thinking of starting a business

[splashman]

Originally Posted by Tony G

being unemployed again im thinking of maybe starting up a bike business ! it's something iv'e always wanted to do since my 20's. always wanted some sort of custom shop and seing their is a lot of Harley's around here maybe them as well ? iv'e had a lot of experience with jap bikes being a bike mechanic for nealy 20 years. but at 46 ( just ) im i to old and will it work in the Barrow area ????? any thought's ?

Hey Tony
I've got a thought, why not become a carpet cleaner, trust me they are earning a fortune at the moment. Last month I set 5 new start ups going in business and so far they are doing well. Give me a call if you are struggling to get ideas 01938 555754.
Stuart

[Stuarty]

What about a bike breakers? I did this on the QT a number of years ago and was turning excellent profit. Worked from home and used Ebay. The drawback was needing bigger premises coz there is good money in fairing panels and the likes. Got in to Harleys and couldnt be bothered after that.

For me the key was not to buy damaged bikes as the parts riders are looking for are the bits that get damage in accidents........ Was buying good roadworthy bikes and it worked.

With everyone feeling the pinch there will probably be a return to buying used parts as new parts cost much more.

Try it, see how ya get on and decide if its worthwhile or not. Even if its only a stop gap it could be an earner for ya

[Squiz]

Originally Posted by Tony G

being unemployed again im thinking of maybe starting up a bike business ! it's something iv'e always wanted to do since my 20's. always wanted some sort of custom shop and seing their is a lot of Harley's around here maybe them as well ? iv'e had a lot of experience with jap bikes being a bike mechanic for nealy 20 years. but at 46 ( just ) im i to old and will it work in the Barrow area ????? any thought's ?

Several people I know Tony have carried on working for someone else, then built up a customer base doing foreigners, you'd need a secure workshop in your case though. As the customer base becomes regular or not! as the case may be, they then make the decision to move over to their own business or remain as they are. This requires a huge amount of hard work and commitment if and when you approach a customer base that may allow you to make this move, however all businesses do in their early years, even if it's all they are channeling their time into and not doing two jobs. So make sure you are really prepared to do an 80 hour week etc before you embark on this route, because that is what it takes mate. This is exactly how one of my Brothers-in-law started his Architects business, still going 20yrs later and still working 50-60hrs a week. Mind you, he and my sister do live in a £750,000 (equivalent to approx £2 Million house down South) house in Dendron and have a fantastic lifestyle, several fancy motors, fantastic holidays, etc, etc Despite all that, there are still times when he wishes working life were a little more simple as it is when you work for someone else and he's had some very hard times, especially in the first 5yrs. 80+hrs a week was a minimum for a long, long time mate.

I'll be your Saturday lad if that's any help though, LOL. I make an excellent brew and swing a mean sweeping brush .

[Brigg]

Without putting a damper on things, arent the dockyar taking on engineers etc for the new Nuclear Submarines.. My oppo still lives in Barrow and works with me here in Kent and had years in the dockyards unitil he move to the platform in Morcambe Bay

[English Steve]

I did as Squiz suggested last year - not in the bike business, but agri engineering and weld/fab etc. Work full time 8.30 till 5.00 for a manufacturing company, then out around the farms evenings and weekends.
Doing it that way I didn't have to borrow from the banks so I don't owe anybody anything. If things go down the pan with the business, they won't be able to take my house away.
It's hard work doing the hours, but I get more satisfaction out of it than any job i've ever had, and it pays for those little extras like resoring a 45.
I don't think I would want to go full-time self employed (but that's just me and my opinion) but I know that if my day job goes squit I can still pay my mortgage, and some of my customers have already said that they could find me a day a week permanent if I ever need it. Only takes five of those ...

I don't know the bike business well enough to make recommendations, the above is my own personal experience and at the moment i don't regret it.

Which ever way you decide to go, good luck with it.