Brain Fart!! Need Opinions!

[mespock]

Ok, I have a friend who has been looking for some business ideas.

He loves to work on cars but due to a disability he cannot take regular employment!

He's a brute and believes in a full day of work. His words you work until you have to sleep!

I don't quiet agree with his work schedule (I like breaks) but he's not lazy and does not like not working.

This problem is causing some depression!

I've been trying to come up with some ideas for him.

He love to work on cars and most motorized vehicles. As a hobby he likes to pick up tractors and trucks repair them and sell them, but he needs more income.

Anyway I had a brain fart! but I need some expert advice! I don't have all the knowledge of what it takes to operate a business, but I take it that many in this forum do.

Here is my fart. The problem that I run into when I need to work on my cars is I don't have good space, and I don't have all the tools. My tools assortment has been increasing as I find tools that I need.

Anyway - My Fart is what about a place where you can rent out space to work? We have available for no cost a very good side pole shed. This shed could easily be arranged for stalls where people could bring their cars to work on them. This place would also allow my friend to pick up his cars or tractors to work on when he can. - When he can't he would be able to monitor the shed.

Granted there would need to rules and other issues to work out. I know insurance would be an issue.

My question is this an feasible option! Granted I would get involved with this project as I could use the work space.

What I don't want is to step on the toes of local repair shops. My thought is this is a place for the do it yourselfer who doesn't have the space to work.

Opinions - Please be kind - if this is a real fart! like the kind that would leave a mark LOL.

 

[mach8]

Well. aside from liability issues and making sure your tools don't walk, it seems that the bottom line is would you be able to charge a rate high enough for the business to turn a profit. While a place with tools (& advice?) would certainly be attractive, most of the folks that would make use of this probably wouldn't want to pay as much as say a regular mechanic would charge. Around here rates run about $70/hr to $100/hr, so if you have to charge $60/hr to make ends meet a person looking to get work done on their car has to think, $60/hr and do it myself or $70/hr and drop it off, pick it up and get a warranty on the work?

The basic thing is to get a very good idea of what your expenses will be, expect the estimate to be low, and figure what kind of return on your labor you want and see what you would have to charge. Then see if you can run with a negative cash flow for several months (sometimes years) while you get established

 

[ERIC1]

Ok, I have a friend who has been looking for some business ideas.

He loves to work on cars but due to a disability he cannot take regular employment!

He's a brute and believes in a full day of work. His words you work until you have to sleep!

I don't quiet agree with his work schedule (I like breaks) but he's not lazy and does not like not working.

This problem is causing some depression!

I've been trying to come up with some ideas for him.

He love to work on cars and most motorized vehicles. As a hobby he likes to pick up tractors and trucks repair them and sell them, but he needs more income.

Anyway I had a brain fart! but I need some expert advice! I don't have all the knowledge of what it takes to operate a business, but I take it that many in this forum do.

Here is my fart. The problem that I run into when I need to work on my cars is I don't have good space, and I don't have all the tools. My tools assortment has been increasing as I find tools that I need.

Anyway - My Fart is what about a place where you can rent out space to work? We have available for no cost a very good side pole shed. This shed could easily be arranged for stalls where people could bring their cars to work on them. This place would also allow my friend to pick up his cars or tractors to work on when he can. - When he can't he would be able to monitor the shed.

Granted there would need to rules and other issues to work out. I know insurance would be an issue.

My question is this an feasible option! Granted I would get involved with this project as I could use the work space.

What I don't want is to step on the toes of local repair shops. My thought is this is a place for the do it yourselfer who doesn't have the space to work.

Opinions - Please be kind - if this is a real fart! like the kind that would leave a mark LOL.

hey rich
you really wanna laff? i have been thinking of this same idea for monthes now i just dont know exactly what services i want to offer. i have also been toying with the idea of media blastin,powder coating, and plating of different types.
i agree that tools and insurance are going to be an hurdle but i think if you do it right you can be ok. and it sounds like your friend is knowledgable so he can offer his advice or even help out. i think you are on to something.
good luck
Eric

 

[mespock]

Understand the tool problem! Right now it might be a byo. What I see is a space problem! That's what I have most often. We've discussed the tool issue and think we can work that out.

Liability is an issue and things would depend on insurance.

My personal interest is not for me to get rich off of this but to find a source to fund my personal car projects and for my own place to work on cars.

The building that I can get comes at no cost and is owned by a guy who would be a partner.

One of my questions is to all of those guys like me - would you be intersted in a place like this. A place where you could rent space to do work when needed.

 

[mespock]

hey rich
you really wanna laff? i have been thinking of this same idea for monthes now i just dont know exactly what services i want to offer. i have also been toying with the idea of media blastin,powder coating, and plating of different types.
i agree that tools and insurance are going to be an hurdle but i think if you do it right you can be ok. and it sounds like your friend is knowledgable so he can offer his advice or even help out. i think you are on to something.
good luck
Eric

Well at least it's not a real fart then!! LOL !! Or at least someone else has been eating the broccoli with me! LOL

 

[ERIC1]

Understand the tool problem! Right now it might be a byo. What I see is a space problem! That's what I have most often. We've discussed the tool issue and think we can work that out.

Liability is an issue and things would depend on insurance.

My personal interest is not for me to get rich off of this but to find a source to fund my personal car projects and for my own place to work on cars.

The building that I can get comes at no cost and is owned by a guy who would be a partner.

One of my questions is to all of those guys like me - would you be intersted in a place like this. A place where you could rent space to do work when needed.

i think you would have a good thing going if your building is centrally located to al classes of people. i know that here alot of guys may have the basic tools but not the more advanced ones and most guys here are laying on there backs either in the street or even if they have garages so your appeal would have to be to those who want to work like gentlemen not on there backs. i dont want to get rich off ie either but i do need top support my family and my "habit" (the cars) i think you would be good though. my only problem as of now is location to do this at but i think i may be close to solving that too.
Eric

 

[straps]

There was a book written about some of the pitfalls of your idea. Read "christine" by Stephen King. Rule #1 should be," No haunted cars allowed".LOL

 

[mespock]

There was a book written about some of the pitfalls of your idea. Read "christine" by Stephen King. Rule #1 should be," No haunted cars allowed".LOL

Just watched the movie the other night! Part of the Brain Fart!!! :Beer

 

[bucketthead]

hey that isnt a bad idea i mean my cousin in the military says on her base there is a place like that where u can use there lifts and tools basically same idea it is a concrete building where u have stalls kinda like u c in car washes where u have 3 walls some have lifts for u to use and as for a liabilty u could make them sign a release much like u would sign when u go skydiving or somthing where if a problem was to happen u wouldnt b responsible

 

[mespock]

Well I appreciate the input so far!! At least I don't feel this Fart is leaving any streaks!

This is still in the planning stages... I have to get the place approved and then I am looking for about 2 other people who might want to go in on this with my budy and I.

If anyone has more input positive or negative please pipe up and let me know before I go further with this idea. I am going to talk to a local group who has money for community projects like this.

Thanks again!