Entrepreneur Interview: Matthew LaCross, Munich Evolution

Business Name:
Munich Evolution

Website URL:
http://www.munichevo.com

Year Founded:
2008

Business Partners:
Peter Gleeson

Number of Employees:
1

What does your company do?
Munich Evolution offers the sale and consignment of BMW Motorsport, Porsche and Exotic vehicles.

Was there a specific turning point when you realized your business was moving to the next level?

When we started receiving referrals from all of the top retailers in Washington, and then I had the VP of Nordstrom come in to look at a vehicle.

What processes or procedures have you implemented that have helped grow your company?
Securing the trust of the top specialty service/repair facilities in the Northwest has built the trust of the top industry professionals who then refer their clients to us for sales and consignment.

What is most rewarding about running your business?
I take pride in the values I offer my clients, and running my business means never compromising my values. At the end of the day, my business represents me, and the message I send is about business with a community conscious.

What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
Learning how to charge for your services. When I first started my business, I was just excited to be open, but then I learned that I was under charging for my services, and it took me awhile to finally realize that I had to make a living doing what I was doing, and that people were happy to pay me for the services I offered them. After years of struggling, I finally stated to myself, people are coming to me from all over the world, because I offer something no one else offers, and it’s time to finally be compensated for my hard work and dedication to my values.

If you were starting over today, what would you do differently?
I would have made sure I knew how I was going to make money. I would have set more goals, and I would have started a service shop, and then opened for sales after the service shop had started. I would have also hired someone to open the shop for me, I would just over see the business, rather than running it everyday. Let someone else make you money, no do all of the work yourself.

What advice do you have for other business owners?
Make sure you know how your going to get paid. If you don’t, you can have years of struggle because you are underpaid. Speak with other business owners about the reality of owning a business, there are so many things you can save yourself from if you just ask others who have been in your shoes.

Please list any favorite books, tools or resources (software, website, etc.) you would recommend for others:
1. Behind the Arches: The McDonalds story.
2. The E Myth
3. 10 Faces of Innovation
4. Built to last

What is something that people might be surprised to learn about you?
I have never taken one business class.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you have a dream, just make it happen. And if you try, and you get your business open, and for some reason you have to close it, you still did it. You set a goal, and you accomplished it. Be true to yourself about why you want your own business, and please read the E-Myth. It makes you wake up, and be honest about the reality of starting a business. Have fun and whatever you do, don’t give up.