van, a six-person passenger vehicle, and an SUV. I will add one more driver. I have been weighing options on the type of growth, a new scheduling system, possibly hiring a virtual assistant, and even perhaps taking on a partner to grow faster. In this short time, I have amassed over 400 clients, established in three major affluent neighborhoods and three 55 and above neighborhoods, and growing daily through word of mouth.
My business is a very niche operation in the area I operate. I offer one-way and round-trip airport service that is personalized and door-to-door service. I offer small group transit to sporting events, concerts, or even date nights. My 14-passenger van provides my clients with a large variety of trips such as sporting events, weddings, concerts, girls' night out, wine trips, or golf outings for the guys.
What separates me from everyone else is that I am reasonably priced and offer exceptional service. I have a few limitations and don't try and gouge prices for odd hours etc. I have exceptional drivers who care for our clients and promote the business at every chance.
I want people to know that we are veteran-owned and care about customer service. This is a time in my life when I can give back to a community I care deeply about. Many of my clients have become friends and are like family when we get a chance to talk. I currently have 13 elite clients (these clients have booked ten or more trips with me). Several have booked more than 15 trips, some more than 20. Making the human connection on all levels and keeping the client informed is important.
The journey of starting the business began when in 2017, I hung up my leadership shoes. I have been working in the public sector since I left the ARMY. I worked hard and earned my AA, BA in operations management, and eventually my MBA. I didn't like the way corporations were moving, so I resigned from it all. A few years later, we had the opportunity to do something unique. I had the finances to do something special, start my own business.
I had to think of what was needed in my area. Jackson County Georgia has grown at least 10 percent in population year over year for a decade. This growth brought several 55 and above communities to my back door. My parents are in their 80s, and they like going but can't and shouldn't drive. So that was the first part. The second part was I wanted to give back to the local veterans. I struggled to raise a family and keep my head above water all my adult life. Now I had a chance to give back.
I like to drive, am very social, and wanted to see if I could do it. I always admired people who took a chance and started their own businesses.
There is really nothing special about my company. I am in the right place at the right time. The connection with the clients and why I do this separates me from everyone else. I get to give back and help others.
I had a client in a subdivision who loved my story and told me about SCORE and that her neighbor is a SCORE mentor. I went online signed up and was assigned my mentor John Beverstein. Since that first meeting, we have created a strong relationship.
I have the confidence and accountability to grow the company. With SCORE's help and thoughtfulness in challenging me, I anticipate growing the company with assets, staff, and revenue. I have worked hard for my success, but my partnership with SCORE will be a shared win.
My mentor is great because he is a terrific soundboard. He gives great advice about my part of the business and the direction I want to take. He challenges me and my ideas. He also gives deadlines for issues I need to work on and basic accountability. I have to stay focused and produce results. John is always available when I need to talk about something that will impact my business.
I would highly encourage them to seek a SCORE mentor and walk in with an open mind and enthusiasm. You can have your own ideas but don't be afraid to adapt to new ideas or approaches to a subject.
I am like many other business owners when I say I wish I had started my business years ago. With the help of Score and many others, it has been a blast, and I can't wait to start my next business venture.
Don't be afraid to step out; take all advice and weed through the ones that make sense. Remember, you will seek knowledge or advice during start-up but probably won't find much. However, after the fact, everyone will offer their two cents. Stay the course, write a business plan, and write a mission statement. You have to know what you are working for. More importantly, be adaptable to change and go where the business takes you.
During my career I have purchased a business that I formerly managed, started a successful franchise...
