What does it take to start a Hotrod Shop?
 

I know this is a really broad question, but I thought with all of the custom shops on this form you guys would be the best place to find the answers. I Live up in Vancouver Wa, where it rains 90% of the time so there's not a lot of Rod shops. I am trying to figure out what is the best way to go about starting up a business. I have a the basic home shop tools and a 6 axis mill, and a lathe. How did you guys start out? Did you start in a garage? Rented two bay shop, or lease a space? What are the do's and don'ts or pitfalls of starting a shop like this. What are the essential equipment, ie, welders, benders, ect.. besides skilled employees. What type of jobs did you start out with? Did you do side work for other shops?

The big plus is my day job will be supporting most of this venture so I don't need to make a ton of money, :lol:

Fishing for good advice,

Thomas

There's several quality shops in the NW. From big name shops to small three car garage shops........it doesn't make it easy to start up a shop around here.

Alot of work, alot of money, and a long time to make it profitable.

You will never make a living in a small shop like you could if you just worked for someone else. Unless you have the work and the drive to manage more then 4 guys you might as well stay small. But unless your John Buterra talented, people will never wait the million years it would take to finish a noteworthy car. You have to make periodic splashes in the publicity game to keep peoples interest. Which takes manpower that is very difficult to find unless you just want to hack up cars. If you want to hack up cars your business will last long enough to burn every possible bridge in a 360 degree circle around your shop. But hacker employees are easy to come by. But if you do quality work don't be enticed to think you have to price yourself to compete with the hacksters.

OH and The worst customers are the ones I gave the biggest discounts too.

Most of these lessons took me years to learn, I will let you know on the profitability thing.

Oh and the best way to ruin a great hobby is to try and make a living at it.


But I would not trade building cars for any other career. Well maybe a few careers........:D

Iron Works> How did you start out?

if you look at all the successful shops they have 1 thing in common it's not equipment .that helps speed things up .but you will find raw talent that is the most important thing

I want to say tools, a garage and a lot of passion. If you have that, you can start building things for yourself, tell some people about what you do, and, well, profit. But I bet it takes a lot of time to grow and have a shop big enough to keep in the business.

its like every buisness... you need costumers! Everybody can stock a warehouse, but selling it is the hard part.... and today i guess yon really need organizational skills.. you need to know what and when you can deliver and how muct to charge.... and lastly you need costumers!

Some of the best builders I work with don't have alot of big equipment,Talent will get you farther than anything else.

I have been in the collision industry most of my life . Id like to know how they bill out some of these zillion hour creations .

Balls