Success Story:
2012 Jeffrey Butland Family-Owned Small Business of the Year



Lone Star Handicap Vans, LLC

Lone Star Handicap Vans, LLC (LSH Vans) was founded in September 2007 by Bill and Norma Niederhofer to convert existing vans to be accessible for people who are physically challenged. Their mission is to help individuals gain a greater feeling of freedom and mobility. LSH Vans is the only company in Texas and only one of five companies in the United States to manufacture lowered-floor, side-entry handicap conversion vans. The company is the most centrally located among its competitors and right now Texas has the best market for handicap vans because the economy is stronger here than the rest of the nation. LSH Vans has the highest safety rating in the industry, being the only company (including all companies selling all types of new and used vehicles) ever to pass three crash tests and rollover test with just one van at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Research and Test Center.

LSH Vans are also the most affordable vans in the industry priced between $25,000 and $35,000 while competitors price their vans between $40,000 and $65,000 (Only 1.2% of customers can afford to pay $65,000 for handicap vans). Bill Niederhofer visits the Tyler Auto Auction to find suitable vans to convert – newer year models with no more than 70,000 miles. He purchases the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles because they have a reputation for a long life with very few problems and their unibody construction is also strong enough to withstand the conversion which involves cutting out a large section of the vehicle’s floor to install a new, lower floor. LSH Vans is the only one among its competitors to offer free delivery within 300 miles. Their vans are also built to last 15-20 years compared to competitors’ vans at 5-10 years.

LHS Vans sells their handicapped-accessible vans worldwide through their internet website. In business for four years now, the company has tripled its facility and number of employees, growing from four employees to twelve. LHS Vans has experienced a strong demand for their vans and conversions locally and nationally, and just recently, they began receiving inquiries from other countries such as Russia, France, United Arab Emirates, and Mexico. The company is located on Texas Highway 64 West in Tyler near the Tyler Pounds Regional Airport which makes it easy for customers to fly in and travel a short distance to see a vehicle.

The Niederhofers see the business as a way to give back to the community. Bill says that he has never worked as hard or had more stress, but he has also never had as much job satisfaction as he has now because he is making a great difference in people’s lives. He says that the best part is the reward they get when they deliver a van and are able to see the joy people are getting from their product.

After moving to Tyler in 2004 from Costa Rica, the Niederhofers considered opening a van conversion business and began looking for a location and acquiring used vans. They counseled with a local attorney who suggested that they come to the Tyler SBDC which is affiliated with the North Texas SBDC network. They first came to the Tyler SBDC in February 2006 for a business plan to help acquire funding for a machine shop building. During the next eighteen months, the SBDC worked with the Niederhofers to formulate a plan. They also attended a Management Skills Certification class at the Tyler SBDC where they learned about micro-loans. With projections provided by the Tyler SBDC and the help of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce’s Hispanic Business Alliance, the Niederhofers were able to receive a micro-loan in 2008 to buy equipment needed to jumpstart their business. In 2009, they received the Hispanic Business Alliance Achievers Award for Micro Business. In 2010, the company received an SBA guaranteed loan to conduct a crash test on its vans and add more office space.

Bill Niederhofer says “The Tyler SBDC was instrumental in helping us get the loan documentation in order and putting us in touch with banks.” Norma’s son, Ronald Miranda, just completed the Management Skills Certification class and will join the Niederhofers in the business. Bill has also encouraged an employee who is interested in starting her own business to visit the Tyler SBDC. Bill and Norma have been nominated by the Tyler SBDC for the SBA’s Small Business Team of the Year 2012 Award. SBA Letter (PDF)

To learn more about Lone Star Handicap Vans visit their website at www.LSHvans.com.

Spring 2012
Small Business Start-up Sessions
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers FREE pre-counseling sessions for individuals who would like to have a better understanding of the information to be discussed when they meet with an SBDC counselor. These sessions are held on Tuesday twice each month, as follows:
06/06………….W…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
07/11………….W…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
08/01………….W…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
09/05………….W…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: RTDC 108
Call 903-510-2975 to register

Certificación Técnico de Negocio
(BUSG1008 - Small Business Management) El conocimiento de negocio es aun critico para su éxito, relativo al servicio o producto que usted vende. Sin embargo por alguna razón u otra, negociantes de pequeñas empresas proponen muy poco tiempo afilando sus habilidades de manejo de negocio.
Un curso de seis semanas (solamente una noche por semana) usted aprenderá información valiosa tocante ley, planificación estratégica, seguros, análisis financiero, contabilidad y impuestos, mercadotecnia, posicionamiento y publicidad. Las clases serán ensenadas por empresarios.
BUSG1011 CRN35066…..$99
Certificación técnico de negocio incluye los siguientes temas:
CONSIDERACIÓN LEGAL PARA SU NEGOCIO
06/21………….R…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
FINANCIAMIENTO PARA NEGOCIO PEQUEÑO
06/28………….R…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
PUBLICANDO SU NEGOCIO PEQUEÑO
07/05………….R…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
PLANIFICACIÓN DE NEGOCIO
07/12………….R…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
CONTABILDIDAD Y IMPUESTOS
07/19………….R…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
PLANIFICACIÓN ESTRATEGIA DE NEGOCIO
07/26………….R…………..6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Ubicación: RTDC 134


Upcoming Events

Women Entrepreneurs Networking Luncheon 2013
We will be celebrating our 15th year of hosting this event!
Please note: the event is normally scheduled for August.  Due to high demand, the event is being moved to the month of February, and will take place in 2013.  An exact date is yet to be determined.


Make an Appointment with SCORE
What is SCORE?
www.easttexasscore.com

SCORE stands for Service Corps of Retired Executives. Working together with Tyler SBDC, SCORE offers real world business experience to help you start a business or expand an existing business. SCORE can help you understand what is involved in business ownership and decide if you are ready to start a small business.

The East Texas Chapter of SCORE “Counselors to America’s Small Business” is part of a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of the nation’s small business. SCORE volunteers serve as “Counselors to America’s Small Business.”

East Texas SCORE provides all of East Texas free and confidential business counseling tailored to meet the needs of your small business and your personal objectives. East Texas SCORE and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) also offers workshops and classes to assist you setting up a small business.

SCORE volunteers are real-world professionals with time-tested knowledge who donate thousands of hours to help small businesses succeed. Counselors are experts in such areas as accounting, finance, marketing, management and business plan preparation.

Our chapter volunteers provide guidance and counseling to entrepreneurs in Smith and surrounding counties in East Texas.