DIY Rental bays

Hey there,

so i am doin this school project, i have to come up with a
proposal for a Do it yourself garage. I'm in Canada.

most mechanics think this is a stupendously bad idea, as it
will just create more probs than it solves for the average
consumer, but I think that if we had a facility that
provided the right tools and resources, it could be
feasible.

Also, I doubt there would be enough demand to support a
DIY Only shop, so one would probably need to dedicate
some bays to regular automotive service for customers who
want it.

My question is, not being an experienced mechanic, what
machinery and special tools would be required to make a
shop like this run? I'm not looking for all the answers,
just looking for some ideas I may have overlooked.

Thanks
t

 

Well, once you get past the liability issues, property damage,
environmental regulations, and tool theft, it's a great idea.

Ho-boy. How much do you want to spend? Have you lined up financing from
your bank or somebody? I'm thinking it has got to cost close to $100,000 to
properly equip a shop for most work.

It may not have occurred to you to wonder why there are no such things as
DIY garages any more, so some research is in order here before you sign
personal loan guarantees, son.

 

Hi Tegger,

Thanks for the reply.

Insurance is definitely a big concern when it comes to an
idea such as this. Even though we Canadians would like to
think we are a less 'litigous' society than our friends
down south, this is becoming less and less true.

To reiterate, this is just for a school project (Red River
College, Business Admin in Winnipeg), a business proposal
which could eventually be evolved into a comprehensive
business plan. For now, I only need to come up with a 5-8
page proposal where we bring up the obvious issues like
insurance and whatnot, as well as startup cost figures and
other pertinent information.

As far as 'financing', the reason we are doing this
project is so that we can be evaluated by 'industry
experts' who would then make a decision as to whether the
business is feasible or not. If we decided to take it
from school into the real world, that would be up to us.


Anyways, talk about long winded. Thats the story, and any
input would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Terry

 

Most American Air Force bases have a "Auto Hobby Shop". Now even at the low
cost that they charge (A few dollars an hour) The problems with loss of
tools, envirrmental issues, safety and basic auto knowledge, it wasn't a
feasible job. The military provided it due to the low income of the average
enlisted guy. I have spent many hours there, learning how to keep my cars
running. The stuff I do now on a daily basis had to be done by the employees
of the shop, (turning rotors, compressing struts) for insurance reasons.
Then what if the car breaks bad, and cannot be moved. Or the cost to repair
it (in parts) becomes to high.
If I worked in a shop that had several bays for the do-it-yourselfer, and
had to spend time solving there problems, I would loose money. It is
difficult enough to make a shop turn a profit without having people who
would need constant supervision.

I think its good in theory, but it's way to unrealistic in practice.

 

Hey t,
You might want to give these guys a call:

A recent ad in the Ottawa Pennysaver

Complete Auto Services
----------------------

Do-It-Yourself
Auto Repair
Body Work

4 bays available for rent.

2060 Scott St. (Near Churchill) (613)720-4748

Dan

(This account is not used for email.)

 

Tom & Ray Magliozzi of NPR's Car Talk started the "Good News Garage" in
Cambridge MA as a DIY auto repair shop back in the 70's. They lost
money, but got a radio show out of the deal. Of course, they're both
geniuses who went to MIT...

http://www.cartalk.com/content/about/bios/tom-bio.html
http://www.cartalk.com/content/about/bios/ray-bio.html

--Gene

 

This is not a new idea. I recall a while back, 70's or 80's, there was a
chain of this type of shop. You rent the space and tools you needed to
work on your car. You probably want to see how they ran their shop and
what caused them to go under before you start your business. It could
save you a lot of time and money.

 

If memory serves, "Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers", of radio talk
show fame ran one of these in Cambridge, MA, about 20 years ago, years
before they ever hit the airwaves.

- RWM

 

I am currently operating a DO IT YOurself Auto Repair center in Richmond
Virginia. The response has been great and with virtualy no advirtising we
are gaining customers every week. We do not rent small hand tools, only
eqquipment like trans jacks, engine hoists etc. We have a three page
Assumption of Risk and liability waiver that each person who enters the
bay must read and sign. For as little as 7.50 per hour they get the bay, a
lift, compressed air, electricity and a drain pan. If you're interested in
more details you can e mail me. Bobby