Kevo

Looking for driveshaft equipment, but brake lathes and other random shop tools too. Kevin

Anyone know of any used auto equipment dealers? Hopefully in california area? I know there are used equipment dealers that specialize in machine tools, but haven't seen any for auto tools. Kevo

Just signed up to take 3 more ASE tests and I'm looking for suggestions on prep materials? Usually I just sail through the tests without studying, but these last 3 are my least familiar subjects. I know there is a lot out there and I'm hoping to hear whats work for you or your techs. Kevo

That's a tech you want to keep! Kevo

Thanks Joe! Luckily it looks like I'll be able to take the shop management class at the local CC this spring. I would also like to look into some other business management classes either at the school or elsewhere. Not really sure where to look for automotive oriented business coaching or seminars? Kevo

Thats awesome you broke even the first month! Hopefully the following months were even better! That is an amazing transformation on that repair facility! I'll ask you also, did you have issues hiring techs? Kevo

I posted up a bit about me in the new members section. Sorry its a bit rambling. Kevo

Well I guess its time I introduce myself. My name is Kevin Burk and I'm slowly considering opening up a shop. Some background info: Originally I was trying to go to school for a mechanical engineering degree. I wound up getting a part time job at an auto shop cleaning the shop and shuttling customers around. I very quickly started working on cars and within a year had my own bay and lift there. While the engineering idea was failing, I was supporting myself as a mechanic. After 8yrs there, I thought there had to be better ways to make money, and I really wanted to get into manufacturing and do more engineering oriented work. I was able to find my current job. I work for a small engineering firm doing prototype work and small production runs. We do a lot of work with drones, but its been slow due to budget cutbacks these past few years. I generally like what I do, machining, fabricating, design work. However, I have some differences of opinion with my boss who seems unable to lead well, and I feel like I've topped out here. No real benefits and no raises for the past 6yrs now has me looking for other opportunities. The more I stay here the more this job feels like a dead end. I feel its difficult for interviewers to get a sense of what I do exactly for this company and how that might relate to the job I'm applying for. On top of that the lack of any sort of degree, engineering or otherwise doesn't help. My work is pretty close to that of other engineer friends that I have, maybe a bit more hands on though, but the lack of an engineering degree prevents me from applying for engineering positions. So I feel kinda stuck. If I could find another job with greater opportunity and future growth I would go that direction. I've been trying to break into the equipment repair side of things for a while now with no luck. In the back of my head though, I've always had this interest in owning my own company. A year and a half ago I started doing offroad fabrication work on the side out of my home shop. That actually went better than I thought it would and I made more money than I thought it would. However, that went on hold last april with the birth of my son. I didn't make a ton of money with it, and I wasn't allways busy, but it gives me some confidence that I could handle and run my own shop. I know enough to know that offroad fabrication in my area won't support a full time shop. Its difficult to set a shop rate for a fabrication shop. Typically there are few other shops doing what you do, and your customer base tends to compare your prices to bolt on solutions. The repair industry is different, very comparable, and I have some experience there. If I could start a shop with repair as the backbone, I could indulge my other passions when I have time and someone willing to pay. It looks as though I'll be going back to school for a bit this next spring to finish out my AS in Auto Technology at the local CC. It'll help to finally add a degree to my resume. I'm actually looking forward to taking the auto shop management course they offer. I've got a thread in the business help section 0-60 Starting out as a larger shop, that describes a bit more of what I'd be looking to do. Currently its just a pipe dream. Once again if I could find a better job I'd go that route instead. Not sure I have the cojones to start a legitimate business just yet. Now that I've rambled your ears off...... Thanks for listening, Kevo

I guess I should maybe post up a few more thoughts on what I'm thinking business wise. Looking at shops in the area, no one caters to trucks. I happen to like trucks and think a shop that caters to them would do well. We have a lot of trucks in this area, a lot of ranches too. We have big trucks, small trucks, work trucks, play trucks, fleet trucks and a ton of suvs, and I obviously wouldn't shy away from working on cars either. I'm also thinking that carrying some accessories and selling them couldn't hurt either. Maybe carrying some commonly used stuff like tie down straps and towing junk and then just being able to get the rest. I'm heavily into rock crawling so carrying offroad parts is a must, although I probably wouldn't stock that much. The backbone of the business would always be repair as that's the most common need, but with the business going it would open some doors for my other passions in life. I'd just have to watch the financial impact of those passions. Now my problem. I was a general automotive mechanic. I understand cars and trucks with gas engines, but I have no experience with diesel trucks other than changing oil on them. In my area, you can't have a shop that works on trucks that doesn't know anything about diesels. I would need to hire someone for that. Its possible I could get along for awhile on my own, but I'm not sure thats a great idea if I'm just starting out and trying to make a name for myself. Kevo

Its been awhile since I've been able to respond, but did you have issue when you were initially hiring people? I guess with a franchise it would be a bit easier, but I think it would be hard to quit a known paying job to work at a startup with no history if I was in the employees shoes. Kevo

Ok, so I've asked questions before about operating as a one man shop. My train of thought has been changing lately as I realize that managing a business really has very little to do with whatever that business does and more with marketing, sales and human resources. Basicly, if your going to hire a tech, you'll have to write service for that tech. Might as well hire more techs then and an actual service writer to do the day to day work. Then I could concentrate on managing and marketing the business as well as some specialized work in the shop. So, on the other end of the spectrum, I'd like to hear experiences from those that have started shops from scratch with multiple employees and larger facilities. I'm not talking an all ready existing company that was purchased with employees and existing customer base, but literaly started from scratch. What were your experiences in finding shop space, hiring employees, and how long did it take to get a decent customer base that the shop could pay its own way? It must be difficult to attract good employees to a startup that may not be around for long and has no past history. Kevo

Gonzo- I did not know you were a one man shop. Your reasons for staying small are a lot of the reasons I want to stay small too,....basicly being able to control the stress end of things better. Having time to think about things though I realize how difficult that is to stay a one man shop, and there are benefits to having people work for you. It might be better in the long run to have 2 techs and a service writer that handle the auto repairs, then I can be in the background doing more specialized tasks. Either that or try to specialize right at the start. Kevo

Its true this industry does not attract enough young talented people, but its also true that some of those it does attract, wind up opening there own businesses. I've seen this a lot not only in the auto industry, but also in the machine shop and fabrication industries. Keep in mind median income here is roughly $40k, and home prices are $300k-$400k. In our area, if your a good, experienced machinist you can get a job making the median income, or open your own shop, take on all the risks and hopefully reap the rewards. Auto techs with smog licenses can make a bit more than median, but if you really want to try to make money you need to start your own business. Think about it, most shop owners were techs at one point. Just some food for thought, Kevo

I do plan to try to specialize somewhat, but at first to keep the doors open I figured it would be good to remain flexible and do a much as possible. My main interest is offroad 4x4 fabrication and suspension design. Unfortunately, its a niche market thats hard to find people willing to spend the big $$$ to have something that works well. I currently do some fabrication out of my home shop, but its not a legitimate business and I have no insurance for it either. Its sketchy to say the least! I need a real shop and business license! I figure by being flexible and doing general repair work I can at least pay the bills the first year. That will allow me to get my name out there and get established. With a resale license I can also start selling offroad parts, lockers, lift kits, lights, and with a shop I can install those parts. I also want to start doing driveshaft repair. This goes along quite well with the 4x4 shop theme. Every 4x4 has two shafts, and everytime you change the suspension or drivetrain they both must be modified. The only driveshaft shop locally is 45min away in another town and they don't understand whats needed for offroad shafts. I had a friend who did this for awhile and allways seemed busy. His downfall was his divorce. He also did a lot of shaft work for local farmers. So yes eventually I would like to specialize somewhat. Depending on how busy things get I think I might hire also, but for now I need to keep things simple and just see if I can get it off the ground. I'll have to look into the trailer idea, thats not a bad idea around here and could go along with the offroad truck theme rather well. Thanks for the input! Kevo

So those of you that ran as a one man shop for a while, what kind of hours did you work versus the amount of labor you actually billed out? I was thinking in an 8-9hr day I'd probably only be able to bill out 6hrs if lucky. Kevo