In small business (especially growing startups that are still looking to reach that critical mass of break-even / profitability, which, I generally see in the WISP space at about 1000 customers or $50k / month in total revenue) cash is king
If you look at statistics, over 80% of all small business failures occur in "highly profitable / fast growth situations" that simply "run out of cash" It doesn't matter how many subscribers you have signed up for installation -- if you can't make payroll (which is generally the #1 expense of any business) / pay your bandwidth / tower / whatever bills, you're done -Charles -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Barnes Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 4:53 AM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds I guess maybe I am old school but leasing the CPE just makes it so that the monthly fee has to pay the CPE cost instead of the install. You still have to pay for it. It may make cash flow easier but the ROI takes longer due to interest rates and labor dealing with lease Co. Can you help me with that one. Steve From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Travis Johnson Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 11:45 PM To: WISPA General List Subject: Re: [WISPA] Client Speeds Honestly, the fastest way to grow is to lease your CPE. Then the install fee covers your cost on every install, and you aren't "upside down" on every new customer. Travis Microserv Chuck McCown - 3 wrote: You are doing it. Just keep bootstrapping. Once you get 1000 subscribers things will be a bit better. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Barnes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "WISPA General List" <wireless@wispa.org> <mailto:wireless@wispa.org> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2008 7:32 PM Subject: [WISPA] Client Speeds I have read many post on this list about how much bandwidth different WISP offer. I want to discuss that as well as the recommended equipment that is so often discussed on this list. I am a startup. Little to no startup capital. I had to pinch each penny to get as much as possible out of it. My goal was to service the clients no one wanted in a county that had no Fiber or DSL other that what Verizon holds hostage. So now after 2 years I have 8 towers with 320 clients. The service I offer is a $39.99 basic level 640k x 256k and a $59.99 Pro Level 1M x 512k. You guys are talking about 10Mb. If I turn off the speed control on AP's and let people play I don't get over 3.5M on any of them. ( 2.4 MT or StarOS, and Tranzeo CPE's) I use a StarOS Full Duplex Link to Backhaul to a Fiber connection that I Share cost of with another WISP my size. The investment I would have to make to achieve 10MB to each client is financially Impossible. Surely some of you big guys out there have been in my shoes. What do you recommend a small WISP in my situation to do in the future. Please don't start with the statement, "How you should have started you service". I was providing a solution. So this is what I have and I know of at least 6 other small WISP's on this list who are in the same boat. So BIG GUYS think back. How do I grow into new BROADBAND definition without rebuilding my network from the ground up. What is everyone charging and what does the client get for that price. Financing is not readily available and the Boss hopes to one day get some ROI. No Grants available and no big group wanting to invest or challenge Verizon. Steve Barnes RC-WiFi.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- WISPA Wants You! Join today! http://signup.wispa.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- WISPA Wireless List: wireless@wispa.org Subscribe/Unsubscribe: http://lists.wispa.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless Archives: http://lists.wispa.org/pipermail/wireless/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- WISPA Wants You! 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