bodyshops

[Durham Fiesta]

is there anyone on here that owns or runs a body shop? Me and a mate are thinkin of trying to set one up, we both are pretty handy with all things bodywork wise. How hard is it to get established??

[Rick]

id imagine insurance and overheads is the killer

[Guest Guest]

Overheads are a killer . To get established you need people to see what your standard of work is like & if its good the word soon gets about .

[Durham Fiesta]

got a place that is pretty cheap as it can't really be used for anything as the floor is on 3 levels. Currently sharing it with another bloke but thinking of taking a bigger share., electricity etc isn't bad at all. Gonna start by doing small repairs , and a bit welding and just see how it goes. Also room to store a few cars but gonna have to look into insurance for that kinda thing. We're gonna get the fiesta and a beetle done and get some kind of advertising on them so people can see what we can do

[v6pop]

Before you take the plunge have a word with an insurance company,you may find they wont insure you unless you comply to all the latest regs. And dont even think about employing anyone,health and safety,wages,insurance,paye contibutions,rates,rent,electricity,commercial waste disposal costs,etc,etc......and your supposed to make a living out of whats left?? Dont want to put anyone off but you must cost it out first if you intend to make it a viable business........been there got the t shirt!

[Durham Fiesta]

Deffo not gonna be employing anyone. Gonna just do a few bits for a bit cash at first and see how things pan out. Gonna keep my current job on and do bits in my spare time, not gonna leap in feet first. Cheers for the advice

[Rick]

maybe go mobile? that seems to be the new in thing

[sambo]

Hey, you can spray mine if ya like!!

[Durham Fiesta]

its a canny old trek from bexhill to durham

[xpackken]

i went mobile your looking at about 25k to 35k a year the quicker you get. but to be honest all you do mobile is shitty repairs basically polishing turd for maindealers bodgeing it up for them because you aint got time to do it propa if you wana make money . anyways i gota job offer at a porka specialist so im going for that .

_________________

what causes recession

[sambo]

its a canny old trek from bexhill to durham

 

I thought you were going mobile!

[deluxemk1]

Ive just done it myself see Mitchville Autobodies posts on here.Its an all consuming thing I promise you.Been in the trade 17 years left the paintshop I was in to do this.Get a booth thats the biggest mission.Without it you are lost.I didnt realise how much you need it day to day even just doing a few jobs .Remember waterbase paint although ive used it for ten years will be the only option in the near future as well and god forbid even attempting to paint the front end /bonnet/roof etc in it without filtered air! Lechler have just instaled a hydrofan system in my workshop and they told me that solvent paint is drying up and should be finished by about may next year.This was backed up by a friend in my yard who uses solvent paint with no oven coming over to my unit looking upset because when he ordered his usual solvent colour for a job he had in he was given waterbourne paint and told it was not available in the old solvent basecoat any more , Its started already now.My booth cost me 10 grand second hand and i went through hell building a raised steel floor and building the booth was really tough .Its not just a box riveted together as people say I promise its very tough work.All that aside heres a tip call a company called Todd Engineering near toddington they do a budget spraybooth new and fitted for just under ten grand well worth a look.Mine was a spraybake and was mental money thats why I built it myself, but the kit Lee Todd offers is still a good package ,I know a guy with one and I painted a job in it a while ago and it was fine.Think it waa only 250 a month if it was financed or leased as well so its affordable to.My advice is go for it but know this and I learnt the hard way.Save some money to cover you while you set up.You Will Have To Leave Your Full Time Job To Set Up! It took me four months with lots of help to get going and i was doing it in the evenings after work ,but I soon realised that I needed to be there all the time to get the job done. Id get four or five months wages saved.Get a few big jobs in (save all the running about when you get started) get some stage payments on them as well keep your cash flow running thats of ultimate importance.If I hadnt had that Id not of made it through.Then go for it and advertise.I specalise in drag cars classic cars and custom airbrush work but even doing that kind of stuff I needed normal bread and butter cars as well to give cash flow.Good luck with it I wish all the best to you from another petrol head that has just made the same dream a real thing.Hang to your dreams and determination and careful planning will see you win through. All the best from simon at Mitchvilles