business idea
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: SC Coast
I've thought about that before. It's sort of like the hobby shops they have on military bases. I never actually checked into it though because I figured with the lifts and paint booth and other things like that the liability insurance would be atrocious.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
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May dad and I looked into this a while back and the insurance companies looked at me like I had just landed from Mars!! I even had a lawyer type me up the liability release form and showed them, they just looked at me funny.
John
John
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Fairbanks, Alaska
I have access to just this sort of a place already! It doesn't have a paint booth, but I have lifts available, tools, technical expertise, and the parts shops know just where it's at!
Now if I only knew what the heck I was doing.....!
Now if I only knew what the heck I was doing.....!
Elder User
Joined: May 2003
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From: Garland Tx
Wow I thought I was a genius when i got the same idea, until I figured that insurance would be through the roof and there would be too many un-trained people coming in there and breaking things and or hurting themselves. Oh well
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Indianapolis, IN
Just goes to show, some people don't even belong driving on the roads. Much less working on their own cars.
These are the kind of people who would sue you for hurting themselves, they'd probably sue because their car/truck screwed up after they fixed it - because you rented them the space for them for mess up their vehicle
Makes me want to make up those signs like Bill Engvall ... "Here's your sign!"
These are the kind of people who would sue you for hurting themselves, they'd probably sue because their car/truck screwed up after they fixed it - because you rented them the space for them for mess up their vehicle
Makes me want to make up those signs like Bill Engvall ... "Here's your sign!"
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
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Used to have them at a Mobil in San Diego. Spent a long day there myself. The problem in an place like So Cal and I suppose most urban areas is that you can't generate enough revenue to justify the business. You can make more revenue per sq. ft. with a mini mart or tire store. Plus, I'd guess the insurance would make it prohibitive. Another point--and don't get me wrong: When I used that, I was in tough financial shape and could just barely pay the guy his $20 or whatever. You are going to draw folks who don't want to work on their cars as a hobby, but who need to do some fixing and can't afford a shop. Nothing wrong with serving the poverty stricken segment, but by definition, they ain't got much to spend so you ain't gonna sell them much.
Then you get into walk-aways, where they start working on it and can't finish because they can't afford it. (You gonna let someone take an auto tranny out?) And what about those who want to do illegal or unsafe stuff, like cut off the cats, or as the lowrider guys sometimes want to do, put undersize tires on?
Frankly, I'd love it, but I'd worry if the guy next to me was a crack dealer....
Then you get into walk-aways, where they start working on it and can't finish because they can't afford it. (You gonna let someone take an auto tranny out?) And what about those who want to do illegal or unsafe stuff, like cut off the cats, or as the lowrider guys sometimes want to do, put undersize tires on?
Frankly, I'd love it, but I'd worry if the guy next to me was a crack dealer....
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,680
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From: Montreal Canada
yeah you gonna attract all kind of lowlifes
remember that stephen king movie where the kid fixes that car.. you don't want things to turn out like in that movie
maybe start one of those U wash car washes... people like to wash their cars but not everyone wants to drag out their power washer every sunday.. you sell them tokens, sell gas... when it's slow you can use one of the wash bays to work on your own car
remember that stephen king movie where the kid fixes that car.. you don't want things to turn out like in that movie
maybe start one of those U wash car washes... people like to wash their cars but not everyone wants to drag out their power washer every sunday.. you sell them tokens, sell gas... when it's slow you can use one of the wash bays to work on your own car
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2004
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Another thought I had the other day... what about instead if you ran a standard shop, just like everyone else... But you offer this to customers:
For a slightly lower rate (most places around here charge $30-40/hr standard, maybe drop $15-25?) the mechanic will show you what has to be done and let you do the hard work... After you've done that they'll show you the next step...
That way the car gets worked on reasonably quickly and safely and the mechanic gets that car and another car (of someone who didn't want to do their own work) done at the same time...
A kind of hybrid between a standard shop and hobby shop?
For a slightly lower rate (most places around here charge $30-40/hr standard, maybe drop $15-25?) the mechanic will show you what has to be done and let you do the hard work... After you've done that they'll show you the next step...
That way the car gets worked on reasonably quickly and safely and the mechanic gets that car and another car (of someone who didn't want to do their own work) done at the same time...
A kind of hybrid between a standard shop and hobby shop?
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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I own an independent claims adjusting co. and liability insurance in a place like this would be a nightmare and no insurance co. that I know of would write a policy.
You can have a customer sign a release form, but a lawyer will tell the customer the release form in not valid and will proceed with litigation. The insurance co. will have to pay the cost to defend you from any litgation filed against you.
It's not the injuries or damages caused by the customer but the cost of defense that the insurance co. doesn't want to insure.
My errors and ommisions insurance premium (adjuster mal-practice insurance) increased form $850 per year to $2400 per year this year due to litigation of mold claims in TX. I don't live in TX and have never had a claim filed agaist me since I have been in business for 6 years.
Trial lawyers and excessive awards to plantiffs is killing small business.
You can have a customer sign a release form, but a lawyer will tell the customer the release form in not valid and will proceed with litigation. The insurance co. will have to pay the cost to defend you from any litgation filed against you.
It's not the injuries or damages caused by the customer but the cost of defense that the insurance co. doesn't want to insure.
My errors and ommisions insurance premium (adjuster mal-practice insurance) increased form $850 per year to $2400 per year this year due to litigation of mold claims in TX. I don't live in TX and have never had a claim filed agaist me since I have been in business for 6 years.
Trial lawyers and excessive awards to plantiffs is killing small business.
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