Small business small engine sales questions

We are looking at doing specific small engine sales and repair. Seems to be a need in the area, was wondering if any of you do it and can tell me any more about it. Let me clearify this is on taking a product line as a dealer. We already do some repair but have no desire to service all small outdoor equipment. thanks

Service and repair for weed trimmers, chainsaws ,leaf blowers and all makes of mowers is big business for a friend of mine.

He started out with just lawn mowers but does them all now.

Chainsaws and chain sharpening tides him over thru the winters.

I would reconsider the other small engine repair-service if I were you.

But if there is a need in your area go for it.

Gary

Remember--you are competing with LOTS of people
working out of home garages, with low overhead.

speaking from experience, owning a business can be both rewarding and a nightmare at times. being in the repair industry, best advice i can give you, be honest and up front with customers, get the job done as quickly and economically as possible. worst thing i see happening at least in my area with small engine repair shops, you take something in to get fixed and the job dies there for months. i had a chainsaw in the shop for 4 1/2 months. it was a stihl saw, not hard to get parts for. no reason for it. here at the body shop, i can put a 5 to 8k dollar collision repair thru in 10 days.

They can be very time consumeing and unable to get paid for your time unless you give it away which is not prophitable.

Couple of places here that will turn work away if it's old and warn out (unless they want a complete overhaul) and you sign a release that if it's not picked up within 2 weeks of notification, it belongs to them. Sounds a little harsh, but they always have something for sale, a clean shop, and stand behind their work for 2 years.


Dave

During WWII, fellow carries a pair of shoes to the local cobbler.....needs to get them re-soled. It'll take a couple of weeks; next day, he gets his draft notice; life is in turmoil, he forgets the shoes. He winds up making a career of the Army; family has all moved to another state in the mean-time. In the late '70s, he's retired and takes a long vacation; goes back to his old home town to look up some old friends. Lo-and-behold, the old cobbler shop is still on the same corner. He goes in and the same man.......stooped and barely mobile........is behind the counter; just for a joke, he says, "I don't have my ticket, but I left a pair of shoes here to be re-soled in 1942; can I pick them up?" Cobbler says, "Let me check". Goes in the back, is gone 'forever'; finally comes back out and says, "They'll be ready in about 2 weeks."

The problems with working on small engines and lawn equipment is you can buy new ones so cheap.
So how much do you want to make an hour verses how many hours do you want to spend working on it ? and then the price of parts ! It's a loose loose situation.

A friends dad did this for 20 + years in his off time from the NYSP, he had a nice short box 1/2 ton chevy, w/ramps, never used a trailer from what I recall in earlier years, maybe later, as small trailers became more popular.

He occupied an old out building across from his brother who did body work, then that shop later became an auto repair business owned by the other brother, reason I mention it, was connected to a nice ole hay barn, kind of neat place to visit etc. So they were basically on the same premises, pretty well equipped and staffed, everyone in town knew them, well known name, looked pretty busy at times, especially spring time.

Well he kept things organized, though there always seems to be an accumulation of junkers or parts equipment, they kept the place from getting cluttered up and move most of the carcasses or junkers out, had to be some left by customers, always a factor.

He made a decent buck, always had work in the shop and 2-3 people involved even if part time or when busy. He built a reputation, steady customers, repeat and new ones referred etc. Don't think he made a fortune, but it was a real decent part time gig, he passed away at 44, massive heart attack, so he did not get to retire and just do that, a good guy who passed way too early, they kept the business going for awhile after.

Same thing everyone else said, you have to be up front with customers about the repair/service jobs and your policies, have to focus on a business plan, stay organized and build a reputation, word of mouth repeat customers that pay on time is key to it like any business. I know another one in the same business, his yard was chock full of old lawn tractors and similar equipment, been in business at the same level for 30-40 years, started with bicycle repairs. It can be seasonal, with busy times but steady if you work at it. I think you need to see what kind of market is around you, if you can get some customers and adhere to a plan that covers the important parts of the business and keep afloat by doing good work, getting paid, repeat and new business, hard to predict how it will actually go no matter what business you get in, has to be worth taking a chance, dealing with people can be interesting, good reason to have firm customer policies so you don't end up with a bunch of stalled repair jobs etc., not sure where most of the junk at this one guys place came from but their is no doubt that some of it came from customers who bailed out.

My neighbor is another one who was in this business, he sold it some years ago to his partner and retired, his father started it, Husqvana chainsaws, Echo trimmers, still think he will order or get things he does not normally deal with, but a very neat and orderly place, well stocked, old school type of place and person behind the counter, well equipped, my neighbor still works there a few days a week. They seem to have focused on certain equipment, excellent saw shop, located in a visible spot right on the state road, never got into stocking any substantial line ups of equipment, it provided a nice living for this guy, not wealthy but comfortable enough he did not have to take a regular job working for the man. Another established company in the same business opened up a branch & shop right down the street from them, carried a full line up of Stihl and other equipment, including compact Kubota tractors, good experienced people behind the counter, but they recently closed the branch, my neighbors place being well established and focused on certain equipment has stood the test of time, while other business have come and gone, has to be a reason for it.

Biggest problem you'll have it getting paid for your time. By the time you spend 2 hours reversing 4 years of neglect you need to bill them at least $100 to cover time and parts. Then the owner wonders why he's paying you $100 to repair a 4 year old mower that only costed $120 new.

You start cutting your hourly rate to attract customers and you can't make enough to live. If its only a sideline business to suppliment your income you'll have a much easier time.

If you are considering warranty work, be aware that some manufacturers are notoriously picky or even arbitrary about paying for warranty work. You might want to go visit a couple of dealers outside your area who cary that line before you sign a contract.

Thurlow that is kool, a friend took a summer job in 1951 driving a road tractor trailer. He retired in 1995 that was one long summer!!!

My small engine shop has had some problems with various manufacturers wanting him to put in too large an inventory of saws or whatever - way too much $ tied up in inventory. Need to look at these programs very carefully. May well be the high startup costs, interest will have you doomed before you even start. Note that my delaer no longer carries Arens, Huskvarna, draw your own conclusions.

I dont know about sticking to a single product line, is there a reason you dont want to service all outdoor equipment? I can understand warranty work and buy-it-new-for-$89 weedeater. I would say it would be tough only servicing 1 brand.