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Posted

Hey Everyone...

I'm in the position to move my shop to a bigger, better location. I'm at 24 months into my 36mo lease. I rent 3200sq ft in a 20k sq ft building that has been vacant until now. The new tenant is a video arcade with a snack bar. Not a good fit for my high-line German auto shop...

I have the chance to rent a shop that is 4500 sq ft with 5 bay doors and a glass showroom for my show car and waiting area, right in downtown on a main street. I have needed more space over the past 8 months and my business is growing very quickly right now. I think this space could be just what I need.

 

Any pointers on how to break my lease? I was the only one here when I moved in, now with this new tenant coming I lose my highway frontage signs and will have no right to the parking spaces out front of my shop, its first come-first served. The kind of crowd this business attracts is also a huge downside for me...

One bargaining chip is my landlord is about to pay $15k to have the power meter split so I'm on my own and the rest of the building is for the other tenant. If I leave now, he won't have to spend that money and the other tenant may take over my space too if they can use it for storage or whatnot...

 

Any input is greatly appreciated!

Ryan G.

Posted

I would set up a meeting with the landlord. It sounds like the move has potential and worth making. Speak to your lawyer too. Even though the lease is a contract, it can be altered or broken. Back a few years ago, I owned property that I leased to tenants. One of the tenants came to me to break the lease and we worked it out. Hopefully the landlord is open to working things out.

Posted

Gather as much information about your Landlord as you can, and see if you can appeal to his self interest into letting you go from the place.

 

Have a third party make it as if would be a good idea for your LL to have a different tenant occupy the place.

 

Keep in mind that as a landlord, you are always in need of good reliable tenants, and if you are on the other side of the coin what would be a reason to let a tenant break a lease?

 

Also keep in mind that all actions have consequences, so think it well through, even taking into account that not all people are horonable and by revealing your hand they may tend a trap for you.

 

Be careful with your reputation, that's why you must know well your landlord's reputation so you may know how to approach the negotiations with him.

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Well, the owner of the future shop rented it to my competition so I don't have to break my lease. I waited too long to make a decision and she went with them instead. I have 11 months left in my lease, and I will ride it out. We are busy and I'm making some very good money right now so I will just deal with it. I want to buy a shop so this leaves me time to gather up a down payment and set some money aside for improvements.

 

I appreciate everyone's feedback and advise.

Side note- This forum is truly refreshing compared to some of the car forums I'm on. They are overrun with a bunch of punk kids that are disrespectful to one another.

Posted

You can't call Joe, Gonzo, or me kids.

Darn.... Everyone knows me as the kid...

Am I the youngest shop owner on here? Anyone regret not starting their shop earlier in life? I started at 27...

Posted

Darn.... Everyone knows me as the kid...

Am I the youngest shop owner on here? Anyone regret not starting their shop earlier in life? I started at 27...

Sometimes I have regreted ever starting.

Posted

Seems life was a whole lot easier before I started mine!! I started at 47 with about 700 bucks. been a battle ever since!!

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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