One question: Do you think HN is the best forum to seek the answer as this is mostly a tech oriented site?
Not that I have a better suggestion where to post the question.
I too focus on physical businesses. I read HN for ideas to make those businesses more effective through applying technology, but like you would love to find a similar site aimed more at physical businesses.
I feel every physical business can outperform their counter parts through use of innovative technology.
For example, recently one of our delivery trucks was misbehaving. I took it to this mechanic shop, a really old school type place, with just the shop owner and his two helpers. Pretty much as low tech as you can get.
The shop owner, who was in his seventies, was trying to diagnose the problem. It was something he had never seen before and the symptoms were not listed in any of the truck manufacturer's service bulletins that he had online access to. He logs into an online forum type site where he finds other mechanics that had the same problem with this particular model and reported their solution. His keyboard was so covered in grease that you could barely make out the letters. An hour and twenty minutes later the truck is back in service.
I asked him about the site. As part of the service he is required to report back what worked for him. He says 'I spend $100 a month for it, but it is worth ten times that.'
