Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Ravitch.
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Since I began teaching high school six years ago, I have always also had a side hustle. Whether it was frying wings, managing an Airbnb, or driving for Uber, I knew that a secondary source of income was necessary to support the lifestyle I desired. One day, my car was in the shop, and I needed to rent one for a few days, so I looked to the TURO app. I noticed that one man in Dallas owned about twelve cars all for rent on the app. I perused his profile and saw his employment title which stated he was “self-employed;” after we chatted for a bit, I figured out that he was able to support himself all on his own by renting cars, and I felt awe-inspired. Seven months and four cars later, renting cars has become my sole focus and main source of income. I have since filed an LLC, opened a business account, and have started building my marketing strategies. Now, I work with my cousin’s production company – 8th Dimension TV – to film ads for social media.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I updated my Facebook job profile to “CEO of Ravitch’s Rentals”, I had one person accuse me of false advertisement of my skill set. My biggest challenge was not actually acquiring the cars or even the customers, but undoing a mental block: proving to myself that I deserved to be a part of the car rental industry. I have had to “fake it till I make it” every step of the way, and I plan to continue to do so. The way I see it is this: I create my own schedule, hire videographers, write myself a check each week, and make decisions daily to better my company. What job title, then, would be more appropriate? I think sometimes when a person first begins a business, they are so hyped up about it that they constantly (sometimes perceived as obnoxiously) post non-stop on social media, and pass out business cards at inappropriate times. However, when you are starting a business as the sole founder, you have to be the number one “hype-man”. If I am not pumped about the business, how can I expect others to be? A second obstacle, surprisingly in 2022, has not been a tangible issue, but one of gender bias. For instance, when I was first shopping around for cars at dealerships around the metroplex, two different car salesmen refused to even run my credit, falsely assuming I could not afford the cars I was requesting to test drive. I suspect a twenty-seven-year-old female asking to test drive a Range Rover when they already own three cars was a “red flag”. This business was frustratingly my introduction to the glass ceiling, but it didn’t deter me from my goals, and I learned to get creative with my business strategy.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ravitch’s Rentals LLC?
I rent out luxury cars to people needing transportation whether for business, pleasure, or necessity. I also offer business consulting services via Zoom- my first client successfully building a fleet of nine cars. I have also recently started doing interactive marketing for those who follow Ravitch’s Rental on Instagram. My first one was philanthropic: anyone who donated to Ukraine, and sent a screenshot to my Facebook page post, was entered into a raffle to receive a goodie bag, $150 check, and the Porsche Cayman S for a day! I have since realized that showing up with a camera crew to someone’s house to surprise them with their winnings comes with an addictive adrenaline rush! It is my newfound favorite part of the job.
What does success mean to you?
In any endeavor, there are times when you have to fight off imposter syndrome and grant yourself space at the table even if that means having to invite yourself, bring your own chair, and proclaim to everyone why you deserve to be there. To me, success is transitioning from having to explain why you should get a seat, to bringing so much food to the table that you are then relied upon. I know that I feel most fulfilled when I am serving my community not only by providing cars but a white-glove service that makes everyone feel like a VIP. I treat them as if they are the most important customer in the world to me because each new customer is a part of the experience of growing the company just as much as I am. The Ravitch’s Rentals slogan is “drive the car you deserve”. Other companies have made us believe that for $120 a day, a Toyota Corolla is the best option, but I want people to have a more exotic experience for a comparable price.
Pricing:
- Porsche Cayman- $130/day
- Tesla Model 3- $90/day
- Range Rover Evoque – $75/day
- Delivery Fee- Approximately $100 RT
- 15% Discount with Promo Code VOYAGE
Contact Info:
- Email: ravitchsrentals@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravitchsrentals/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RavitchsRentals
Image Credits
Michael Vallone
Bobby Reese
Benjamin Owens
