Thinking of actually opening up shop...

defrinately want to have the 5 year plan and dont spend business money until you have that emergency fund set up, like others have said. as far as advertising, do as much "free" advertising. like anything else, nothing is free, so handing out fliers at shows might not be your idea of a show weekend, but in order to be successfull, you have to do what it takes. shows are going to be about the only concentration of your customer base you'll find, aside from websites and message boards like ssm.a couple friends and i are going to be making this plunge soon and understand the issues and are working them out b4 we even turn on the welder. best to agree beforehand as to head-off any issues before they become issues. just have to get that customer base and work to get repeat customers coming back!

A.Credit is not the way to go.It only puts more strain on you when this business is hard enough.When you have established a store front and would like to buy a building that is a little different.

B.partners are a joke and you will never find someone with the same veiws you have.Same goes for people in your building and hanging around wanting shit for free.Business and freindship need to be completely seperate.

C..90 a square foot is out of control and any rent like that will put you in a bind eventually.When I started in the nintys I worked out of a storage unit for years to keep the cost down.Some storage places offer hobby shops pretty cheap.Just call around.

D.Be very careful around every corner there is a way to get screwed or a expense you didn't see.Be ready.

You won't be working on minis or tuners unless you do the work for dirt cheap(then you will go broke doing that),then the "BUILT NOT BOUGHT" attitude will also keep potential customers out of your shop. Go to a show and look at the showfield and see all of the 1/2 finished rides that come year after year and never seem to get finished. You will soon find out why that is......The age bracket of owners that are your minitruck/tuner ownin' customers are BROKE! If they can afford your services they are few and far between. The money is in streerods, musclecars and 50's/60's customs. You can put 30-50 grand in an s10 and it is still going to be a 12 -16 thousand dollar ride when you go to sell it. The potential customer knows this. You will soon too.

Just to stop the repeating posts, for anyone who has never lived in california, check that link below just to get an idea of what property/space costs around here, before repeating over and over you'd never pay that. We don't have a choice here, everything is more expensive in california.

http://www.zillow.com/search/Search.htm?addrstrthood=&citystatezip=SANTA+ROSA%2C+CA&GOButton=%3CSPAN%3EGO%3C%2FSPAN%3E

Originally posted by impounded dakota

We don't have a choice here, everything is more expensive in california.

http://www.zillow.com/search/Search.htm?addrstrthood=&citystatezip=SANTA+ROSA%2C+CA&GOButton=%3CSPAN%3EGO%3C%2FSPAN%3E

We've got the choice to move somewhere cheaper!!But I think most Californians are willing to pay that premium for the benefits...

Originally posted by clean cut creations



You won't be working on minis or tuners unless you do the work for dirt cheap(then you will go broke doing that),then the "BUILT NOT BOUGHT" attitude will also keep potential customers out of your shop. Go to a show and look at the showfield and see all of the 1/2 finished rides that come year after year and never seem to get finished. You will soon find out why that is......The age bracket of owners that are your minitruck/tuner ownin' customers are BROKE! If they can afford your services they are few and far between. The money is in streerods, musclecars and 50's/60's customs. You can put 30-50 grand in an s10 and it is still going to be a 12 -16 thousand dollar ride when you go to sell it. The potential customer knows this. You will soon too.

I do realize this, but when did I saw I only wanted to work on minitrucks? I don't. I grew up in the 4WD niche, I'd like to get back into that. And my uncle always had a different Chevelle, which was what got me into cars in the first place. I have a 54 Ford, that I need to build. I honestly want to build everything, because I can't afford to build it for myself.

Originally posted by TwistedMinis



Originally posted by clean cut creations



You won't be working on minis or tuners unless you do the work for dirt cheap(then you will go broke doing that),then the "BUILT NOT BOUGHT" attitude will also keep potential customers out of your shop. Go to a show and look at the showfield and see all of the 1/2 finished rides that come year after year and never seem to get finished. You will soon find out why that is......The age bracket of owners that are your minitruck/tuner ownin' customers are BROKE! If they can afford your services they are few and far between. The money is in streerods, musclecars and 50's/60's customs. You can put 30-50 grand in an s10 and it is still going to be a 12 -16 thousand dollar ride when you go to sell it. The potential customer knows this. You will soon too.

I do realize this, but when did I saw I only wanted to work on minitrucks? I don't. I grew up in the 4WD niche, I'd like to get back into that. And my uncle always had a different Chevelle, which was what got me into cars in the first place. I have a 54 Ford, that I need to build. I honestly want to build everything, because I can't afford to build it for myself.

well thats the idea behind a good busines...if you cant AFFORD to specialize, you go for it all, and take what you can get. just dont comprimize on price or quality and your golden. you clientel will thank you in the end.

Originally posted by TwistedMinis



Originally posted by clean cut creations



You won't be working on minis or tuners unless you do the work for dirt cheap(then you will go broke doing that),then the "BUILT NOT BOUGHT" attitude will also keep potential customers out of your shop. Go to a show and look at the showfield and see all of the 1/2 finished rides that come year after year and never seem to get finished. You will soon find out why that is......The age bracket of owners that are your minitruck/tuner ownin' customers are BROKE! If they can afford your services they are few and far between. The money is in streerods, musclecars and 50's/60's customs. You can put 30-50 grand in an s10 and it is still going to be a 12 -16 thousand dollar ride when you go to sell it. The potential customer knows this. You will soon too.

I do realize this, but when did I saw I only wanted to work on minitrucks? I don't. I grew up in the 4WD niche, I'd like to get back into that. And my uncle always had a different Chevelle, which was what got me into cars in the first place. I have a 54 Ford, that I need to build. I honestly want to build everything, because I can't afford to build it for myself.

I'm glad you don't want to specialize in a certian niche market. You will certianly go broke doing that. Work on whatever comes through the door and do it well, charge a fair price to cover ALL that is necessary to keep your shop legit like insurance for yourself and garage keepers liability, taxes, biz liscense. (If you are lucky you might get a dollar or two for yourself at the end of the day) It's pretty hard to compete with all of the "my buddy's gonna do it for some beer" guys that will wander into your shop. You sure can't pay the electric and insurance with beer!Be prepared to be redoing alot of the "beer trade" work when a potential customer,that you gave a decent estimate to, comes back after he realizes that his "buddy" was drunk when he welded his truck together! We get alot of that around here. REMEMBER THE ESTIMATE GETS HIGHER TO REDO SOMEONE ELSE'S POOR WORK! Good luck to you sir...I hope all goes well for ya!

yeah bro, partnerships suck, even with a close friend, When I'm ready to start an afterhours business for Real I'll have my business license anyways. If things work out, I'll be able to finish painting Frank out there.

Originally posted by clean cut creations



Originally posted by TwistedMinis



Originally posted by clean cut creations



You won't be working on minis or tuners unless you do the work for dirt cheap(then you will go broke doing that),then the "BUILT NOT BOUGHT" attitude will also keep potential customers out of your shop. Go to a show and look at the showfield and see all of the 1/2 finished rides that come year after year and never seem to get finished. You will soon find out why that is......The age bracket of owners that are your minitruck/tuner ownin' customers are BROKE! If they can afford your services they are few and far between. The money is in streerods, musclecars and 50's/60's customs. You can put 30-50 grand in an s10 and it is still going to be a 12 -16 thousand dollar ride when you go to sell it. The potential customer knows this. You will soon too.

I do realize this, but when did I saw I only wanted to work on minitrucks? I don't. I grew up in the 4WD niche, I'd like to get back into that. And my uncle always had a different Chevelle, which was what got me into cars in the first place. I have a 54 Ford, that I need to build. I honestly want to build everything, because I can't afford to build it for myself.

I'm glad you don't want to specialize in a certian niche market. You will certianly go broke doing that. Work on whatever comes through the door and do it well, charge a fair price to cover ALL that is necessary to keep your shop legit like insurance for yourself and garage keepers liability, taxes, biz liscense. (If you are lucky you might get a dollar or two for yourself at the end of the day) It's pretty hard to compete with all of the "my buddy's gonna do it for some beer" guys that will wander into your shop. You sure can't pay the electric and insurance with beer!Be prepared to be redoing alot of the "beer trade" work when a potential customer,that you gave a decent estimate to, comes back after he realizes that his "buddy" was drunk when he welded his truck together! We get alot of that around here. REMEMBER THE ESTIMATE GETS HIGHER TO REDO SOMEONE ELSE'S POOR WORK! Good luck to you sir...I hope all goes well for ya!



I know how that goes. I refuse to drop my price below someone elses to get a job. I already do work pretty cheap. And I have already experienced fixing some work. It sucks, but I feel better when a safe truck leaves.