DonaldPG

No I have actually been throwing around a few different models as to weather I want to focus on larger commercial vehicles (big trucks, landscape trucks, dump trucks) or stick with the more traditional type shop and just service cars/trucks. I have grown up around the commercial transportation industry and know that many times a quick oil change and lube is all that is needed. You have to call dealers many time and make appointments and the drivers have to wait 4 and 5 hours to have the truck greased and the oil changed. I believe there is a good opportunity for a shop that focused on these things for commercial transportation companys and also local companies that have oversized vehicles. Any thoughts?

Well the first stages are going to start tomorow with mapping out the competition and drawing up exactly what I want in the business. I will post it up tomorow night and let you guys take a look at it. I look forward to learning a lot from you guys. Don Garside

Thanks for the reply. I thought you might be one of the first to chime in Joe. I have read many of your posts and you seem to be very knowledgeable of the industry. I have read a few of your blog entrys. I am going to check it out start to finish one afternoon when I have a little more time. I look forward to hearing of some experiences you might have pertaining to some issues I am going to come up with while writing up this business plan. I agree that with the economic down turn if a buiness can start up and be set to operate on lower revenue levels it will greatly reap the benefits in the near future when people start to get loose with their money once again. In the next week or two I will be laying out the ground work for this business venture I hope many of you will chime in.. Thanks Don Garside

Hi, My name is Don. I am from Nashville, TN and am in the beginning stages of putting together a business plan to open up an automotive maintenance and light repair shop. My goal through all of this is to explore every possibility of the business and build a business plan through comprehensive research, other business owners, and future customers that could be taken to the bank to obtain the money needed to build and start this type of business the way it should be done. About me: I have been a part of various past business ventures, some profitable, some not so profitable. I have a business degree and am still in school pursuing my MBA. I would like to gain as much experience through this forum that I possibly can about the particular operations of an automotive business. I have been lurking around here for a week or two and decided to join this morning. I am not simply stating that I am going to throw a plan together and start a multi-million dollar business overnight. This thread is to walk through a step by step process of putting a plan together and assesing the risks and rewards of getting into this type of business. If it seems promising in the end, it will be a plan I take to the bank and pursue opening and managing a shop around the western area of Nashville, TN. My goal for the shop is to handle all manufactuer scheduled maintenance, light repair work, tires, battery, things of that sort. I want things that will come in and go in one day for most cases. I would like to explore the possibilities of implementing a wash bay and light detail shop to service customers as well and maybe keeping up fleet maintenane for businesses in the area with fleets of vehicles that could be washed and maintained on a regular basis. Please chime in with experiences from your own business and what you would change if you were going to start over from scratch. I am interested in hearing all of your experiences and way to improve your business. I want to put a business plan together that is as close to bullet proof as possible. I am willing to do the due dilligance I am just looking for a little information from experience. I will be asking things such as opinions on equipment, advertising, building layouts, services offered, management systems, inventory, customer service followup, etc.. Please join me on this journey over the next several months to build a business the right way! Don Garside Nashville, TN