Ali Jabbar is no stranger to entrepreneurship. After successfully owning and selling a limousine business in Houston, he moved to Maine and launched PWM Transportation, which is proving to be his most successful venture yet. As owner and sole operator, Ali ensures PWM Transportation delivers comfortable, reliable transportation. Ali hit the ground running with PWM Transportation in the spring of 2024, and his business continues to show impressive growth.

Photos from Ali Jabbar. Q&A as told by PWM owner Ali Jabbar in his own words.

Tell us a little bit about your business.

I own and operate a limo business that I started in March of last year (2024.)

Before that, I owned a limo business in Houston, TX, which I sold and then I moved up to Maine in 2019. Then I worked at Toyota and Enterprise…but I was doing well there, and they tried to lower my commission. That was the day I turned in my keys, bought this vehicle, and went back to my own business. There’s nothing like being your own boss.

What’s been one of the biggest challenges you face as a business owner?

Unexpected costs. For example, insurance is super expensive. They started with charging me $300 a month, but after they saw the business taking off and tracked the mileage on the vehicle they incrased it to $750 a month.

How are you handling that challenge?

I decided to pay the yearly fee upfront, using some of the funds CEI gave me. It covers me for a whole year, which helps with my monthly expenses.  

What’s something you’re most proud of with your business?

That it’s going so well! I thought it would take much longer to get going, but everything is much quicker than I expected. I started in March of 2024, and by May, everything was running very smoothly in just two months. I have my website up and running, which I made myself, and I have wonderful customers, including some famous people like the Bush family and a few actors. It’s amazing.

How do you find your clients? Do you market yourself?

Yes, I do my own marketing on social media and I also do Google Ads. Google is a really big help. And I use Limo Anywhere, a platform for limousine companies across the country.

Where do you see your business in the next three to five years?

I’m hoping to be one of the biggest companies in Maine. I can see myself expanding, buying more cars, and hiring employees.

What advice would you give to an aspiring business owner?

Just start… and don’t be cheap on advertisement and ads! And don’t give up. Some people give up in a month or two, but you have to give it at least a year.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

I was a lawyer back in Iraq, so I never thought I’d be driving a limousine.  But that was twenty years ago, and I chose this because the costs in this business are relatively low. You just have to pay for your car, insurance, and maintenance. Plus, there isn’t much limousine competition here in Maine. There are only three big companies here, and I’ve been able to match or surpass them. At the end of the day, I think that having your own business is far better than being employed by anybody else.

What’s your connection to the community you serve?

I always give my community better deals when they need, it including a15% off for military, law enforcement, educators, and senior citizens.

How did you hear about CEI? When did we become part of your journey?

My dad actually started a business, and CEI helped him with that years ago. Tigris Market in Westbrook, which he’s since sold. Another friend of mine, who ran Falafel Time restaurant, told me to come talk to you, too.

The money CEI lent me absolutely helped. I’ve used it on car maintenance and advertisement, and the insurance I mentioned. And I still have some saved in case of emergency. The support I got from CEI was very good- it was easy and simple, and I really appreciate CEI’s help. John [Scribner] and Jill [Lorom] worked with me every step of the way.