Thinking of opening a chop shop

[Rumbuck]

Hey guys,

End of next year I can finish up in my current job, and I have been playing with a bit of a pet idea that's been bugging me for a while.

Basically, I wouldn't be doing much of the work (For obvious purposes, my deep vehicle knowledge lacking a bit), however, I know a lot of people that would also like to get in on this.

For the staffing, I was thinking:

• 2 to 3 Mechanics
• 1 Painter/Fibreglasser
• 1 Auto Elec
• Fitter/Machinest
• Welder/Fabricator

Now, as far as equipment would go:

• Dyno (2 and 4 wheel)
• 3x2 post hoist
• Paint Booth/Fibreglass Booth
• Welding bay with lathe, mill, etc

and like, all the other little things that we would need.

Looking at either Brisbane or Canberra.

Now, I have two questions for all of you here:

1. Do you think the market is there for this?
2. Best location for this setup?

Now, most of the machinery (Spray fittings and stuff) as well as the heavy machinery (Lathe, Mill, etc) I know people who are interested in coming in on this, and they have this equipment already and they get asked to do custom work sometimes, either by me or randoms that just see the work and want something similar.

Now, we would cater for special, random weird stuff, as well as your everyday run of the mill stuff, but some of the features we would offer:

• Chassis reinforcement
• Hideaway bullbars (Lose your bodykit, save your ride)
• Tuning
• Custom paintwork
• Custom interior
• Custom Bodywork

Some of the things that I hate to see around here, in australia, is people who sink so much work into a ride, and then, in a hit of fate, they do something like take off an exhaust on a speedbump (My idea for fitment, alloy rock guards, started in 4x4 comps, very light, very tough, protect the underbody), or they hit a stationary object/other car/wildlife, now, bodykits look nice, replace with a hideaway bullbar behind the custom body fitment. You'll lose the bodykit, but your car will drive away..

 

[evolutionary]

Sounds like a plan. Shame im in Vic I could supply you with panel and paint requirements. But I can hook you up with the NT suppliers of Metalux which is the paint used on all the cars even the Matte black in the current Fast & Furious.

 

[Rumbuck]

I wouldn't be doing it in the NT, not cost effective, the market is too small up here.

As I said, Canberra or Melbourne, maybe in Albury, but they have Twin City CV, and it is sort of the thing where you have to have a name if you want to be in a town like Albury. People won't travel to a place that isn't a major city unless they know the job they are getting.

I mean, Canberra is a good joint, and in the way of custom Chop shops in that area, they are few or dodgy.

I'm one of these people you get three strikes, you do a bodgy, you get retrained by someone else who is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the thing, retrain you. No cutting Corners on a customer vehicle, no dodgys, part comes out, it doesn't go back in if it is rooted, it gets replaced, not repaired.

If you f**k it three times, you're gone, but that said, if you fuck it bad enough, some act of gross negligence on your part as a qualified tradesperson, you obviously don't know your job, so you're gone. I mean, my military background is pretty no-nonsense, I would expect that someone who has been trained and certified to do the highest job, and I would not accept anything less than the highest possible quality.

See, if you come in and want a turbo kit fitted, we will fit it, advise you on the best backup mods to ensure the safest operation, and the next time we see that car, it's for a service. Car comes back before then, I will make sure that the matter is checked by an SME or another tradesman in order to make sure it wasn't negligence on our part. I would even go to the point of getting another workshop to check the vehicle to make sure that it was the customer, not us, as a self assessment means...bugger all really, people don't trust the workshop when they say "wasn't us".

 

[evolutionary]

Finding a good shop to do with cars is like trying to find a good doctor....... If ya decide on Melbs let me know, happy to put ya in the right direction paint wise.......

 

[Rumbuck]

Yeah no worries mate, cheers, and I mean, considering some of the knowledge on here from some people, jobs and payment in "Technical Advisor" roles would also be possible for some of the members of the site if they are willing to take calls at night, or during work hours to make some dosh.

 

[slow ute]

Good idea in theory however in the current economic environment, quiet frankly your mad.

I was my own boss for 7 yrs in the construction industry and leaving was the best thing i ever did. It's hard, its real hard. if you married, like i am you always have the other half on your back. Dealing with employees is very very very painful. guys that are good at what they do expect a premium wage. The paper work involved in GST is a head case, the ATO is painful to deal with. Accountants charge a fortune. Chasing money from customers is frustrating. To top all that off you normal spend 14 hrs a day working, when your trying to sleep your worrying if there is going to be money in the bank tomorrow or if someone will quit of someone wont turn up or you have a customer abuse u.

It almost cost me my marriage as my wife was the one who copped all my shit when i was stressed. I am lucky i got out when i did cause i was on the verge of a melt down. There is nothing better after 7 yrs of that shit, then to go to work, do my part and come home and not think about it.

if you have your heart set on it, do lots of research and talk to lots of people, and have a bucket load of money in the bank. And do not under any circumstances go into business with anyone. either on your own or with ur other half, anything else has disaster written all over it.

cheers