Workshop Location choices

[star]

Before you look into premises, have you weighed up all the costs involved In running a specialist
Garage, not trying to put a downer on your dreams but having been there I can tell you it’s a real eye opener!!! Just off the top of my head your gonna need £100000 for tooling, star machine, ramps, insurances, rates etc etc etc, it’s a endless pit of money before you even earn your first £100!! Saying that, I will help you if I can, just hope you realise what it’s gonna cost ya!!!

This, don’t forget parking, 5 cars per technician, plus dead cars, plus loan cars= big parking area. Really you need a genuine online star machine. I am still buying new mb tools as different models appear. Just look up a spring compressor for a 203/204/212. Another major cost is staffing, good technicians don’t come cheap, so if you start big, you’ll need some back up money till the customers start coming to you. I started small and grew. Good luck.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Make it north of the M25 and you might have a few more clients...

 

[alexanderfoti]

This, don’t forget parking, 5 cars per technician, plus dead cars, plus loan cars= big parking area. Really you need a genuine online star machine. I am still buying new mb tools as different models appear. Just look up a spring compressor for a 203/204/212. Another major cost is staffing, good technicians don’t come cheap, so if you start big, you’ll need some back up money till the customers start coming to you. I started small and grew. Good luck.

This is the big issue, as you know! 50% of the units don't want to entertain mechanics as the parking situation is always a nightmare.

I'm not planning on starting massive, I want to limit the risk, I think it would silly to do it without a line of customers already waiting.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Make it north of the M25 and you might have a few more clients...

I can't deal with that journey. My nan lives in Wembley and it's 2 hours and a few grey hairs everytime I make the journey!

 

[Craiglxviii]

I can't deal with that journey. My nan lives in Wembley and it's 2 hours and a few grey hairs everytime I make the journey!

And therein lies the whole problem with London Village!

Being serious for a second, there's a dearth of MB indies in the Beds/ Bucks area. Draw a line from Northampton to MK and then straight south from both, and there's Welwyn Merx, one chap in MK whose name I need to look up, Millenium MB in Bedford with an awful reputation and literally no-one else.

There are always trains you know.......

 

[00slk]

Alex, have you considered looking at an already established business that is not running to it's full potential and on the market. Not many about until you put the feelers out. Just my 2 pence worth as I know someone who has done this and for little money completely turned the business around and getting more car repairs on their menu, not just mechanical repairs, ie one stop shop.

 

[LostKiwi]

And therein lies the whole problem with London Village!

Being serious for a second, there's a dearth of MB indies in the Beds/ Bucks area. Draw a line from Northampton to MK and then straight south from both, and there's Welwyn Merx, one chap in MK whose name I need to look up, Millenium MB in Bedford with an awful reputation and literally no-one else.

There are always trains you know.......

There are 2 more in Northampton - PJ Hodge and Autobarn (who also do BMW/Mini). No knowledge of AutoBarn but Hodges have a decent reputation but in my experience are quite expensive.

 

[ZZZZ]

There are 2 more in Northampton - PJ Hodge and Autobarn (who also do BMW/Mini). No knowledge of AutoBarn but Hodges have a decent reputation but in my experience are quite expensive.

They also, quite innocently, I'm sure, have a habit of quoting a lower figure, whilst knowing perfectly well, there will be additional parts, if not labour, involved (and ordering parts ready for the job).

My mate Dave, who's on a shoestring budget, and clueless with mechanical stuff, got caught by this: their wheel bearing replacement quote was £100 less, than the mechanic, personally recommended by a very knowledgeable member above ... should've listen, I know!

Guess how much an OEM sensor and a ball joint (which had to be replaced) cost?
Yep, just over hundred quid.

Lesson learnt

 

[Frontstep]

Taking over an existing place is not a bad idea (as above) the more run down the better, there are a few failing car wash sites that i know of that can be taken over fairly cheaply around my neck of the woods Merseyside/Lancashire.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Taking over an existing place is not a bad idea (as above) the more run down the better, there are a few failing car wash sites that i know of that can be taken over fairly cheaply around my neck of the woods Merseyside/Lancashire.

Trouble is, with the base rate for a car wash at the £6 level, it is a nett loss under ten cars per hour on a normal day.

 

[alexanderfoti]

There are always trains you know.......

Cant deal with trains, especially for a car business If it cant work in the right area then it can't work IMO, unless I plan on moving, which isnt that far fetched.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Alex, have you considered looking at an already established business that is not running to it's full potential and on the market. Not many about until you put the feelers out. Just my 2 pence worth as I know someone who has done this and for little money completely turned the business around and getting more car repairs on their menu, not just mechanical repairs, ie one stop shop.

I Agree with the others, not a bad idea at all. I have looked into this in the past, and have looked at a few recently that came up in the search for a garage. most (All) vastly overvalue the business and you have to give them a reality check when looking through their financials. I have done this in the past, and my dad has done this a few times (still not sure on his last purchase ahem).

I may look into this a bit further.

 

[Frontstep]

Don't stick to looking at existing garage sites.
Look at the premises and bearing in mind planning, retail sites are a good option many of these are languishing un-let and costing the owners money.
I have seen flooring warehouse type places ideal for your type of use in many places.
They generally have the space and access you require.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Cant deal with trains, especially for a car business If it cant work in the right area then it can't work IMO, unless I plan on moving, which isnt that far fetched.

Well, now there you go. And if you moved north, you'd be closer to your Nan

 

[John Laidlaw]

Good luck Alex plenty of great advice on here already and as you have the right idea, start small and grow you shouldn’t have too many issues especially the one which kills most start ups which is cash flow.
Just a suggestion and forgive me as I just don’t know the area you’re looking at at all, but are there any Indies there already with a good rep but struggle to cope with demand? Set up nearby and you could get collateral business- even may be worth sounding out a collaboration with same?

 

[davemercedes]

Good luck, Alex. when I worked in the lift truck industry we started looking for "newer" premises in a zonal area around Heathrow which got bigger ad bigger with each disappointment. Just like every garage business the real problem with new build estates etc is "yardage" - most have room for 5 or 6 cars at most.

I'm way away from there your area now so can't feally offer any help - good luck!

 

[alexanderfoti]

Good luck, Alex. when I worked in the lift truck industry we started looking for "newer" premises in a zonal area around Heathrow which got bigger ad bigger with each disappointment. Just like every garage business the real problem with new build estates etc is "yardage" - most have room for 5 or 6 cars at most.

I'm way away from there your area now so can't feally offer any help - good luck!

Thanks Dave, that has been the issues so far with every place. No parking for 2-3 cars never mind a workshop full of cars. I have found a place that has a good vibe, tyre supplier and MOT garage in the same yard, and everyone is very friendly etc. Parking is an issue here but not so concerned if everyone is on the same page etc.

 

[alexanderfoti]

Good luck Alex plenty of great advice on here already and as you have the right idea, start small and grow you shouldn’t have too many issues especially the one which kills most start ups which is cash flow.
Just a suggestion and forgive me as I just don’t know the area you’re looking at at all, but are there any Indies there already with a good rep but struggle to cope with demand? Set up nearby and you could get collateral business- even may be worth sounding out a collaboration with same?

Thanks, I have thought about this already and have collated a list of nearby indies. I will be contacting them when setup to link up and offer the exact thing you mentioned! Maybe an opposite M25 collaboration with WG-MB (he will like that! ha)

 

[Ken_R]

Not sure if the commute would work but a place I used to go to some years ago was the Sandown Industrial Park at Esher.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3802797,-0.3752823,17z

Then, it was somewhat of a dump with [seemingly] lots of spare capacity and definitely more than adequate parking. The site was also 'gated'.

Looking now, they seem to be 'sprucing' the place up.

https://completelyindustrial.co.uk/scheme/Sandown-Industrial-Park-Esher

 

[Botus]

I doubt the London crowd is a growing / valid pool of customers... too much money, leasing latest stuff so you won't see them... or to little money and a dying group

its also a long way away for old git customers south of you to make the trip and too far round the M25 for anyone from herts, bucks, berks who need some one great to help

I would have thought closer to Heathrow would give you many more customers and the ability to attract those a bit further afield

more money in playing than maintenance