New Idea!!! Opinions welcome

**shawn0001** · 07-16-2008 08:33 PM

Hey everyone,

Im looking at starting a mobile advertising business and would like to people opinions on whether or not its feasable. So my idea is to take one of those japanes mini trucks paint it and make it look preofessional then get an 8'x8', 2 sided billboard made for the back and drive around the city for roughly 8 hours per day. The customers billboard would be printed on vinyl sheets and would be secured to the boards. Any thoughts?

**pboychuk** · 07-16-2008 08:35 PM

yes, the price of petrol

**lapowerlifter242** · 07-16-2008 08:53 PM

You might break even with the price of gas as it is now. Save your funds, and watch for the right time. If everyone in your area drops out of the mobile ad business that may be a chance

**Doodyps** · 07-16-2008 10:53 PM

I agree with these other guys. Of course you could limit your driving by hovering around high traffic areas, but not areas that cause you to get stuck in a traffic jam. There are of course people who already do this. What you need is an advantage over these guys. Either a way to do this in a more cost effective way or charge higher prices for it. How about using a kind of mesh surface to print the ad on. That would at least lower wind resistance hitting the billboard. How about you buy a fleet or smart cars, and customize a way to increase visible surface area on them to fit a billboard. How about a fleet of smart cars, with large mesh sails for billboards. That would get attention and save gas. You certainly wont get too far using the same idea thats already out there unless you can somehow do it better. (today, that also means greener, for image and to save gas money)

**shawn0001** · 07-17-2008 07:58 PM

I agree with the price of gas but i live in canada and the price is slowly dropping here. Im just wondering what you guys think of priceing. I was thinking of offering billboards by day or week. Close competitors are charging 500-800 per day and roughly 7000 per month. Ideas?

**SerialEntrepreneurs.** · 07-17-2008 10:04 PM

I have two mobile billboard trucks for sale if you want to buy one? I'll even incluce the website and search rankings.... checkout OutdoorVisibility.com

**texaspreneur** · 07-18-2008 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by shawn0001

I agree with the price of gas but i live in canada and the price is slowly dropping here. Im just wondering what you guys think of priceing. I was thinking of offering billboards by day or week. Close competitors are charging 500-800 per day and roughly 7000 per month. Ideas?

Honestly, I think you need to do some more research on your fuel costs, for example: Gas price in Canada hits record high

I have no idea how much you can realistically expect to charge for such a service, but you have to assume $150-$200/day/vehicle for fuel (rough guess) and then the labor associated with someone sitting in a car for 8 hrs which is probably another $80-$100/day/vehicle and you're looking at $300/day/vehicle for operational costs. Throw insurance and repairs costs on there and the profit margin is slipping quickly.

Am I way off?

Wade

**lexo** · 07-18-2008 03:30 PM

I agree with the above posts,.. One other thing, you said you want to sell the add per day/week? If you sell an add per day, that will take too much time and money to get the add on your board,.. You might want to check into the local transit bus co. and see how much they charge for Bus Adds,.. Just a thought...

(Auto insurance companies ask, "How often will the vehicle be on the road since it will be used for business purposes"?) You may not like what they offer you and not going to be a good finance decision with fuel the way it is,..

**matt_15** · 07-18-2008 03:47 PM

You sound like your getting excited about the idea.. why not just do it, like Andrew is. Buy the trucks off Andrew if you want to do it.

**ron komorowski** · 07-19-2008 11:10 PM

In NJ here, I've seen a few of these trucks but what I have seen some do is park them by the road where there wasn't any billboards or really anything there before.

Just something being there that wasn't made everyone look at it, wonder what it is and what it's doing there.

On the road alot of trucks have writing on them...nothing really different for someone to check out or look for. I say try and find some spots on busy roads where you can park it. Ofcoarse this will cost you but if the landowner has business there, well an extra look towards his businesses just might get him noticed more too!

Just a thought. Beats burning gas all day maybe.

Ron Komorowski
Inventor of Handi-Straps
Handi Straps Lifting System Home

**gregdavidson** · 07-19-2008 11:13 PM

Maybe you should drive around to parking lots where there are lots of people and leave it at a different one each day for about 8 hours each day. The price of gas is way too expensive now to simply drive around. Especially with a big truck that guzzles tons of gas.