Trying to open my first Hot Rod Shop!! Help Hambers!!!

Hello guys and gals. I will try not to make this long but here it goes. I am 28 years old and have not been able to find work as a nurse here in upstate NY. Now, if any of you have been to upstate nY, there are a bunch of cheese ass rodders, and NO hot rod shops. It is only after watching the movie "the Secret" that I realized my passions, Cars. I want to open my own hot rod shop, not charge an arm and a leg for labor, do kick ass work, get my name out there, and keep on going. I am looking for any of us Hambers that would be willing to donate anything for my shop, tools, welders, racks, etc. I know this sounds crazy but I learned that I have to have these things to get it going. In return for the favor, I will gladly put each and every name on the top of my 53 Chevy. It will be sealed in clear coat and I will personally send a framed pic to prove it to you. Big or small, anything to help make my dream a reality. I have been into rods since I was 5 and now it's time to make it happen. Please, if you can help me, believe in Karma, what goes around comes around, if there is anything I can do in the meantime to thank you , please let me know. Send me some parts and I will strip em, paint em, plate em, whatever, and I won't charge you a dime, My Promise. Thanks and hope to hear from some of you. James

 

Oh no, not "The Secret"!!!!!

 

my oh my

 

You really might want to relocate and find a job in the Nursing Field. I mean you can at least retire at some point and get paid time off. I am not saying that you should not follow your dream but there could be a way of doing it that creates a bit of stability for you as well as allows you to dive into building a Hot Rod shop. Like working your ass of for a couple years in the nursing field and taking extra shifts (even if it's in a different location) then purchase your tools as you can. And maybe try to get a nursing position in a place where you can work at a already established hot rod builder on the side learning from some of the best. Go for your dream but be smart about it!!!

 

okay...
how much actual, real world, hot rod building experience do you have?

how much can you do without help?

how much business experience do you have?

how much do you have to invest in infrastructure? do you have about a years worth of saved income to get you through and a years worth of saved funds to finance a shop thats not making a profit? are you ready and willingto work two jobs to chase the dream?

i know it looks all kinds of glamorous and all, but its just like anything else...its expensive and risky.

 

My wifes an RN and she knocks down some serous coin, enough to allow me to stay home with the kids and not have to work. She tells me of the travling nurses she works with and if you're single and willing to move around, you could make some real money doing what your allready trained in and still work on your toys in the off time. Something to consider, good luck either way.

 

I commend you for following your dream but lets get real here....
Alteredpilot nailed it....
Can't find a Nursing job??? I really have a problem beleiving that one.
My wife made a trip to the Phillipines trying to recruit Nurses because she can't get them in Ohio. Need a job in Ohio Nursing?? PM me. You'll be working in two weeks. After that save your money and go for your hot rod dreams.

 

What's a "cheese ass rodder", and are they the group you plan to attract to your shop? Sounds like a flawed plan right there, though as I said, I don't know what a cheese ass rodder is, so maybe it just sounds derogatory, maybe it's a good thing.
Oh, and if any of you guys want to donate anything to my shop, tools, welders, racks, etc., I'll put your name on my roof too.

 

From what I hear,traveling nurses can make $50-70/hr.

I say find a hot rod shop that will hire you, then see if there are opportunities for travel nurses in the area.

 

not tryin to be a Dream Killer, but if you like working around the clock, no weekends or holidays off, always being strapped for cash as what you just took in just went out for the next job, dealing with the masses & not making a dime while you are talking to them (which ends up being most of the time, most are tire kickers) & not being able to have help as your customers know your work and know when you have someone help which ends up twice the job with twice the wages out, Jump in & join the fun! Start on the hobby side, keep it small, and your over head low, till you build a name. Self Destroyment is hard. Im down to half days for the summer......yup 12 hours!

 

and when You have been at it for 6 years, You can slow down a bit like me and oly work 10 hours a day.

But hey, it only took me 5 Years to find the guys I can work with on a daily basis with the skill set to be effective. They're lucky-they get paid to do it, too! Me on the other hand......

 

And then you can really have guys bitch at you because you bought a car for $200.00 and tried to sell it for $1500.00

Seriously though, you say you don't want to charge a arm and a leg for labor - well all you got to make money on is labor, and with overheads and that thinking you're gonna go broke real quick. Here in So Cal I was charging $75.00 an hour and between rent, insurance, electricity, phone, a bit of advertising, business cards, water etc, I was losing my ass! Do the math on all these things and write up a business plan and you'll see. Especially if you don't even have the money to buy equipment going in. You better figure at least six months of not making anything while you get established, pay off what ever equipment you do get, and invest in your business etc.
I don't think you have thought this through.

 

There is a hudge shortage of nurses in Minnesota, and being a male nurse puts you in high demand. My brother and sister are both nurses in Minnesota, and My sister in law went bact to school in her 40 and became a nurse, she make way more than when she was a grant writer.
Stick with what your trained for and youl have money to build your rides, my freind owns a road race car fab shop ( for 40 years now ) so he could road race , he very seldom gets to drive for lack of time - working on customer cars, or lack of money - not working on customer cars.

Hot rod shop are the same read through post from shop owners - customer cars always come first.

jim h

 

Here in Socal the nursing shortage has been forever. Hospitals here regularly travel back East to recruit with huge signing bonuses. You should be able to pick and choose in the nursing field. Many of the hospitals here are full of nurses from Phillipines and per diem's from contract temp nursing agency's. If you're single and not tied down, you could see different parts of the country 6 months at a time.

There's a hospital here that has an ICU nursing shift 12 hours friday and sat pm's 24 hours and they pay 40 hours!!! A guy could work a regular 40 hour shift and be bringing in 80 hours!!! Or go to college all week and work weekends.

Build your home shop/tool collection/experience. Do Hot Rods on the side or work/learn part time at a shop until you have a name for yourself and a 12 month+ worth of work before you take the plunge.

 

I'd like to start a shop too
been thinking about it for a couple years
im still working my "normal" job and building cars in the evenings
i'm gradually gathering tools and hopefully building somewhat of a good reputation
i think you need to make a name for yourself before you take the big step to make this your bread and butter (or cheese?)

good luck though in any case
Zach

 

We have more buisness than most in our field (restorations and custom work) and it's a very tough nut to crack. We're happy we've moved to "survival" status. Maybe we can get to profitability again soon. It comes and goes. This company's been family owned since 1931 and still here. Believe me, many many sacrifices have come and gone for each different level of product and service that's gone through here.

What my friend says: "The nice thing about being your own boss and owning your own buisness is you make your hours. The worst thing about being your own boss and owning your own buisness is you make your own hours." Forget mark-up on parts. Open a retail speed shop and see what the response is. If it's not the usual "...well Summit sells it for..." it'll be "...I can get that on ebay for...". I've been independent for many years and haven't had too many easy ones. Once you get a name it's easier to be sure, but prepare to be humbled (in the best ways) because you MUST live up to that name or, put very simply, you're fucked.

 

If anyone wants to donate an English Wheel to me, I'll paint your name on the roof of my garage. I'll even use big letters.

 

If you'd consider relocation, nurses are in HUGE demand in my area and you could get a part time job at one of several rod shops in the area... It's a cheap place to live, safe and very car friendly....

Eric

 

My niece has 2 years of Nursing school and works during the summer and the place shes at offered her a job and will put her through school here. They have tons of work but not enough qualified people.
Shes making more money than her Mom and Dad and shes just playing at it.
In short stick to Nursing.

 

Is this " GAYLORD FOKKER"???????????????????????????????

 

I dunno guys, I HAVE to see this movie now, he said he's been into rods since he was five but then only after seeing this movie to make him realize his passion????? Doesn't add up in my books.

 

I'm in! I want to see my name under clearcoat!
But all kidding aside, I have my job because it allows me to do the things in life that I enjoy. I have considered building cars full time, but it just doesn't make economical sense for me. I have a good schedule and a retirement. Both of witch you will have in the nursing field. If you can't get a job in your field your either not looking or a duesch.

 

if you love working on cars, the fastest way to cure it is to do it for a living.

HA!

 

"Best way to make a small fortune building cars, is to start with a large fortune."

 

How can you not find a job as a nurse around here?!?!?! I have some friends that are in the nursing field and my wife works in the human resources dept. of a nursing home and everyone is dying to find nurses, one friend who is a nurse says that there local hospital is even paying a large sign on bonus because they are so desperate. Believe me if you don't already have the tools then you probably have very little knowledge on how to build cars, it takes a lot more than just willpower to run a business, also did you ever think about why there aren't any Rod shops around here? like maybe there isn't enough customers? most of my work in not localized and I don't work like the average rod shop.

I don't know exactly where you are located but I can probably get you a job as an LPN either with a hospital or possibly through my wife as she would be the one interviewing you.

 

AMEN to that !

 

Reading this thread really makes me sad. Enthusiasm is worth a bucket of warm spit. Practical business experience is what is needed at the start of any dream involving making a living.
Two people are need at the start up of any business, especially a Rod shop. A person with business knowledge and a craftsamn to do the work. Seldom are they the same person. One thing that I have learned is that someone who says no is usually doing you a favor.
So I say No to your offer.

 

Wow, the "Gaylord Fokker" comment took longer than I thought. Seriously to beat a way dead cat, there are nursing jobs that are carrer oriented that will enable you to build your dream into more of a reality.
I'm a machinist and welder for DOD. My spare time is where I help friends with their projects and occasionally my own. You need a "solid" rep in the industry and not just the scene to get by and that will take an immense skill set to get you there.

 

IF your a nurse go to the closest hosp. and get a cat scan of your head
25 years of 100 hour weeks last day off was 17 weeks ago lots of the job should cost 1/2 of the bill you give them and you can do that in 1/2 the time you bill for. AND DONT EVEN GET ME GOING ON TAXES , INS, EPA ,STATE'S BS ECT.

ROCKY'S ROD SHOP 25 YEARS 2 HART ATTACKS LOTS TYLENOL

 

this is my problem exactly, not enough hours in a day to do everything, but Im givin it a hell of a try!