oldchap
Part of things
just hanging about
Posts: 202
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Be careful with the Health and Safety aspect as this can bite you in the bum, you need to get it right from day one. I know that it can all become a bit of an over the top joke with H&S stopping people doing all sorts of things, but if you set it all up as per the guidance for small garages from the HSE web site it can you look very professional and in control. If I go into a garage and see the usual things of guys using welding torches or grinders with no eye protection, barrels of old oil left open nearby, bits of broken car parts across the floor and general disregard for peoples safety it sends a message straight away that they don't really know what a modern business needs are. Also if you don't take notice of the requirements it can be very get very expensive and very messy for even for the smallest incident. I speak from experience court cases run into thousands from the word go and from April the HSE or local authority will charge for any visit that requires intervention (notices, letters or advice) at £133 per hour
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what's that awful noise
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check out that your getting business rates relief, we currently pay £29 a year. don't get to embroiled in health and safety, most of it is uncommon sense, use it make everyone who uses any machine do their own risk assessment, it's much more valid than one in the cupboard under the stairs waste disposal should have been dealt with under the planning, assuming it did not already have planning, remember it will take 18 months to 2 years to build a good garage business, so don't think that break even will be here by month 3, MOT stations are expensive, we are installing a MOT pit, so expensive we made our own, watch out their is loads of profit in MOT equipment, don't give out loads of credit accounts, payment on collection only, Eurocar parts give out credit accounts reasonably easy contact me if you have any questions www.tastytyres.co.uk
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Last Edit: Feb 9, 2012 14:45:29 GMT by ianboyd
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Treat there car to a car wash and hoover, don't forget to treat black trim and dress the tyres, there car will look great and they will be happy when they collect it.
Don't go mad with it just make it look like you looked after it and you care.
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Some days you just need to take a grinder to an inanimate object, just to make your day a tiny bit better!!
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I have worked in a few garages, main dealers and independents of various sizes and quality, I currently run a workshop and I am still on the tools.
My customers value honesty - don't try to sell them something they don't need, if the brakes will last 6 months but not till the next service - tell them! I will tackle anything, I have a regular customer with a 66 minx, another with a DB9. Nothing is too much trouble and I am always polite.
Regarding health and safety, do it right from the start - you will need MSDS data sheets for EVERYTHING in the workshop. Most manifacturers have them on their websites. Wurth have evrything listed by partnumber.
Make friends with a couple of local parts factors but be prepaired for Euro car parts to send you stuff that is wrong all the time. My local branch has managed 1 correct part in 7 so far in the last 13 months!
See if you can find someone to give you the low done on motor trade law. Its a mine field involving lots of duty of care. If someone brings you are car that is not legal or safe and you let them drive away it is YOUR responsability. Signed bits of paper are worth nothing in court. You are the qualified expert, not the customer. I have refused to hand over the keys of many cars. (tell them they can trailer the car away, have someone else repair it on site, have a copper collect the keys or a lawyer, they kind of get the message then)
Be prepaired to see the most ignorant of people. I have been accused of breaking a customers stereo, followed by making them look like a prat when I pointed out that it was just switched off. (I then had to teach them how to turn the radio on and off!!!)
Good luck to you.
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djefk
Part of things
Posts: 844
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My friends run a garage (shameless plug: and all that has been said here seems great advice, I'd add that you defo do NOT want to live on-site, you will need to separate work from living as you'll be working very hard for the first few years to build your business! Good luck.
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dggp
Part of things
Posts: 135
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camper damper
Part of things
Another car bites the dust
Posts: 606
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Try not to get dirty hand prints all over the car every place near me seem to do that not nice seeing hand prints all over the bodywork
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Just to add - if your doing moderns as well, Joint the uk autotalk forum. It does cost to join but that keeps out the idiots. The people on there are scary inteligent when it comes to testing and diagnosing modern diesel and petrol cars and they give some very good, clear advice. www.ukautotalk.com/
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froggy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,099
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What else is near you and what do they offer ? A gap I spotted when I started my mot station was to go after the work from all the small guys who couldn't offer mot,s and even had a couple of cheap runabouts for the trade to use for running back and forth . We were a lot cheaper on trade tests as most stations don't like too much trade work but within 1year we we averaging 16-20 tests per day and the public work has built up over the last 5 years but we know that the trade will bring 30-40 cars per week . Tyres are a good earner as we add £10 to the cost of a new tyre fitted and balanced but part worns are a much better earner . If you contact all the main but not national tyre places locally you can buy in at £5 per tyre and on the bigger stuff sell for £40-50 and still be cheap . Test lane is essential to keep growing the business as you can pull in new business with offers on test price or service and mot deals . Do some maths on what you need to turn over to make money as it's too easy to be a busy fool taking on work that other places don't want . I am in a road with three other garages but have kept turnover pretty constant despite the recession .
Mot driven work is the best earner as it's straight forward and involves mark up on parts to help offset the lower labour content on fitting parts , clutches are good if you have two post ramps and people who get stuck in to them . For example a focus clutch with slave Cyl Is £250 parts are under £100 and I normally muck in to make the job a bit more pleasant for the lads and it's back on it's wheels in 90 mins .
The majority of people drop the cars off so unless you will be doing lots of while you wait stuff I wouldn't go overboard on your reception , warm, dry and not covered in oily curse word is good enough . I have a vending Machine which I bought and was doing free drinks until It went over £150 a month for supplies !!
The most important thing with a garage is that the customers trust you and that's something that happens over time . Occasionally you get the odd thing that's a simple fix and I usually do these f.o.c , perfect example is a Clio that came in with a miss that another place diagnosed as a faulty injector , I knew it was a pinhole in the plug lead and taped it up , a couple of mins work and told the guy I can't work out charging by the minute . From that 2min job I look after his families cars had some other people referred by him . Any of my regulars come in for the odd bulb I rarely charge as I need the loyalty when it comes to service and mot , a few bulbs and the odd plug in with the scanner is a small price to pay .
I'm now roughly 50/50 trade to public and although it's run of the mill work It ticks along nicely now . Trade accounts are minefield and try to get a supplier that gives you access to there prices and vrm search so you can price and order without calling and have pricesto compare with others . My partner runs the reception and can compare 3 factors online , prices can be all over the place and we save around £300 per week by comparing and getting the factors to price match to get the business .
Apologies if I'm preaching to the converted but that's my 2p
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[Lastly, two points to consider. 1) The reason that most places don't offer tea or coffee is due to Health regulations. If you offer, you must have a Basic Hygiene Cert, and be subject to inspection of your facilities. Possibly some other regulations regarding preparation, and liability insurance to cover. Get round this with a free vending machine (on contract) or run the risk of being sued by the first person to take a disliking to you. That bit is not exactly right, best thing to do is talk to your council's food hygiene department and take their advice. We are running a 50 cover tearoom bistro and our council told us that there was no requirement to have a Basic Hygiene Cert, all they required was us to attend a 1 day course run by the council which was free. Excuses range from - N.I. by-laws may be different; I'm out of date on my knowledge of Health regs; or maybe I just don't know Definitely we know that you shouldn't make anything for anyone or give them anything that isn't sealed (like sweets are) without checking the law first.
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lizardking
Part of things
'zon the revelator
Posts: 502
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Above all honesty,no taking off old parts spraying them satin black and putting them back on (this happens), Time taken to show the customer what was wrong by showing them the old parts, The ability to work on stuff that is older or even horror of horrors has points ignition and can't be fixed with a scanner,I have seen mechanics comeout of their shop and say "I don't know what to do with that it's got points" The old skills like listening to an engine or looking at plug colours are dissapearing fast-it's all plug it in and change that monkeytronics now, I'm really lucky I have some genuine excellent friends in the trade and working through the night etc. is a regular thing for them and me, clean is good,waiting areas and suchlike to me are poncey luxuries,if I want a coffee I'll make one for me and the lads while I'm there, The most important thing for Joe Public is approachability friendliness and not to feel like they are stupid-too many mechanics have a sneer and a snigger which shows contempt for their customers, the days of the sharp intake of breath and comments like "it's the flux capacitor/fufu valve/discombobulator" have gone, People want to feel appreciated and valued as customers if a garage wants return business they have to value that,when the customer is gone-take the curse word if they were yoghurts-BUT never ever do it in front of other customers. Honesty-Fair Pricing-Approachability-Punctuality-Good Communication-right job,right price,right time=repeat custom
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I'M SO RETRO , I SH1T SPANGLES
'68 Amazon,97 x300 jaaaaaaag,96 Mx-5,86 1300 mg Trike
L300 Delica ex MM
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Feb 10, 2012 20:11:45 GMT
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Some great replies on here. One thing with tea/coffee though is you'll be amazed how many hangers on you get when things like that are on offer,the guy who's come in cos I lights out,given you nothing for it and stood there 2 hrs watching you work,getting in the way etc,they soon get very annoying. Also,the ones who bring their cars in saying the washers don't work "all of a sudden",getting you to fill the tank up with fluid/water then just driving off without paying. I had one guy ring me up one day cos rust was coming back through 6 months after he'd bought a Ka in for some spray work.the usual fuel cap horrors and id advised him that it needed a new panel welded in,not interested,just wanted a "quick fix".
He asked me then "what was I going to do about it?". A rude answer ensued. There's plenty of decent people out there but also an equal number of cocks,I'm sure you'll soon suss them out,their pretty easy to spot,their opening gambit usually consists of "how much??".
As for garages being nearby that can be a problem,but you'll quickly find that they'll already have their own work and people are unlikely to change allegiances,so you'll just be attracting your own new clients,there was another paintshop guy across from me and he was always flat out but his work was dismal,some of the worst I've seen but of course he was attracting the £60/70 jobs.
I used to say to people,go and get a quote off him,ask to see examples of his work and then decide what you want to do,yes he's cheaper but have a look why.
50/50 came back,usually the old boys went over there cos he was cheap,but anyone else was usually sorry,we even had people come over asking for us to correct the work he'd done,most of the time it cost more than the job would have in the first place.
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Feb 10, 2012 21:51:09 GMT
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A few other thoughts... Mate of mine runs a workshop / MOT prep garage and has a similar building to yours, fairly shabby inside but the whole area is overdue being sold off for housing so no point in redecorating. It doesn't seem to hurt his business. There's no waiting room, most customers drop cars off & collect them (not ideal but no option as it's no easy public transport), mate sometimes gives customers a lift home if it's on his way somewhere. The offer of a tea & coffee is a rarity - and I've known him lots of years It's nearly always busy, lots of repeat customers (always a good sign), no rip-off practices or prices, just a decent job at a fair price. I'm often surprised by the variety of work he does, from my 70's stuff to hi-tech diagnostics to plug-n-play ABC fault finding. He's always willing to have a bit banter with anyone passing by which helps. "Quick fixes" are often free, it helps get customers back when they have paying jobs to do Things that stop me going back to garages / workshops / any shop Being ripped off - it happens once, my money goes somewhere else next time and I will publicise it as much as I can ! Being made to look like an idiot I once tried welding a patch on the sill - outside in the road - with a borrowed MIG - with the car on the ground. Soon gave it up as a bad idea - was not happy when the "professional" welder I took it to then called his mates over for a laugh at my attempt. Being fobbed off - you say it will be done - do it on time. A local garage had my car for 2 weeks, I lost count of how many times they were going to look at my dead turbo "tomorrow" before I lost my patience and took it back from them. My local parts shop years ago checked my car and told me the reason it needed a push start every morning was because battery was knackered. New battery from them - no difference. Scrapyard starter motor and everything works. Big problems getting a refund from them. They are the only car spares place in my village - I'll still walk past their shop to spend money in the next village if the car needs bits. I can name the shops above that upset me, some were many years ago, they never got any more money from me and I still do my best to persuade people to spend their money elsewhere. I'm happy to let anybody do stuff for me but you only upset me once ! By comparison, I've have had good service recently sorting my daily and have put up the names of the helpful places, it's free advertising for them and they didn't have to do anything for it Things to keep in mind It's 10 times easier to keep a customer happy than to find a new customer if your existing customer goes elsewhere. Don't underestimate word-of-mouth (especially in 'tinternet age). Good news can travel anywhere, bad news travels everywhere. apologies for the length - err missus !
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Feb 10, 2012 21:53:15 GMT
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good luck lots of regulations to consider glad i work from home especially as i don't miss commuting on m25 or other aspects like office politics, collections for peoples birthdays and set hours call me anti social but I'm happy and can nip out to workshop any time of my working day paradise capital P
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JohnK
North East
Posts: 470
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Feb 11, 2012 15:50:57 GMT
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Its all been covered really:
* Honesty - I want to know whats wrong, how much it will cost to repair and when it can be done by. If theres a delay, phone me, keep me in the loop. Nothing worse than waiting around all day for a garage to phone or having to phone them yourself to be told 'Oh it was ready hours ago'.
*I don't like people to take the mick. I used a garage regularly for all my work and recommended loads of people there. I went in one day because I needed new front springs putting on my old Volvo and didn't have the time to do it myself. After using this garage for donkeys, making them money and sending custom there way, I was faced with 'well we're busy, I can't quote you until we start doing the work'. My reply of I want to know how much before you do it (or at least a ball park) was faced with 'well I said I don't know until I start the job'.
I've never been back and now use the garage next door (as do all the people I recommended). When dropping cars off these days I have noticed a few times him looking out to see which garage I'm going to. I'll never return, I'm paying for a job to be done and don't want some jumped up tosser getting funny with me!
It doesn't cost anything to be polite, approachable and honest and I will always return to places that are...
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Last Edit: Feb 11, 2012 15:53:49 GMT by JohnK
------------------------------------------- 1999 'V' Rover 620Ti 1999 'T' Mercedes E55 AMG 1997 'R' Ford Probe 24v 1994 'M' Nissan Maxima 3.0 1992 'J' Honda Prelude 2.0iS 1986 'C' BMW 728i Auto 1985 'C' Talbot Solara 1.6 Minx 1984 'A' Talbot Horizon LE Ultra 1.3 1978 'S' Ford Cortina 1.6 GL
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Feb 11, 2012 16:22:57 GMT
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Thd garage I use has several good points which is why I keep going back... I trust them to do a decent job. They cut me the odd favour. If they don't do it they know someone who does. They're not the very cheapest I guess, but they arnt bad on price They offer advice on how to fix stuff. I sometimes get a coffee It's a nice place to hang out I may not be the entirely typical customer Same with the place I go. I've edited this a bit. I'm never in a rush and will work around their workload, I'll not go elsewhere. For this I feel they cut me in the queue* *may not be true, but it's how I feel.
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And make sure you call people back when you say you are going to. I run a classic and custom Auto Electrics business and my number 1 hate is when people don't phone you when they say they are going to. I have to deal with the motor trade daily and most of them seem to take custom for granted..... don't, be professional and courteous, treat your customers and their cars how you would like to be treated and you'll be fine.
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MWF
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,945
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Feb 14, 2012 10:21:58 GMT
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I think ultimately you have two directions to go in, and this applies for almost any type of business.
Race to the bottom - which most businesses do, where you cut everything back to be £5.00 cheaper than the next guy, do lots of favours. But you get the majority trade and a high churn rate means you can afford to get in the odd argument and lose a customer. However as soon as someone undercuts your prices you've got to cut profit or quality.
Float to the top - be very professional, spoil customers, run a classy looking business and charge fairly for it. Generate regular business from a pool of regular customers. But risk being too expensive and vulnerable to quiet times.
Most people think you can do both, because they naively see their future as montage of staying positive, making the right decisions and getting the odd lucky break. But the reality is running a business is it can be very hard, tiresome and frustrating, and you have to build that into your plan.
The angry guys you see, the ones who spit prices angrily at customers from under bonnets, were the friendly guys doing a lot of favours a few years back. You hear the term 'I got screwed over' a lot in small businesses when it should be 'I let people screw me over'.
Don't play to the gallery, don't become the guy who'll bodge it for cheap, MOT scrap or barter on prices, because the people who use your services will just abuse the power balance to keep it that way until someone else starts up bodging a little cheaper, MOT'ing worse and bartering more. Successful businesses are oddly enough the ones that say no more than the say yes, the ones that are strong enough to turn away 'bad work' and look at the long term.
That said, business is about speculating to accumulate, so save that good nature for those customers who never grumble, never complain and show they value your business by spending money with you. People (customers) aren't bad, but when it comes to buying services they'll follow the path of least resistance, so you need to be either the cheapest or the best to choose from.
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berendd
Europe
why do I need 3 keys for one car?
Posts: 1,449
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Feb 14, 2012 11:40:10 GMT
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In order to be succesful you want to be the best, you can be the best in a couple of aspects:
The cheapest (think of budget garages) The fastest (fastfitters, tyre and exhaust centres) The best quality (dealerhips as they should be..) The best technology (specialists) The best... dunno what else, but maybe you do
make a choice, you can't be all of them.
In your pictures I saw some jags floating around, if you are good at those you could think of specialising in those, or as stated before specialise in certain fuel systems like Carbs or Bosch jetronics. You could try to be the cheapest or the fastest, but most businesses are in that area, so you will find yourself working around the clock and still not be the best.
And as said a thousend times before, don't fool your customers or they will fool you. (There are succesfull business though which rely on being the best in fooling people and handling being fooled very well) They are the best in being dishonest and doing well, most of them fail miserably in the end though (think of mr ponzy).
Good luck, and work hard!
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dggp
Part of things
Posts: 135
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Thanks for all the replies everyone, i haven't looked at this thread for a while and there is some brilliant stuff on here. The garage is almost ready to open. I've set a date of the 14th of May. i have a reception thats comfortable and requires very little maintenance, but its pretty clean and will be warm in the winter. I'm starting off by undercutting everyone on price. i've got a business plan that works on only charging £25 an hour but i need to get 40-50 hours worth of work in between 2 mechanics. i know this wont happen instantly but I'm hoping after a couple of months i'll be there. then the price will be going up to around £35 an hour which is still the lowest i know of any where near me and that gives me a wage I'm more than happy with. then you have the mark up on parts as well etc but i wont be spiteful on that either. I'm starting by doing general service and repair work, welding and things like that. i'm getting some wheel allignment equipment sorted and I'm buying some really good diagnostic equipment i can use my self to pad the profit margins a bit. Then in a couple of months I'm going to buy a tyre machine and balancer plus a 2 post lift to try and fill up a bit more workshop time. i've found a pretty decent mechanic so hopefully it will all go pretty well. I'm basing it all on being honest and trustworthy and not spiteful with people. hopefully word of mouth will get around and away we go. I'm advertising on a few local free ad sites and putting a bit of effort into facebook and things like that to try and make people aware of what I'm doing. plus a million leaflets i've got to give out. My mechanic is mad on old mini's as well so may explore some drive in engine conversions and things like that to make sure we've always got a project on but that might just be me getting carried away lol. it would be nice though to do something exciting like that. i've got a few pictures of how its looking now after a 4 month slog of cleaning, moving, painting, concreting, roofing and a million other things. having hot water in the workshop though is absolutely amazing!!! and a picture of my mechanics first project i've got a website page set up at www.daves-garage.co.uk but that needs a bit of work and a facebook page at www.facebook.com/davesgaragetiptonAny thoughts are more than welcome and if anyone from here is ever passing your more than welcome to drop by and say hello and make fun of all my half finished projects!!
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