Well, Im jumping it with both feet!

Best of luck to ya! I started up my own collision shop in sept. `09 (right in the midst of the financial melt down) and have no regrets at all! Sales have increased pretty much every month since opening I`ve got two full time employees now and next month we take possession of our new(er) bigger building.

Not sure how it works with insurance companies down there but in B.C. we`ve got government run insurance along with some private insurance the comprehensive end of things. Our rates are dictated to us by big brother.

I`ve found doing nice work at a reasonable price in a timely manner to be the recipe for success, but I`m sure you already know that.

Good luck! -Ish

www.isherwoodautobody.com

 

Jim with skill like yours we should be praying for your rival body men to stay in business!
Good luck though mate, I wish you all the best in your new venture.

Doc.

 

Good Luck, Mr Sibley! Next year marks my 30th,and while it's tough at times, I would do it over without reservation. Great to be in the body shop business if you like long hours, erratic pay,and endless challenges!!

 

I have been a part of Dirt brothers industry since the beginning. Me and vic murphy have been friends almost our whole lives.

 

I have been in the autobody industry for 29 years.I work for myself now.
Restoration, custom, collectables,painting and pinstriping.
The boss is an ***hole, the pay is the ****s and the hours are stupid.
But it has a satisfaction that can never be explained to a clock puncher.
Collision industry does have better avenues of making money,eg, points on new parts, book times on work. In collision you usually get paid for more time than you spent on it, restoration, sometimes you are lucky to get half the time you spent.
Best wishes in your venture!

 

Looks like you had some previous experience with some niche makes. For someone like yourself, that might be a good way to go again. In my own business, I have found it very advantageous to specialize in a very focused part of my field. I am licensed to do it all, but I stay focused on just the one part I really know how to do well and I have been fortunate that other people in my profession bring me work to help them out on that part of it. For someone of expectational abilities like yourself, you might want to focus on something and do it so well, others will need to come to you if they want the best.

In the auto world where there are a lot of pretty darn good body shops and painters, it might serve you well to focus further on a particular make or type of specialty car that people are willing to pay extra to get the best and don't want to settle for less; high dollar well crafted hot rods, Ferrari's, Aston Martin's, etc. Obviously the hot rods are the natural choice, but may or may not work out to fully cover you needs.

One fun thing about living here in Berkeley is that there are a few exotic car repair places that do just that and they seem to do pretty well. Small shops, but they are very focused at what they do. Doesn't hurt that there are a fair number of people around the area that can afford to support them of course. It's fun to just be out and unexpectedly see a 50's Ferrari zip by on some kind of test run. Probably shipped over from halfway across the country just so those guys can work on it. Not sure how Spokane might be like that, but take advantage of it if so.

I would suggest avoiding just taking any cheap collision job to pay the bills unless you want more of that work. I remember a saying that goes something like, 'If you don't want to do something for a living, don't get good at it.' In other words, unless you want to do bottom line competetive collision work for a living, don't do such a great job at it that is what you find yourself doing all the time.

If you do need to do that, I would suggest clearly separating your hot rod work from it so that there is no question one is about the serious stuff (quality hot rod work) and one is just about an income business. Don't mix and confuse the 2 or the hot rods will lose out for sure.

And yes, best of luck with it regardless. Thanks for taking the bull by the horns and trying to do something productive instead of sitting around complaining. I'm getting pretty tired of all the whining and crying in this country about every little thing and everyone just blaming everyone else for their problems instead of manning up and taking care of your own problems like people use to do. This country is full of whiners and complainers left, right, top and bottom. Glad to hear you aren't into that pathetic game.

 

Really? That's so awesome. DBI or Die! haha

 

And i thought the deer was in there for a closer look at something!
Good luck for sure, Jim, insurance work can be lucrative and people ned the DD's now more than ever. It might be a smart move. A friend has a large collision center and have a seperate 'special project building with its' own booth etc, they can be found there after hours etc but during the day they are ******* just like evrybody else.
Merry Christmas and Have a Safe Holiday, oj

 

good luck, Jim. If you take as much pride in your collision work as you do your hot rods you should be in business for along time.

 

good luck with your collision work , your hotrods are top notch , so i imagine your body shop work will be also

 

Jim, I have watched each one of your threads and you are truly a master at what you do. I have to believe you will be just fine striking out on your own. I would love to stop by one day and see you and your shop. I recently moved fairly close to you (othello).

I have been a bodyman since 1969 (with a couple years off doing other things) until 10 years ago when I became an adjuster, but I still do stuff for myself and am currently working on a chopped 53 Dodge truck.

 

Excellent, time to start saving my pennies to have the rust issues taken care of on my Bronco!

 

Congrats Jim, I tried to send you a PM about doing a paint job, but your inbox is full!

 

Hey, I was the first one to say that. You know i pesonally built 1000 of the 1500 frames we ever built. I really miss the dbi days. Now Shut up and ride!!! because I AM DIRT, DBI4LIFE

 

I am doing a lot of muscle cars for guys in the tricity area, and I have 2 cars from the coast. A bronco from your neck of the woods sounds great to me. By the way I did a 1966 bronco a few years back and it won daily driver, first place at the all fords show in los angelas

 

In this economy it's a rough go, I wish you luck. You should do lots of insuance claims on dented ot cars for Geico, that ' ll keep you afloat while you do the real cars.
Pete

 

Good luck jim! You don't need it!

 

Best wishes Sib, You will do great. As Earl Scheib says, it ain't easy but a cool rewarding business. Power vibes from Nebraska for your success. Rock it pal. ~sololobo~

 

Thanks a lot.

 

Good luck Jim, just stay off them skateboards!!!!!!

 

Good luck on the new business venture, but knowing how talented you are, it will no doubt be a very successful one.

I can already see the billboards on both 395-North and Highway 2 "Has a deer parked its self in the front of your car? Come to Deer Park Auto Body where we specialize in deer parking removal"

 

Its been 6 months since I started the process to get into my shop. Next wednesday I should have my last of many permits. I am excited.

 

I'd still love for you to take a look at my dad's bonneville.

 

Best of luck Jim, I'm still trying to convince my better half that I should be doing the same, no dice yet I'll keep workin her tho.

Scotty.

Sent from my android. (Where's the app?)._

 

Best wishes to your new venture. Build it & they will come.
B-O-B

 

Im all for it. I have just been way busy lately. Trying to get this show on the road.

 

good luck on your venture Sib,hope you do well

 

Well, I have been open for 2 weeks. Im still alive and Im meeting new people. I might like this end of the game.