What does it take to start a Hotrod Shop?

[GregWeld]

Thomas -

You want to go see one of the best run shops EVER - IMHO - take a spin down to the bay area and check out Roy Brizios shop.... he builds killer cars - has all the skilled guys - and tools - in a fairly smallish shop... He's been doing it for years - has a fabulous reputation - and the product speaks for itself. I spent some time there discussing my recent frame build - and here's an HONEST shop - he told me - "well, I can build it for you - but it's going to be the same chassis you could buy for half the money from one of the regular frame guys... I'm just not set up to crank out frames so we charge by the hour and really only do them if a customer asks us to".

The club I belong to often has major discussions and "lessons learned" at our meetings -- one thing that we discuss often is the quoted shop rate... the guys that have been doing this stuff awhile - will all tell you what Rodger said above... the rate doesn't count nearly as much as how long it's going to take... 'cause $35 an hour sounds cheap - but not if it take 3 times as long!
And $35 an hour is real cheap - until you have to pay $95 an hour to have it all re-done.

Build your shop car - make note of every single hour you have in it - including the time to chase down parts - and go fetch etc - and every shop rag you use - and tape - and welding supplies... you might be shocked at what you really have into the build! Then see if you can sell it at a profit to start your next build...