COMPUTER SOLUTIONS HELPS DEVELOP NEW PRODUCTS.

BUSINESS NAME: Computer Solutions

BUSINESS ADDRESS: 7121 Royer Ave., West Hills, CA 91307

PHONE: [phone]

WEB SITE: george(at)ecoology.com

OWNER: George Jerome 

ESTABLISHED: 1999

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: One

DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS: We provide design and development services for products, concepts and ideas. The services range from technical design, prototyping, concept design and market analysis. We also provide patent application preparation with the assistance of an outside patent attorney. This can be done at a cost far below the normal fees charged by patent law firms.

IS THIS YOUR FIRST BUSINESS? No.

WHY DID YOU START THIS BUSINESS? Friends and acquaintances asked me for many years to help them with their product ideas. Being an inventor, I had the general background to assist people to develop their ideas into workable products.

WHERE DID YOU GET THE IDEA? It was a natural extension of people coming to me for help.

HOW LONG WAS IT FROM CONCEPT TO OPENING? There was no "concept" or formal "opening" date. This was an evolution from doing consulting work in computer and technical areas to specifically providing engineering and technical assistance to people desiring to move an idea from concept to a workable product.

WHAT DID YOU DO DURING THAT TIME? I've been engaging in my own patentable idea development since selling a manufacturing business in 1981. Now I have five issued patents and five more in the patent-pending stage.

WHAT WERE YOUR STARTUP COSTS AND HOW DID YOU FINANCE THE BUSINESS? There were no startup costs specific to this business because I had, over the years, acquired all of the tools, materials, etc., necessary to do the task at hand. I already maintained an office and shop for my own product development. There was no financing per se, but any costs associated with the effort were borne out-of-pocket.

WHO DID YOU RELY ON FOR ADVICE? Only my wife.

WHAT HADN'T YOU CONSIDERED BEFORE OPENING? There have been no surprises and no difficulties except that sometimes people think they have the greatest idea in the world, but reality is something else.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTED REVENUE THIS YEAR? Around $80,000, but income is highly unpredictable.

WHAT GOALS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE COMPANY? This isn't a typical business where the desire is to continually increase sales. We undertake projects based on the interest in the idea or concept and the potential income that we can derive. The primary goal is to generate sufficient income to cover not only the overhead, but provide funds for my own projects without having to self-finance them.

CAPTION(S):

Photo:

(color) George Jerome, owner of Computer Solutions in West Hi lls, works on a personalized GPS system for a client.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer