So the wife and I are starting out own business soon. I know it's not a new idea but currently doesn't look like there is anyone in the area doing it. We will be opening a garage where customers rent a bay to work in. Rentals vary from hourly-monthly. We would have basic hand tools available as well as shop equipment (Air compressor, parts washer, lift, etc.) We would also be providing classes/workshops in car maintenance, fabrication, welding, and car audio/video. What I'd like to hear from you guys and gals is would you be interested in this and how much would you be comfortable with paying? (Yes I know all about liability, insurance, etc)
first thing i would look into is the liability insurance issues..and how much thats going to set you back..than price accordingly
Guy I know has been trying the same thing. Liability insurance is HUGE on this. Even if people sign a form, they will say you were negligent, then lawsuit.
Any market research performed? Two positives are 1. With everyone concerned about tightening their budget, more people will be "do-it-yourselfers" 2. With people being forclosed on, losing garage space might be a concern. Von Rigg is right, liability will be costly. Also, disposing of chemicals and dealing with your local EPA will be spendy. Talk to a small biz or start-up lawyer. Even if it sets you back a grand, it will be worth it for the legal advice. Have a great well detailed realistic biz plan, grow it slowly, advertise like crazy, and good luck.
If you put a paint booth in one bay you will be booked forever. As far as libability, have them sign a waver. I think you have a great idea. The only bad thing is people are going to want to work late, and you should find a way to let that happen. You never know how long a job is going to take. So an hourly rate is going to be your best bet. I really think its a good idea, just pick and chose your renters. How, I dont know, but I wouldnt let just any dumb ass in there.
as a shop owner... everything about it sounds like a bad idea. sounds like a giant liability and a bigger money pit.
I'd be interested because work space is a bitch to find in the los angeles area! But I dunno about brentwood TN? Locally there's a place that rents spray booths for around $25 or 35 an hour, you get the air and the booth and that's it I don't like the amount of overhead you're suggesting you'll have....not my beeswax but I dunno how that could turn a profit I've always heard that you need a year's worth of capital to keep the doors open while you get established. But that wasn't your question either so I'lll butt out now On the high end yeah that's what I'd pay here in los angeles if it were possible, $25 to $50 an hour depending on what equipment I was using I reckon. Like If I'm using a lift and the compressor and x and y or something...gotta have a fee for everything mostly I'd think
Yes as I mentioned above I know about the liability, lawsuits, insurance so on and so forth. Market research is currently being preformed. The two reason's rustbelt mentioned are two of our reasons this would be a good deal. It would also help out the shade tree/moon light/side job/ independent or whatever else you want to call him mechanic. I just wanted to get your guys and gals opinion on if this is something you'd be interested in and what you thought a fair rate would be.
I pay $100 beans a month to have a 60 x 60 shop with 5 other guys. It's our clubhouse now, and it's definitely worth the money seeing how we have access to a Huge compressor, Paint Booth and a forklift which is awesome for loading and unloading things. Would I spend more then $100 probably not but that only be cause I have a garage. At home I have a 30 x 20 garage and if I had one less car right now I would not have gone in for the shop. $100 is cheap but it's still $1200 a year which could be used in better ways for my family. I think it's fine for now because I am in need of storage but if I get the chance to build another garage in the back I am going to take it and put that money into something I can call my own. But for now it's fun and I am able to hang with my friends and help in a comfortable area.
better off with ,,since it seems you have the space,,,simple plain dry storage period. Little to no $$ put out on your part and far less headaches,,liabilty aside,,You don't want someone working on there car,,then all there chucklehead friends making a rukus at 2 in the morning,,and the more folks around ,,the more to get broken ,stolen etc..Bad Idea I thing ,,,,I meant the over all idea is cool,,but far more headache then I'm sure you could plan on )
At first the spray booth was planned for after the first year or so. During our research we are finding a pretty good need for it.
I think it would end up being cost prohibited by the time you reached a rate that would keep your doors open..customers would stop coming
There was a place in Huntington Park that was doing that. They had an auto parts store right next door that owned the place. He had been open for quite some time. Don't know if it's still there.
You left out a lot of info... How many bays? what is the monthly rent/lease for the building ? etc... having guys say they would pay to work on a car is worthless without people being booked in advance.. Can you afford to have open bays and still cover overhead? How much will you be in the hole just to get equipment to start with. Remember that people treat others tools and equipment a lot diff. than their own stuff.. Are you going to be there all the time? How do you regulate what goes on? Jason.
Isnt that what Click and Clack use to do? wikipedia entry - "The shop, which rented space and equipment to "hackers" trying to fix their own cars, wasn't profitable"
Purely coincidence, but I had thought about retiring last year and moving to the Nashville area and doing just what you have planned. Do you already have the property? What scale? One bay, or multiples with the booth separate? Maybe set it up like a mini-storage, with a keypad gate and alarmed units. Figuring that a 10x20 with NO power around here goes for $100 + a month, that would be a minimum, with the booth with a one day minimum. Get a damage deposit and waiver up front. Retain a good attorney for the inevitable DA hurting himself. PM me if you need some help
I can only freaking imagine the headaches involved with dealing with shadetree mechanics all day long. Actually I can, I worked at Autozone back in the day, I'd *NEVER* wanna have to deal with a lot of those guys! The people you *want* to use the garage already have a spot, sounds like a place for a lot of low-enders to work on their 93 Maxima or something, and they bring their problems with them. OK that said, sorry, I couldn't help myself! I have a friend in LA that pays $150 extra to rent the garage (can't remember if its 1 or 2 car) that's behind his rental condo. That was a few years ago, it may be more now. I've seen $500/mo for a shared space 50 miles outside of town. I've seen like $1200/mo for a 450sq ft. shop in a bad part of town that you could possibly 'live in', frightening as that sounds. Simply storing/parking your car here is around 75-150/month, with minimal in/out priviledges. I don't have a home so I've done some research on this currently I use a pal's back yard (industrial space) and I probably average 50-100 /mo cash/goods plus I run errands/do chores and spent a week cleaning up the back yard for him. Like I said, I've searched for years for space and it's impossible to find reasonably(I'd love to be proven wrong!) My friend is winkytiki, if you know him, so at least the space has some perks!
In these days of environmental whackos, suit-happy lawyers, liability, overly-invasive governmental bureaucracy, and a complete lack of common sense by most of the general public, this would NOT be one of my choices for a new business start-up in 2009. Besides that, some geeky kid named Arnold might stroll in with a clapped-out '58 Plymouth Fury - then what?
Another hurdle is the town. Around here they need to approve the usage and if you come up with a business that thebook they have don't cover, no good. If the local gestapo can't check off a box on a form, it isn't a business they can deal with. Zoning rules could be tough. Insurance Liability issues around here even prohibit customers from going into a workspace. Good luck, keep us informed. Another onteresting issue to watch.
3 friends and i are trying to open a full service auto repair shop with some custom fabricating. We have everything we need. Just can't find a damn building. Good luck on your venture.
hifiguytn, I'm such a tightwad I would work outside in the rain and snow before I would pay $20 to rent a garage for half a day. But I work outside on a regular basis anyway. I'm about a hour north of you.
My friend is winkytiki, if you know him, so at least the space has some perks! [/quote] yeah..great views eh...lol you told me or i wouldnt know... how do you get anything done?
Good idea, I like it. I think I would charge by the hour. Maybe a flat hourly rate if the person brings their own tools and doesn't use any of your stuff, then the price goes up the more they need to use your stuff. Something like this, Base: $31 / hr Add $6 / hr for air tools & compressor use. Add $6 / hr for use of hard tools Add $10 / for use of a lift
HOLY COW you would have thought from all of the replies I asked for opinions on insurance, building cost, finances, how hard this might be and help with a business plan. It's amazing how a question of “would you be interested in and how much do you think would be fair” would go so far off into left field.
Had a friend try this in Nor-Cal in the late 70s. Went good for about 6 months. 10 bays ,rented tools, open 24 hrs. Only charged about $15 an hour for a stall. Insurance wasn't to bad back then. Anyway, a car fell off a floor jack that wasn't even his, no jack stands, and messed up the guy pretty good. He got sued for neglect and lost everything !! That was in the late 70s, cant imagine how long he would be paying now with all the" Sue Happy Bastards "there are now !!
I actually tried something simular, i got quoted insurance at 780$ a month.. HOWEVER... there might be a loophole if you include the word club then members pay dues... maybe a way around the high insurance.
Yeah, that is what Click & Clack started with. I'm not sure about the profit part, but seems like they've said they got asked so many questions it just seemed simpler to do the work and charge for that.
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