* After a career of military structure, Harvey Barnard wanted to make his own rules as an entrepreneur.

With the mechanical skills honed during an 11-year Army career, Barnard launched Coastal Fleet Services, a mobile service van company that offers truck maintenance and repairs.

Three years later, Barnard says he made the right decision. He enjoys being his own boss and anticipating growth, including another repair van.

"I love it 100 percent, If I had to do it all over again, I would," Barnard says.

Barnard took the idea for the business from West Coast magazine articles he read about mobile oil changes for cars. Living in Savannah, Ga., he spotted a market for mobile repair and maintenance on trucks used to bring goods to and from the port.

He planned to target independent truckers who owned their equipment. Unlike larger trucking companies, independents don't have the advantage of staff mechanics for repair and maintenance work. Plus, the truckers don't want to have their equipment worked on during normal business hours when it could be making money for them.

Once Barnard crafted his idea, he took it to the Small Business Assistance Corp. in Savannah, a certified micro-lender for the U.S. Small Business Administration in Georgia.

Working with staff there, he secured a $24,500 loan for equipment and supplies. In those early days, he also sought counseling from volunteers at SCORE on marketing his business. Through flyers and business cards, he publicized Coastal Fleet Services.

For the first year, Barnard worked full time at a trucking company and part time at his startup. The father of two wanted to gain customers and steady contracts before launching into the venture full time.

The business has turned into the success Bernard envisioned. Because of his flexible schedule, he can service customers' equipment on their off-days or at night. The truckers don't lose precious road time.

From his truck, Bernard handles everything from oil changes and lube work to brake repair. If customers need electrical, fuel-system or wheel work done, they can call Coastal Fleet. Bernard decided not to change tires or open engines.

Barnard's road to life as a Georgia entrepreneur reflects his commitment to hard work and willingness to try new things.

A native of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, Bernard recalls a 1989 trip to Puerto Rico with his father. During their visit, his father suggested the young Harvey talk to U.S. Army recruiters about joining the military.

"The recruiters talked me into it, but I didn't mind trying it," Bernard says.

His career spanned service in Korea, Germany and Saudi Arabia, where he maintained diesel trucks during the Gulf War.

After his initial four-year commitment, Barnard took a year and a half off to attend a diesel-engine rebuilding and overhaul program in Houston. Later, he returned to the military and was stationed in South Carolina and later, coastal Georgia.

As his active military career came to a close, Barnard decided to remain in the Army Reserves, a commitment he has maintained. He also took advantage of the G.I. Bill to work toward a two-year degree in auto technology from Savannah Technical College.

"It just broadens your horizons on everything" he says.

Despite his school commitments, Barnard says he realized this period in his life was perfect for entrepreneurship. "To me, it wasn't hard" he says. "It was going out and being a people's person."

He used his contacts to find the decision-makers at local businesses and requested work. Once he started doing quality work for influential customers, Barnard says he knew the rest would follow.

The SBA micro-loan helped him get the business started more quickly than he might have otherwise, Barnard says.

Terri Denison, SBA district director in Georgia, says the decade-old micro-loan program helps entrepreneurs-who need small loans. The program focuses on loans of $35,000 or less, but even small banks want to process loans between $50,000 and $100,000, she says. A typical micro-loan is $10,500--too much for entrepreneurs and too small for banks.

"It really does fill a niche need that so many businesses have that the conventional lending market is not set up to address" Denison says.

The SBA process takes a cue from traditional lenders, however, in its screening process before a loan is granted. The SBA offers technical assistance and guidance for the borrower, as well as follow-up counseling.

Since credit decisions are made on a local level, the micro-loan program fits home-based businesses, secretarial services and small technology companies well, Denison says.

Three years into a five-year loan, Barnard says he's looking forward to paying his debts and expanding the business. In the future, he would consider outfitting another van and hiring full-time employees to handle calls he can't service as a one-man business. Currently, Barnard hires part-time employees as needed.

While he won't disclose company revenue, Barnard says Coastal Fleet has proved to be a profitable venture. Given the inherent limits of his one-van business and his time, Barnard says of his company, "It makes as much money as you want to make."

Micro-Loan Program

What: The Micro-Loan Program provides small loans to startups, very young or growing small businesses. The SBA makes funds available to nonprofit community-based lenders that make the loans to borrowers.

How: Applications are submitted to the local nonprofit agency and lending decisions are made at the local level. The maximum loan amount is $35,000 and the maximum term is six years, loan terms vary according to the size of the loan, use of funds, requirements of the local lender, and the needs of the smell business borrower. Interest rates vary. lenders must provide training and assistance to their micro-borrowers.

First step: For a listing of participating lenders in the SBA Micro-Loan Program, visit www.sba.gov/financing/ microparticipants.html

Coastal Fleet Services

Owner: Harvey Barnard 210 Whippoorwill Lane, Richmond Hill, GA 31324 (912) 844-0946

Email Address: hb_harvey@msn.com

Year Founded: 2000

Annual Revenue: Would not disclose

Profitable: Yes

Employees: Self; occasionally uses part-time help

SBA-backed loan amount: $24,500

SBA loan terms: 5 years, 10.5% interest

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