Autonerdz forums

Best of luck to you in your next phase of your career.

  Thanks Rich.  I've always been a fan of salary, or hourly.  I feel it is my job to get the cars in, and to sell the work recommended.  I shouldn't make the tech bear the burden of my potential shortcomings.  Now that's just my attitude, I understand that for some shops the FR system is a good fit. 
  I have the lawyer looking over the contract, that's about all I foresee needing them for.  I've got a couple lead on accountant from good sources, going to make some calls in the next couple hours.

A friend worked in an aftermarket garage. Their employer went on a long vacation, leaving the shop in the hands of the employees. They earned the shop more money that month than it ever had, they did by not accepting all and any work that that came in; they worked on what they were comfortable with and on whatever they had tools or knowledge for, turning away the other work.
Good luck to you Preston.

Jamey wrote on Feb 17^th, 2017 at 1:57pm:

Derreck wrote on Feb 17^th, 2017 at 9:13am:


  Whoa easy buddy, I'm still going to be handling the fun stuff, ha ha.

Thank you so much guys, truly appreciate the encouragement and insight.

Preston, Here is a good post from that other forum

http://members.iatn.net/forums/read/msg.aspx?f=forum15&m=431768&nwr=636230096960...

Jamey wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 10:17am:


  That was a good read, will have to re-read a couple times.  Thanks Jamey.

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  28 years in business the two guys running it now.  As far as sales numbers, effectively flat around 165K a year for the last 5 years, averaging that same number over the last 10, I don't have 4 years and past specifically written out.  They do no marketing.  One of the owners is 70, the other is early 60's, so they aren't pushing hard at all.  Plus, apparently they have done what could be considered a sizeable amount of cash sales.

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  Private as far as I know, will know more hopefully tuesday afternoon when I go over to sift through the paperwork.  I'm sure they have a couple small fleets, and next door is a used car lot that has done business with them in the past.  I'm not a fan of used car lot jobs, but this lot deals with much newer vehicles.  I will definitely be the one setting the guidelines if business is to be done with them.

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  It is a downtown area surrounded by water, with a couple yacht clubs in close proximity.  Farmers markets and weekend festivals are common occurrence just blocks away.  The hospital, which my wife works at, is only a mile down the road.  There are coffee shops and boutique stores and all sorts of things close by.

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  If the deal goes through there will be no staff left behind.  It's only the two of them.  Personally I see that as a plus, because I have high standards and am fully aware of the caliber of technicians out there.  I will be asking my coworker, who I brought to my current employer from the previous one, to come work with me.  He would be the perfect fit for what I need.  If not, I know that I can truly still run it solo if needed, but that is definitely not to be any sort of normal situation.

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  I've said for years that I don't want to be a service writer.  However, in the last 5 years I've basically been doing just that.  Speaking as a foreman with the other technicians on their findings.  Going over them and writing the estimates.  Checking price and availability with the vendors, and then handing it over to someone else.  Then, when the customer comes to pick up the vehicle, I end up being the one communicating and educating the customer on the services performed.  I'm at the point where I'm fed up with letting someone else talk to the customer, because they keep saying electrical components are shorted, when I clearly write out open circuit!!!  Haha, ok, but that is a real annoyance for me.

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  I plan on a week in the summer.  This is easy down here because it is the slow season, and it's god awful hot a humid so it's ideal to go visit my family in CA.  I also plan on taking legitimate time at Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The day after turkey day is fucking closed, period.  Depending on where Christmas falls, there will be days before or after closed, period.  I have thoughts and ideas on how to train the clientele to understand that family time is necessary, in order to run my business efficiently and to the benefit of the client. 

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  Wife, 6 year old, 4 year old, and 6 month old daughters.  School is a half mile from the house, and the shop would be another 3.5 miles from that.  Being close will help significantly.  In this day and age, much of the clerical work can be done from home, and all my women are usually asleep by 8 for the little ones, and 9 to 10 for the big one ( um, in age, not size )

autosparky wrote on Feb 18^th, 2017 at 12:49pm:


  I want from my business, a platform from which I can educate the motoring public on why services are recommended, the benefit of the services, the quality of the repairs I perform, and how it all benefits them.  I feel that most shops are lacking greatly in educating the client.  I want people to truly understand why what I do, is good for them, and will save them money and frustration.  I want to have an entire customer list of informed and empowered people that sell themselves on my recommendations, because they know of the value.  All the while, putting myself in control of my own destiny and in turn having control over my families livelihood.