Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Miller.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Paul. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was a former laid off Boeing avionics assembly worker at the Las Colinas plant back in the 90’s. I got the idea to build flight simulators for home use/personal entertainment use. With a very small (under $200 investment), I obtained a DBA, and learned HTML, and built my first website, posting pictures of small inexpensive Desk Top flight simulators for personal use.
Every year my home-based company grew larger, and sales increased. Soon the simulators got more elaborate, larger, and race car simulators were added to the aircraft simulators offered to the general public. This was the early 90’s, well before they were common to see simulators at racing events, and sponsor’s stores in support of race events.
It wasn’t long, and major race teams were spending big money to train their drivers, and market their products using the new and interactive racing simulators I brought to the market place. This brought the needed funds to develop more complex flight simulators, and full cockpits, moving away from the desk top units, that originally started the company.
The military took notice of the products that were being developed, and in 1998, the U.S. Navy called for their first order for FA-18 simulators. My small company continued to double in size every year, quickly out growing every facility, we occupied.
Eventually, I was bought out by a corporation, and we continued to grow, developing even more complex flight simulation systems for the military, and driving simulators for highway patrol and police agencies. The buyout did not end well, and I learned a valuable business lesson, I was let go from the company that I founded.
I then went to work for a local subcontractor for Lockheed Martin, designing and building simulators and support equipment for F-16s, F-22s and the all new F-35. These were the mega buck simulators that the tax payer spends millions of dollars on each year. Very valuable experience was learned during this seven-year period. I quickly became disheartened with the massive amount of the waste of money and over spending on these simulation systems.
So, remembering my roots, I resigned my position, and started DMS LLC in 2010, in hopes of providing low cost flight simulators, at a fraction of the cost of today’s high price units in service today. In order to prove their durability, and to finance the business effort, my company rents out the F-16 flight simulator we have built to individuals and companies for private and corporate events.
I have devoted 25 years of my professional career to trying to reduce the burden to the tax payers, and providing our proud men and women of the armed forces training devices that they need, to improve proficiency, and save lives. It has been a struggle at times, because the industry does not want the price of these devices to be reduced, but it has been my passion and life’s work.
I hope soon to replicate the success I had back in the 90’s, when my efforts started the low-cost buzz words in the simulation industry. And if I can save the tax payer $1, or save one life, I feel it will have been worth a lifetimes work.
Has it been a smooth road?
For my particular situation, trying to lower the cost of simulation and training for the military industrial complex, has been an uphill struggle the entire way.
But I have learned many lessons that are applicable to most entrepreneurs. Here are a few that I think can help any business plan:
1. No matter how small your company is, sometimes you can’t do everything yourself! It is ok to reach out to specialist for help, especially in the area of taxes, bookkeeping, forming your LLC/corporation etc. While you may be an expert in your field, leave it to the pro’s in their field for certain tasks. The time it takes to learn and do these tasks, is better spent focused on what you do best.
2. Never sell yourself short. It is ok in the beginning, to make little to no money, to grow your company. But you cannot get used to this, and accept this as normal. Just paying the bills, is no life, for the endless hours you put in. Do not be ashamed to get your small piece of the pie. Do not confuse this with greed. After the first couple of years, if you are working around the clock, and cannot afford to pay yourself, something is wrong! And if you are lucky enough for a company to want to buy you out, gut paid for your efforts then. Do not think they have your best interest in mind, and you will get your money later!
3. Never underestimate your tax liability. In Texas, and the DFW are specifically, when you add up every tax that applies to small businesses, you can literally pay $.40 on every dollar made. At first this does not seem possible, but they add up. Sales tax, Federal income tax, Employee withholding taxes, property taxes, Business personal property taxes, to name the most common. Deductions only go so far!
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has lots of information online for new startups so you don’t make common mistakes others have, and probably the best advice is to have a mentor, or to model a previously successful business person.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
DMS LLC was the first and still the only company to deliver High Fidelity military flight simulators to rental customer’s locations nationwide. Since its startup back in 2010, DMS LLC has traveled coast to coast on both private consumer and commercial business flight simulator rentals.
The rental division has been the income generating segment of the company.
We provide our consumer rental customers the chance to have a military F-16 Fighting Falcon flight simulator delivered to their location of choice (Home, country club, union hall, etc.) for special events in their lives. We have performed surprise birthday parties for the young and old, bar mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries, retirement parties, reunions, to name a few.
We have full service business rentals of our simulators that include trade show packages. We can fill a large space with our simulators and aviation themed display items. The only limitations are space and budget. We have performed nationwide corporate rentals for trade shows, team building, company parties, new product launches, holiday parties, new facility or facility expansion parties, banquets, Super Bowl support functions and corporate dinners.
Our flight simulators are the exact same thing that the military uses to train the pilots of tomorrow. Giving civilians the chance to fly this caliber of hardware, without having to enlist in the military, and delivering to their location, sets us apart from any and all competitors.
The proceeds of from the rental income allows us to develop and market the flight simulators to the military. We pride ourselves for being the only company in the aerospace industry that is trying to substantially lower the training cost to the military and tax payer.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The DFW Metroplex is the perfect location for any aerospace type business startup. The Metroplex and surrounding area has a long history of proudly supporting the military and aerospace companies. Most people reading this article probably have a friend or family member that has either served in the military, or has worked in the aerospace industry in the area.
Besides aerospace the DFW area is probably the best place in the US to start and/or maintain a business. You can look at the demographic data, and see consistent growth, low property cost compared to other parts of the country, and a moderate cost of living.
There is plenty of space to grow, and a large population to purchase or consume your products. The local chamber of commerce, SBA offices, and other self-help sources are ready and willing to help you get started, and grow within the community.
Pricing:
- Dallas area ½ day (4 Hours) F-16 Flight Simulator Rental $1,750.00
- Dallas area Full day (8 Hours) F-16 Flight Simulator Rental $2,300.00
- Dallas area ½ day (4 Hours) QuickPit Flight Simulator Rental $1,000.00
- Dallas area Full day (8 Hours) QuickPit Flight Simulator Rental $1,500.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www. dmsf16.com
- Phone: 817-565-7826
- Email: sales@dmsf16.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/f16simulator
Image Credit:
Lynn Miller
Paul Miller
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