This is something I've dreamed about with some of my friends for quite a while, but I'm wondering exactly how realistic it is. I just got a call from one of my college buddies and He's movin down here soon. While we were talkin we got on the subject of fabrication, and starting a shop. Basically it would be Me and 2 of my friends,
Alex, moving to San Diego soon, Awsome at body work, Currently works at a hotrod shop doing custom paint and body. also knows chevys quite well, mostly muscle cars
Josh, knows fords real well, mostly muscle cars, has a solid understanding of mechanics and cars/trucks in general.
Me, Know how engines work, basic to moderate mechanics skill (built my own suspension, engine swap, etc.) Fairly solid fab skills. I'm no Bob Roggy, but i can build brackets, and have a real good knowledge of proper ways to build things, more towards the 4x4 realm. I know suspensions better than the other 2 and spend way too much time here learning.
I'm the only one with real fabrication experience, but they could learn and like workin on shit as much as I do. I'm just wondering what it would really take for us to get a shop up and running. With the mix of knowledge we could really work on just about anything, tho I'm leaning towards cages, and 4x4 suspensions, etc. I own a welder, chop saw, grinder, etc. and we all own plenty of tools. Basically all we would need is a bender, notcher, and a place to work and we could be building some cool shit.
What i'm wondering is what are all the things you dont think about when starting a shop. Extra costs, Rent, Insurance, Liability, etc. How much money are we really gonna need to get something like this moving, and do you think there is really a need in the San Diego area? I've got a good job right now, and If we were gonna do this I would probably keep my job and just reduce my hours to work in the afternoons at the shop until we either get going enough to do it full time, or we fail miserably. Also what do you guys think is the best way to get the word out about our shop, if we do it? I'm thinkin it would be sweet to build a tube buggy similar to toyfamilys and go out and compete. What better way to show our skills right? Only problem with that plan is we would have to shell out a bunch of cash to build it and run it competitively. I'd really love to do this, It would be like my dream job if i could live on it, but I'm not sure we could pull it off. I'm only 20 and my buddies are 21, and none of us have a lot of money, we do however all have a passion for motorsports and love to work on stuff. I think that and dedication to good customer service goes a long way, but without $$$ your still nowhere.
Dallas
Alex, moving to San Diego soon, Awsome at body work, Currently works at a hotrod shop doing custom paint and body. also knows chevys quite well, mostly muscle cars
Josh, knows fords real well, mostly muscle cars, has a solid understanding of mechanics and cars/trucks in general.
Me, Know how engines work, basic to moderate mechanics skill (built my own suspension, engine swap, etc.) Fairly solid fab skills. I'm no Bob Roggy, but i can build brackets, and have a real good knowledge of proper ways to build things, more towards the 4x4 realm. I know suspensions better than the other 2 and spend way too much time here learning.
I'm the only one with real fabrication experience, but they could learn and like workin on shit as much as I do. I'm just wondering what it would really take for us to get a shop up and running. With the mix of knowledge we could really work on just about anything, tho I'm leaning towards cages, and 4x4 suspensions, etc. I own a welder, chop saw, grinder, etc. and we all own plenty of tools. Basically all we would need is a bender, notcher, and a place to work and we could be building some cool shit.
What i'm wondering is what are all the things you dont think about when starting a shop. Extra costs, Rent, Insurance, Liability, etc. How much money are we really gonna need to get something like this moving, and do you think there is really a need in the San Diego area? I've got a good job right now, and If we were gonna do this I would probably keep my job and just reduce my hours to work in the afternoons at the shop until we either get going enough to do it full time, or we fail miserably. Also what do you guys think is the best way to get the word out about our shop, if we do it? I'm thinkin it would be sweet to build a tube buggy similar to toyfamilys and go out and compete. What better way to show our skills right? Only problem with that plan is we would have to shell out a bunch of cash to build it and run it competitively. I'd really love to do this, It would be like my dream job if i could live on it, but I'm not sure we could pull it off. I'm only 20 and my buddies are 21, and none of us have a lot of money, we do however all have a passion for motorsports and love to work on stuff. I think that and dedication to good customer service goes a long way, but without $$$ your still nowhere.
Dallas