Would you please help me?

[funkyboogalooo]

I would be grateful if you could take a couple of minutes to answer a few questions for me and finally vote on the poll. I am putting together a business plan and looking at the feasibility of same business. I would have liked to have done it without going public so early but as its such a big risk in the current economy then market research is a must for me.

Just to let you know I am sure you will guess the nature of the business so I wont have to explain it all. But please keep in mind it will not be a backstreet rough warehouse, it will be clean freshly painted and maintained, with new ramps etc. It will be manned and available 24 hrs a day (nights by appt) and fully secure. The hourly rental would be done as minimum 1 hour then on 15 minute increments, this way you wouldnt have to rush to finish a job just because you were running into the next hour.

If you could copy and paste the questions and then put your answers by the side of them in a new post I would be eternally grateful.

1. If you were able to rent somewhere by the hour or at discounted longer periods within 20 miles of your house that offered an undercover workshop, ramp and basic tools to maintain your own car would you use it?

2. If you would use the facility how many hours per month would you likely use it?

1-2 hrs per month
2-4 hrs per month
over 4 hrs per month

3. Would you rent a secure area for storage of your car (your car to be kept in a de-humidified specialist carcoon)

4. How much per hour would you willingly pay for the following
2 post ramp
4 post ramp
Bay without ramp
Car storage (per week)

5. Would you buy consumables from the premises when you were working such as oils, coolants, greases etc.

6. Would you pay a annual membership to have discounted or free ramp rental? Something similar to gym membership where peak hours such as evening and weekends were more expensive than weekdays etc.

Please also give any general comment or thoughts. I am sure the majority of people will say insurance for me will be a problem but I have already looked into this and its ok?

Many thanks for taking the time

Mike

 

[zpuppy]

Hi Mike, will answer the poll in the morn as am at work at the moment Gotta say ive just been looking for same all over Berkshire and am all for the idea Rental places such as this are everywhere in Canada and the States and ive gotta say that is one thing I miss over here ! Best of luck and to be honest,I think your onto a gold mine if done properly mate !

 

[ollyc]

1. If you were able to rent somewhere by the hour or at discounted longer periods within 20 miles of your house that offered an undercover workshop, ramp and basic tools to maintain your own car would you use it?

Yes.

2. If you would use the facility how many hours per month would you likely use it?

1-2 hrs per month
2-4 hrs per month
over 4 hrs per month - this initially however as more work on cars and bikes etc was done rental usage would decline to as and when use probably for toys services or pre MOT work.

3. Would you rent a secure area for storage of your car (your car to be kept in a de-humidified specialist carcoon)

Dependant on the price as I gather this would not be an hourly rate. Yes I would heavily consider this as an option, or even an area that she could be kept secure and dry. (not as specific as the de-humidified specialist carcoon)

4. How much per hour would you willingly pay for the following
Honestly from my spending budget and time I'd take.
2 post ramp _ £20 then incriments
4 post ramp_£30 then incriments
Bay without ramp £15
Car storage (per week)
£15 - 35 max or it gets too expensive ( I used to have her stored for £10 in a car club, this was not to work on them as well just storage only)

5. Would you buy consumables from the premises when you were working such as oils, coolants, greases etc.

Condsider however I would bring relevant things that I was going to use for the jobs planned however having things on hand is always helpfull but I would not advise you to carry a great stock build it slowly or have a way of getting it quickly at a slight mark up.??

6. Would you pay a annual membership to have discounted or free ramp rental? Something similar to gym membership where peak hours such as evening and weekends were more expensive than weekdays etc.

Yes however this gets awkward if too many buy into it and then the bays are taken and usage becomes less and less available, so be ware however if you can make it work I would!


Any other suggestions would be it is not a great time to sink money you dont have into this but if you can make it work without makin life hard then go for it. Also speak to careers development as they have a few links to various grants and funding you may be able to get. I say them as my mind is blank and can't think of new start up funds other than princess trust but thats age related I think.

Good luck

 

[Zed2k]

1. If you were able to rent somewhere by the hour or at discounted longer periods within 20 miles of your house that offered an undercover workshop, ramp and basic tools to maintain your own car would you use it? Yes

2. If you would use the facility how many hours per month would you likely use it? say 4 but depends on job in hand for me changing diffs all the time probably be more

1-2 hrs per month
2-4 hrs per month
over 4 hrs per month

3. Would you rent a secure area for storage of your car (your car to be kept in a de-humidified specialist carcoon) no

4. How much per hour would you willingly pay for the following
2 post ramp £20
4 post ramp £15
Bay without ramp not needed as have garage
Car storage (per week)

5. Would you buy consumables from the premises when you were working such as oils, coolants, greases etc. may do

6. Would you pay a annual membership to have discounted or free ramp rental? Something similar to gym membership where peak hours such as evening and weekends were more expensive than weekdays etc. depends on the deal
I have thought about the same thing a few times good luck.

 

[twoforty]

I thought about doing the same thing with my workshop but the problem I see is:

1. You will need a decent liability insurance, even if you ask them to sign a waver you are still responsible by law.
2. rent is pretty expensive for a decent place and business rates are another concern. Can you pull enough money in to earn a decent wage and cover rent, rates etc ? I pay around £1000 a month for my workshop with rates, then say you need another £3000 in wages a month, I guess you could do it if you can get the customers in.
3. Would you offer to fix someones car if they take it apart and a stud snaps or they have the wrong part etc.... It might get messy if they end up leaving the car there for a long time and have to pay you lots of money at the end.

I'm not trying to put you off, I think it's a great idea if it can be done in the right way. These were jusat my concerns when I thought about it.

Good luck to you.

 

[funkyboogalooo]

Thanks everyone so far for your input so far. Insurance is ok ive got that covered. I have also today spoken to someone who has the same business going in the west country. The one partner is a lawyer and has sewn up the liability side very tightly and they are happy to help me.
Wages would be mine and a helper. With regard to helping them no I wouldn't. They would however be offered a discounted storage option until they could get it sorted.
Its really good to have these points brought up as it gets me thinking about angles I haven't looked at before
Mike

 

[2fast2z]

The idea is great, we have a few of them here, i would advise you to carry a pile of parts, then you will soon be a supplier when all other have closed, ask me how i know and where i always can get a oil filter, spark plugs etc. after closing time.
Many people wrench at home but don't have the oppertunity to test there brakes, O2 or get that little hole welded shot, that is a group you also should consider.

Chris

 

[Rob Gaskin]

1. If you were able to rent somewhere by the hour or at discounted longer periods within 20 miles of your house that offered an undercover workshop, ramp and basic tools to maintain your own car would you use it? Yes

2. If you would use the facility how many hours per month would you likely use it?


2-4 hrs per month, mainly for the big jobs (e.g. gearbox)


3. Would you rent a secure area for storage of your car (your car to be kept in a de-humidified specialist carcoon) Not on a regular basis, it would be too much of an overhead but at times when I needed the space maybe.

4. How much per hour would you willingly pay for the following
2 post ramp £10
4 post ramp £10
Bay without ramp £5
Car storage (per week) £10

5. Would you buy consumables from the premises when you were working such as oils, coolants, greases etc. Doubt you would have what I wanted. In an emergency only.

6. Would you pay a annual membership to have discounted or free ramp rental? Something similar to gym membership where peak hours such as evening and weekends were more expensive than weekdays etc. Maybe if the price was right.

It would need to be close to home because I'm sure I'd want to keep nipping back for my favourite tools etc.

 

[martinmac]

I am always struggling to find somewhere like this just to get my car detailed. It takes two days and just requires somewhere clean with power and water. Obviously the washing is done outside.

I would be happy to pay the going rate for the space.