if you in car audio or customization please enter!

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

If you know me you already know I am a residential general contractor. Well my industry has died, and I am in a situation where I can either go get a shitty job or go all in and open a custom auto shop. I am having a hard time pulling the trigger, with the economy being what it is, and the fact that I am in a shitty position already, really leaves me with a shitty outlook on other ventures.

I am asking for your thoughts, and if your in the business, how are your numbers and what is the outlook, from your prospective.

Thanks in advance

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[slam 5,000+ posts]

I can live on the income when i lived in the "Big City". I bought and sold equipment tho. no installs

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

no advice or thoughts?

 

[Loud3 10+ year member]

Make sure that if you do go 'all in,' then you should actively recruit the best installers/fabricators that you can.

I can not tell you how shops I have seen fail because of employee failure or just plain idiot sales.

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

I can live on the income when i lived in the "Big City". I bought and sold equipment tho. no installs

first you beat me, sorry

I have opportunity to get in with the clients I have doen work for in the past, along with the Titans players to start along with daily traffic.

I just wonder if a true net $1,500/wk is realistic?

When I had my shop back in the '90's I was alot younger and didn't have the responsibilities I have now.

 

[tc3k101 5,000+ posts]

dont open a business just yet. the economy is going to get worst and if your business doesnt make it well, you would be severly in debt.

people dont need car audio and custom things done to their car. if it was something people needed i would say do it, but Audio/video isnt really a priority to some people.

keep in mind the risk with starting a new business especially if you dont have a name out there.

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

Make sure that if you do go 'all in,' then you should actively recruit the best installers/fabricators that you can.
I can not tell you how shops I have seen fail because of employee failure or just plain idiot sales.

I agree 100% I would be hands on along with another installer

 

[thegreatestpenn 5,000+ posts]

u just missed tax season. alot of people spent their tax money on systems at my friend's shop. its all about timing and location. If you can capitalize on your demographic you can be VERY successful

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

dont open a business just yet. the economy is going to get worst and if your business doesnt make it well, you would be severly in debt.people dont need car audio and custom things done to their car. if it was something people needed i would say do it, but Audio/video isnt really a priority to some people.

keep in mind the risk with starting a new business especially if you dont have a name out there.

This is my question.

need and want are totally understood, however Nashville is a very wealthy area, with very little competition in this market. As for a name, that can be had in very short order, which can be very bad or very good.

My question is existing businesses, are your numbers way down, 10% 25% 50%...

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

u just missed tax season. alot of people spent their tax money on systems at my friend's shop. its all about timing and location. If you can capitalize on your demographic you can be VERY successful

It would be opened on a budget bigger than a shoe string. We would be in the game for the long run.

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

Are there any members that are in the industry, that would be open enough to give me some information.

 

[tc3k101 5,000+ posts]

This is my question.
need and want are totally understood, however Nashville is a very wealthy area, with very little competition in this market. As for a name, that can be had in very short order, which can be very bad or very good.

My question is existing businesses, are your numbers way down, 10% 25% 50%...

ok for our business cod customers have gone down 60% in the past two years

over all profit is down around 40% over the last two years. this year alone we have seen a signficant drop.

granted i do autoglass, and that is a neccassity(sp?)

i personally wouldnt start a new business right now. ive seen tons of car audio shops shutdown in the generally area's i frequent to daily

 

[kmanian 5,000+ posts]

ok for our business cod customers have gone down 60% in the past two years
over all profit is down around 40% over the last two years. this year alone we have seen a signficant drop.

granted i do autoglass, and that is a neccassity(sp?)

i personally wouldnt start a new business right now. ive seen tons of car audio shops shutdown in the generally area's i frequent to daily

Thanks for the info and advice, it is well recieved.

I guess this is another instance of the OBAMA plan not working!

Any more?

 

[528hz 10+ year member]

I'm not in the business, but I've been around it enough.

I think it "could" be a good idea to open a shop. Lots of things considered, I think it's possible. I live in a small town of about 40,000 or so, and the shops around here are still banking. My buddy who owns Pro Sound is one of those guys who's 50 going on 16; been in the game for 27 years; he's like a zeirbox.

Has the best customer service, doesn't talk at you like you don't know shit, and he'll do any type of install. He'll even do other equipment people bring in. He hasn't slowed down in last 3 or 4 years.

I think if you keep it pretty universal and not just big installs you will bring a much wider customer base. More people would feel most comfortable to go to you.

As far as the economy...I always think that even though everyone seems to be in bad financial situations, the accessory and aftermarket segments will ALWAYS have customers because people are ALWAYS looking for salvation in tangibles.

 

[da box king 10+ year member]

90% of new business don't make profit during the first year.....so don't get yur hopes up with /$1500 a week

and I'm in construction management and will also be getting a degree on the civil side. I know some people who are actually goin out of the country for a job. I was actually just doin an estimate for nashville, tenn today and ****....it's cheap down there, material and labor is much less than national average,

If you wanted to stay in construction then maybe look into the civil side. Many jobs in the future will be for civil projects due to government funds.