Thank you Options

[rick 918-S]

To explain my A hole advise a little further, When you transition from being a worker bee it's hard to think about the job in terms of making money. As a tec your just used to thinking about the job in terms of "doing good work" Hence, a good job to a bodyman is a really nice car everyone give you compliments on. To a businessman a good job is one that makes a fair profit and your banker compiments you on. Anyone asking Scotty to put out is best everyday should have no problem with helping make is job mean "A good Job" in the professional sense. You have now transitioned from a bodyman to a business man. Time to reinvent yourself as all us old bodymen need to do.

[scotty b]

Thanks for all the kind words guys. Mark I hate to hear what you are dealing with. I know it is hard to be the hard ass and put leins on customers cars, that automatically makes you the asshole. I have already passed on a roadster job because I had a bad vibe from the owner so I asked my Porsche friends about the guy. turns out every one of them said to walk away from him. He has a rep of talking shit about the people he has dealt with to a point HE has the bad rep. It's a shame becauwe he not only has that roadster but also a bent window cab he wanted me to do (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Chris, that seems to be the game with the majority of body shops I have been around. Particulalry if they do collision work. The resto job will always sit , because the collision job is much better money. I know I could easily get a job in a collision shop and walk home with 75,000 + as a painter, but I just am not happy in that line of work. No personal satisfaction in patching up a Toyota. My goal is to have 4 cars at a time, rotating each on a weekly basis. That way the customers car gets worked on, they have a number they can budget for and I maintain cashflow. That's the plan at least, seems to make sense (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I notice on the forums I frequnet, and people I talk to in person, there seems to be a slow transition BACK to small, private businesses by the individuals who are losing their jobs. Maybe old school America can return......maybe.................

[TJB/914]

Scotty b,

Congratulations, you will be successful, because you do quality work. Word of mouth spread around by 914-world will fill your shop.

How about posting your shop name, address, & phone # so everyone can put you on file. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

Going into business reminds me of myself. I started my business in 1987 when the company I worked for went bankrupt & I was out of a job in 1-week. My wife was a homemaker & I had (2) kids starting college. Failure was not an option!!!
Today, when I look back it was the begining of my current career as a Mfg. Sales Rep. in the Power & Utility industry.

Tom

[r_towle]

we should talk. pm your number.

I may ship you one of my cars.

Rich

[jd74914]

How about posting your shop name, address, & phone # so everyone can put you on file. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/type.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

A friend of mine moved from CT to NC and is looking for someone to do some minor body work and paint his '65 (IIRC) Buick Wildcat. If you aren't comfortable posting contact information could you shoot me a PM so I can pass it along.


Congrats on getting your own shop off the ground and good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Dr Evil]

I cant wait until I have time to swing by and "help" you out some (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[number6]

Word of mouth spread around by 914-world will fill your shop.

That's the sort of scenario that would scare the bejeebers out of most bodyshop owners! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I wish you all the best, Scotty. There's definitely a void in the niche you're filling. I wish there was someone like you in my area.

Rick is a wise man with his words of advice - I wish someone had shared the same wisdom with me when I first travelled down the entrepreneurial road!

Keep your overhead low. Treat your customers well. Treat your employees even better. Pay yourself. Have a real contingency plan...and a contingency plan to the contingency plan. Sell benefits, not features. Read <Purple Cow> (because traditional marketing no longer works!). Focus your time and energy on your areas of brilliance, where you get energy, produce extraordinary results, and make money. Hire someone complementary to you to be your office manager/personal assistant, to take care of all the things you should not be doing (though keep an eye on the finances!). Never pick up the phone when you are not in the right mood. And if you must turn away a customer, try to point him in the right direction. And remember: Every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise! This mindset will help you see solutions when challenges present themselves - and they will! These are the core lessons that have served me well over the years - perhaps they can serve you, too.

Here's wishing you all the best!

-duc

[VaccaRabite]

Dood, you need to be closer. I'd put you to work on the truck, since I never have time to touch it.

Zach

[rick 918-S]

Word of mouth spread around by 914-world will fill your shop.

That's the sort of scenario that would scare the bejeebers out of most bodyshop owners! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I wish you all the best, Scotty. There's definitely a void in the niche you're filling. I wish there was someone like you in my area.

Rick is a wise man with his words of advice - I wish someone had shared the same wisdom with me when I first travelled down the entrepreneurial road!

Keep your overhead low. Treat your customers well. Treat your employees even better. Pay yourself. Have a real contingency plan...and a contingency plan to the contingency plan. Sell benefits, not features. Read <Purple Cow> (because traditional marketing no longer works!). Focus your time and energy on your areas of brilliance, where you get energy, produce extraordinary results, and make money. Hire someone complementary to you to be your office manager/personal assistant, to take care of all the things you should not be doing (though keep an eye on the finances!). Never pick up the phone when you are not in the right mood. And if you must turn away a customer, try to point him in the right direction. And remember: Every obstacle is an opportunity in disguise! This mindset will help you see solutions when challenges present themselves - and they will! These are the core lessons that have served me well over the years - perhaps they can serve you, too.

Here's wishing you all the best!

-duc

I agree with alot of this. A couple cautions and a couple personal stories. I had 6 full time guys working for me plus an office manager.

Never let any office help near your check book. This cost me dearly.

Start a P.O. system, Number every job, never deviate from this. I lost thousands of dollars to a very slick con man I had working in my office. He was working on opening his own shop. He ordered parts and shop supplies and walked them out the back door for about a year before Sandy caught the discrepency.

The guy would order parts and make purchases and hide the bills when the mail came until they were like 90 over. Sandy would call me asking what the purchase was 90+ days ago... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) After an ass chewing session she would pay the bill.

I gave him a second chance and he brought his dads car in the shop over the weekend, fixed a key scratch down both sides I'm sure he did himself, and collected the check and cashed it. I normally wouldn't care but the check was made out to my shop. I would get nailed for the taxes!

I when fired him I went to his house and collected about 1500.00 in shop supplies. The guy had balls enough to try to collect un-employment insurance... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) ya right.

Every guy I had had serious baggage. Be a nice guy but never cross the employee/employer relationship. It sounds harsh but employees are tools. Only rent the use of a tool when you can't possible handle any more work yourself.

Resist hiring guys and paying them cash. you will open up a can of whoopass on your self you will never forget.

Remember you just crossed a threshold here from being the best of the best in bodymen to a new business owner. Time to re-invent yourself.

Good luck.

[scotty b]

we should talk. pm your number.

I may ship you one of my cars.

Rich

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) You know you can't afford me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

As for my shop info, I have a guy that started working on a website last night so when that is done I will talk to Andy about getting a banner here. Until then, if you want to contact me feel free to send me a pm or e-mail and I will give you my number. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Jim I would loveto do your buddies Wildcat. I have a weakness for Buicks, especially ones with nailheads in them. I have a 401 from a wildcat for my 53 Chevy pickup (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

Zach..........ship it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) BTW I found one about 7 miles from the shop, sitting in the guys back yard with a faded for sale sign in the windshield, and fresh for sale signs growing all around it. Need a parts truck ??

[r_towle]

we should talk. pm your number.

I may ship you one of my cars.

Rich

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif) You know you can't afford me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/KMA.gif)

[plymouth37]

I have seen your work and it is fantastic, Best of luck on your venture.
I wish you were closer, the Anklebiter could use a nice coat of paint in a year or two...

[jimkelly]

4 jobs and a few waiting in line.

sounds like you are off to a good start : )

all the best on your new venture!

one day, i hope to drop off a 914 or two with you.

i gotta sell some homes first!

oh yeah - last week i smashed my 1999 accord - a little scratched up : (

[pete-stevers]

congrats Scotty!!
It was ten years ago i walked out of the grocery store and started my own shop.
I have had it very good and then just about lost it all, daunting to some but i love it a heck of a lot better than punching clocks!
People will always present the biggest challenge be it staff or customers.
some will become friends, others fireside horror storries.
looking back i think simpler is better, and less, sometimes is more.
but i wish you all the best! And do your damdest to enjoy the ride!

[Dr Evil]

It is probably worth it to ship a car to Scotty even if he is not close. The cost would likely be negligible in the long run and the work would be top notch. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)