Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mr Skrunts]

There is no limit to what we could do.

My mate allready has all his own spray tackle, we heard of a unit and if still available allready has a 4 post ramp and large compressor in it.  Even if the unit is bare I have been told it may hold 12 cars at a push.

1st car we have aquired needs no paint and has been stored for years and if what we are led to believe once all paper work is found may well be quite a collectable car.

Also have an interest in a very low mileage turbo diesal rover and yet again needs no paint work as such, seems booth cars need a bit of TLC, a good fettling and an MOT.

3rd car I have my eyes will be a year long restoration job, which will have plenty of pics and vids taken to show the before, during and after the rebuild.  Either way, the car will be worth more stripped than we pay for it if the rebuild gets the better of us.

Have been offered so much and turned it away we have now decided to have a crack at it.

We can get a few service contracts (Possibly from old contacts between us - mainly taxi companies)

Main set up is for us to restore our own cars at 1st, with a weekly income for overheads and beer stamps, as things establish the resoration may well become a part time thing.

Either way, it needs to be fun and enjoyable and end each month in the black rather than the red.

[Sipey]

I started on the same grounds, turned down loads of work over the years so gave it a crack. You soon realise though that all that work you had turned away needs to happen consistently month, after month and people actually need to turn up when they say they will.

Be as diverse as possible, I am predominently an Auto Refinisher so concentrate on anything bodywork, so valeting through detailing, PDR , SMART repairs, accident repair, custom paint, restoration and wheel refurbs.

However, by having powder coating facilities for the wheels I also do bike frames, swing arms etc, recondition tools for a local tool merchant as well as various other bits. Also, having tyre machines I also supply and fit tyres as well as take on service work and punt MOT's through one of the garages I do bodywork for.

Happy to share what I have gone through over the last year, what's worked and what hasnt. I am sure you appreciate the amount of work it takes to get such a venture off the ground and the fun can sometimes be replaced with some stress and frustration.

[Bionic]

As I have tried it a few times I can honestly say that you need to have a vast amount of readily available funds behind you cos you will have many more rainy days than sunny ones until you get really well astablished and have a reliable customer base.
You also must make sure you register it and pay your taxes cos any disatsified customer will lay you in.
Then of course there is also the legalities and the never ending forms and inspections from the environmentalists and councils etc.
Honestly m8, if you can afford it just get the unit for yourself until you get done what you need to then get rid or hire it out. You will keep your smooth skin and hair on a lot longer!
 

[aaronjb]

I started on the same grounds, turned down loads of work over the years so gave it a crack. You soon realise though that all that work you had turned away needs to happen consistently month, after month and people actually need to turn up when they say they will.

I had that problem when I tried being self employed - after two years of trying to get established (different industry ) and find regular work that wasn't just people wanting to 'exchange services' I ran out of money..

Be as diverse as possible, I am predominently an Auto Refinisher so concentrate on anything bodywork, so valeting through detailing, PDR , SMART repairs, accident repair, custom paint, restoration and wheel refurbs.

I can see I'm going to have to remember your name I could probably do with getting some dents fixed and a bumper scuff sorted on the MR2 before I sell it (depending on cost vs. loss at sale), and (if it passes an MOT!) some rust sorting on the Nissan.. and ultimately the next project will need a full paint job. Knowing a powder coater could come in handy, too..

Don't suppose you're in one of the old car-repair units on the Cordwallis Ind. Est. are you?

[Sipey]

No mate, I am near St Marks.

[cem_devecioglu]

Mr Skrunts,  you can't [smiley=evil.gif]

[aaronjb]

No mate, I am near St Marks.

Ahh, I never did get out that side of town much I used to work down Cordwallis though, between a BMW accident repair centre and another accident repair/MOT/etc place.. I did ask the BMW guys about the rust on the Nissan once, they just crinkled their nose and looked like I'd dragged a dog turd in on my feet when I said 'rust'.. 

[Mr Skrunts]

Thread is going a bit off course, am only doing it as a hobbie to start with. and the main reason for the unit is because of the type of cars we are looking at, overheads for the unit are minimumul and include shared water/electric costs with other units, but would prefer out own meters if there is a rise in bills, rates are included, so the only other major over head is trade insurance.

Mate has all his own equipment and access to an old compressor if he wants it, but heard there was allready a 4 post ramp and compressor.

So to start with I have bought the 1st car, so that will get a 1st class once over and the interior stripped out and valeted.

So either way, restoration plus a weekly cheapie from the auction would cover us and hopefully make a good profit, but there is allways demand for a good quality car service at the right money.

So am happy to stay small at the moment.