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Posted

Stumbled on this site a couple days ago and have been browsing the forum since then. This looks to be an excellent resource for ideas in the crazy world of running a repair shop. I opened up a 3 bay 2 lift garage in June of 2008. So far I am still a one man show, business has been slowly growing through word of mouth and I'm just now starting to get a little more consistent. Opening up on a shoe string budget I have not been able to do any real advertising, but have kept my expenses to a minimum. I feel my customer retention has been very good and am confident that my business will survive and grow. I look forward to posting here and will do my best to offer whatever input I can in the discussions while I take advantage of the experience and knowledge from those that have already been there done that in there businesses.



Posted

Good to have you! How about filling us in a little on what lead you to start your business.

 

It was either ambition or insanity. I guess there was a lot of factors that made me leave a good job with benefits making good money for a great boss who even offered me a lot more money and vacation time to stay. To open a shop, making just barely almost enough money to get by working 7 days, 70+ hours a week. I wanted to be in control of my own destiny, succeed or fail I wanted to be able to say I at least tried instead of reaching a day where I found myself asking what if? It was rough in the beginning, the money I was planning to use as my start up capitol was in the stock market.. in a company that lost $8 a share a couple days before I was planning on selling some to keep in the bank. I decided to hold on to see if it went up just a little while getting by on what I had, that was just before the bank collapse when it lost all value. I held on and it'll be 2 years in June. At this point I don't regret a thing, and am now in a process of reevaluating a lot of things that I have been doing this far and making some changes going from a get the job even if I don't get what the job is really worth mentality to feeling that now I'm established enough with enough steady business to let some of the nightmare jobs go to someone else.

Posted

Welcome from a fellow one man show. I have been going since May 08 so I know your pain :) I look forward to getting to hear from you and learn some great ideas. Please don't be a stranger.

Posted (edited)

Stumbled on this site a couple days ago and have been browsing the forum since then. This looks to be an excellent resource for ideas in the crazy world of running a repair shop. I opened up a 3 bay 2 lift garage in June of 2008. So far I am still a one man show, business has been slowly growing through word of mouth and I'm just now starting to get a little more consistent. Opening up on a shoe string budget I have not been able to do any real advertising, but have kept my expenses to a minimum. I feel my customer retention has been very good and am confident that my business will survive and grow. I look forward to posting here and will do my best to offer whatever input I can in the discussions while I take advantage of the experience and knowledge from those that have already been there done that in there businesses.

Nice to see ya here. I've ran a shop for over 27 years now. At times I've been by myself and at times I've had as many as 5 techs and several interns working at the same time. I'm not sure if it's the large number of techs that's important.....BUT.... do quality work, get to know your customers.... stand behind all that you do. Then again the most important thing is to enjoy what you do.... when the work isn't fun... it's work just to get up and go to work....

 

Need a laugh, need some advise, hang around here long enough you'll get both.

 

Right now I gotta get back to work.... trying install a helicopter landing pad on top of a Yugo.... dang customers... always wantin' somethin' Later Gonzo

Edited by Gonzo
Posted

trying install a helicopter landing pad on top of a Yugo.... dang customers... always wantin' somethin' Later Gonzo

Let us know how that goes...... did you hear Yugo is coming back with a bigger better car, a minivan actually. There calling it the wego B)

Posted

Let us know how that goes...... did you hear Yugo is coming back with a bigger better car, a minivan actually. There calling it the wego B)

 

You'll fit right in.

If ya ever need a few laughs... go to my website. www.gonzostoolbox.com

  • 2 weeks later...

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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