Many states require an auction license to solicit auction business and conduct auctions. Still others require an individual to become an apprentice of an established auctioneer before one can obtain a license. Ohio is one such state and I had the honor of accepting my first apprentice earlier this spring. While the system may seem antiquated it offers a new auctioneer a first class auction education above and beyond what they learned in Auction School.  That is of course if the sponsor opens up the play book and apprentice chooses to take advantage of it. Regardless of a state’s laws I believe there are three keys that any new auctioneer should follow when entering the business.

1) Attend Auctions and lots of them. Attend auctions by different auctioneers, selling diverse and varied merchandise. When there analyze the auction from the prospective of the auctioneer and the seller. Often times we look at an auction in terms of a buyer. While service to the buyer is important it is the service we provide for and on behalf of the seller that is the mark of a successful auctioneer.

2) Don’t buy anything other than education.  Many auctioneers begin their career with a brand new speaker system and trucks and signs. The most important dollar spent in the first year of the business is education. It might be auction school, NAA designation courses, or attendance to state and national association events. The bottom line is don’t buy what you think you need until you actually need it. Borrow when you can and talk to the established auctioneers before you spend a nickel. Overhead is the silent killer.

3) Fellowship with other auctioneers. Auctioneering may seem like a very lonely business. However the facts are that there are auctioneers that have been there, done that or are doing it and going there right now. It is unlikely that they will be in your town but they are in your state and across the nation. Seek them out through state or national associations or on AuctionZip.com. There is very little in the auction business that has not been done before.

Good Luck to new auctioneers and those of us that have been in it for 5 years or 50 have something to give back.

http://www.auctioneers.org
http://www.auctionzip.com