setting up a business repairing small Plant and tools

[MC2016]

Hi,
I'm really keen on setting up my own business repairing small plant machinery and power tools.
I am experienced and qualified in plant maintenance.

The things stopping me are that I know I will find it hard for a while to make enough money as I do now in my current job.
Secondly I'm not sure if I am able to work out of my garage which I would have to do until I was making enough to warrant renting a premises. Do I need to ask local council if it's possible?

I already have a few customers lined up and am confident I can get out there and bring in more.

I feel I could do with talking with someone who has ventured down this lane before.

Another thing I would do is buying and selling used machinery too so I know There's a few ways to bring in the income for me. Even eventually hiring out plant could be an option too.

In the loc

 

[Gecko001]

The things stopping me are that I know I will find it hard for a while to make enough money as I do now in my current job.

Is this because you expect very few customers at first? This is normal and you have to budget for it by having some savings or other means of support until you build up your customers.

 

[MC2016]

yes and not knowing if I will be able to make decent living out of it.

 

[Gecko001]

There will be a question of planning permission of course which could result in you having to move to commercial premises at some time in the future. So I would plan now for eventually moving to commercial premises at some time in the near future. Remember when working from home , customers will probably come to you because they will expect to pay low prices from someone working from their garage at home. Is there a market for the services operating from commercial premises when you have to put up your prices to cope with the extra overheads?

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

yes and not knowing if I will be able to make decent living out of it.

No one but you can answer that.

Can you perhaps set up the business part time, working in the evenings and at weekends?

Ultimately being self employed does require you to take risks and for some the worry of not being able to pay the bills and not having a regular salary isnt one they can cope with, others do.

 

[Graham Tyers]

Small plant and tool repairs was my first ever business.

If you can find a nice niche and only touch kit that you are confident in turning around quickly and with good results then you certainly can make a good living.

Whatever you do - don't touch anything that you can't repair properly with your eyes closed, and where you know you can get the spares for easily.

... and invest in some permanent stickers to put on every tool you touch.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Would the hire companies be in need of your services as a freelance mechanic either onsite or at their workshops as a way of reducing riusk

You will need to open accounts with the major spares outlets or manufacturers so you can get next day spares

Could be a nice earner but maybe a slow starter unless you do your homework properly.

 

[Mitch3473]

I wouldn't worry too much about working from your garage,thousands and thousands of self emp people do. As long as you dont annoy the neighbours until such a time that you have to make the move. We even set up a laundry in ours for nearly a year with 6 washers and tumble dryers,working late into the night on occasions until we moved into commercial premises. We were so busy informing the council completely slipped our mind.