Business Idea

[Chris08Bus]

My goal is to continue the daily grind of my current job until I muster up the funding to purchase a local cycle dealership. I'm getting close, and the ideas on how to make "my dealership" different from the rest are coming to me in a rush. One of which I wanted to share with the group:

I want to put in a "hobby shop" (as many of you may have seen before) addition to the service department where tools, lift, etc. can be rented by the hour to work on your own bike. I have been a customer at a few hobby shops in the past, but one thing that always seems to be lacking is the availability of parts, fluids, etc. for purchase while working on my car or bike. In this scenario, with the hobby shop as an extension of the service department, not only would you have access to parts for your bike, but you would also have expert technician advice available as well. This could inspire riders with little maintenance experience to try "DIY" repairs or regular maintenance.

So what do you think? For those of you without garages out there, would you come to my shop to work on you bike for an hourly rate...say $8 - &10/hour? Or for those of you out there with garages, but without special tools, would you be interested??

 

[twotonevert]

I think is it's a great idea. Just cover yourself and have some good insurance. I would love to own my own place.

 

[oreo]

It sounds like a pretty good idea to me

 

[Fastfrog007]

I would, I can do many things by myself, but knowing there is someone there to help if needed would be great. Good compromise between payin someone and doin it yourself.

 

[Don Hardcastle]

Kinda like the hobby shop on military bases. Somewhere that you can work on your car, all the tools are there for you along with some expert advice and someone you can ask questions of. I think it is a great idea. Good luck and let us know.

Don

 

[kaybusa]

I love the idea.

 

[rockethead]

i have never heard of such places, so this sounds great. i would definitely bring my bike to a place like that

 

[GsxrBots]

My $.02 by the time you pay $ 10 / hour and then pay dealership price for oil and filter, you could have had the dealership just change your oil.. Plus I could see it as a huge liability for you the shop owner.

Posted from my HTC EVO using Tapatalk.

 

[Chris08Bus]

Excellent point. I was thinking the same thing as well. The only advantage over the equality in price is that you're not at the mercy of whatever other repairs the service department is dealing with. You'd get in, get the oil change done, and get out in a short amount of time. If you're like me, you absolutely loathe the idea of dropping of your bike for a whole day for a friggin' oil change!

 

[GsxrBots]

But if the owner has a true passion for bikes and the people who ride them, there will be no day long oil changes, and the customers will want to stay and wait for oil changes and buy MORE from the well stocked parts department!

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[rockethead]

i hate thinking about who is actually working on my bike. whenever i get it back there is gas stains on the frame or my LEDs were pulled loose and stuffed under the tank instead of fixin em.. or scuff marks on my tail section where someone with a chain attached to their wallet leaned on my bike leaving gouge marks... i hate taking my bike to the shop...

 

[Irish]

ya know, really thinking about it, i probably would if i needed it. I have every tool known to man and more parts, pieces, fluids, gaskets/o-ring kits than i know what to do with but one thing i dont have is a lift (which i will have one day). Would you have a spray booth too? I dont have any paint stuff. That would be awesome!

 

[chrisjp]

Intresting... Run with it!

 

[GsxrBots]

If you make the dealership right nobody should hate to bring their bike there. I thoroughly trust my dealership. Too bad the only one I trust is 2 hours away..

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[fastblackblur]

Sounds like a neat idea, could also be kind of a hang out for gear heads....

 

[Rainbow7]

Whilst I like to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, I rather suspect that the price of oil is going to quadruple over the next few years, so a motorcycle dealership may not be a good investment. If you specialised in selling and servicing fuel-efficient bikes and scooters, that could probably be worthwhile.

 

[Chemmy]

The idea is great, I am sure there are some liability issues to work with. I have often thought of this myself but am no where near being able to start my own shop let alone ok enough in my finances to support the family while the business grew. But like mentioned before this idea is on military bases and works well. People can store there cars there while they work on them incase it is something major.

How about this, instead of it being attatched to the same building, maybe you could have it off to the side of the lot in its own building. People would have to sign waivers to exclude you from legality issues but it could work. I would open a shop like that or I would deffinetly go to a shop like this.

Heck you could even throw in a little tax break by having free classes for do it yourself type people that want to learn and then they have the place to do the work.

 

[semi]

i can't think of the name of the shop at the moment but there is one in Eureka Springs, AR that does this exact thing...i talked to the owner last Fall when we were there and he seemed to be having pretty good luck with it...of course, that area is big for motorcycle tourists and so he gets a lot of bikers traveling away from home that just need the use of his tools

 

[Rainbow7]

OP, make sure your liability insurance is exhaustively comprehensive.

 

[cqt1414]

I rather suspect that the price of oil is going to quadruple over the next few years, so a motorcycle dealership may not be a good investment.

I remember back in the 1970's seeing protesters signs saying there is no more oil and the end is near.
every few years the doomsdayers tell us everything is over. We do see prices fluctuate but fuel and oil are available everywhere and will continue to be for our entire lifes I say. they can't make big V8 SUV's and trucks fast enough. Motorcycles are safe for a loooong time.