need advise from audio shop owners

[TRANSAMCHARGER2 10+ year member]

Ok, heres what's up

with in 2 years me and my friend are looking to open a car audio/video shop and I have some questions and would like some advise on how to go about this.

first off where taking a mecp class to pass that test and learn more about car audio. not just the basics. I have alot of questions:

1. Where would I learn how to tint windows?

2. What tools would I need to open a shop?

3. How much is insurance/do i need it?

4. How many items would i need in stock?

5. How big of a space/ also how much for rent on that space?

6. Start up cost, how much to take a loan out for?

7. what supplies needed?

8. how much for advisertisment cost?

9. How to go about the loan process?

ANY advise is welcome

thanks

Click to read more...

 

[azbass 5,000+ posts]

you can call up film companys and see if they have and dvd videos that will teach you. the best film i have worked with is formula one.

i can send you a pretty good list of tools, you would need.

you need insurance. check with your insurance agent

start contacting company reps of the product you want, they will help you out there.

depends on what you can afford. My shop has a 2 car garage, one for tint (youll need it) and one for installs, we get by just fine. and a good size show room

i can send you a list of supplies also

depends on the area, get intouch with the radio, paper. etc.

and make shure you have money to work with. carry mainstream brands!

 

[TRANSAMCHARGER2 10+ year member]

yeah, i was thinkin i would only need 2 garages, that list of tools would help me, and where did you learn to tint windows, does seem hard, but i want to do things right (not half-azzed)//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Alpineinstaller 10+ year member]

if you go with Madico tint we get it through Enpro Dist. they also sell D.E.I. alarms, they offer tint classes for 200 bucks aday for like 8 hours of learning, they only do it on the weekends i think.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

3. How much is insurance

Ask your insurance agent

/do i need it?

Unless you want to get your *** sued off and end up loosing everything you personally own and then some.

4. How many items would i need in stock?

Depends on your store, how many items you sell, what items you sell, what the company requires you to keep on hand, how much money you have to spend on inventory, how much room you have, etc etc.

5. ...also how much for rent on that space?

Depends on your area, size, location, quality of the building, etc etc.

6. Start up cost, how much to take a loan out for?

Depend on your costs. Things like being incorporated or a simple partnership will change it. Initial capital requirements will change it. Initial inventory purchases will change it.

Also, don't think you are going to be able to just walk into a bank and get a loan for whatever you need. Doesn't work that way.

8. how much for advisertisment cost?

Depends on your area, size (or length) of the advertisement, who you advertise with, etc etc.

9. How to go about the loan process?

Work up a mid-term budget (3-5yrs atleast) showing expected expenses, income, etc. Short term and long term business plan. Sales projections. Market strategy. That kind of stuff. My advice here; Find a good CPA firm to help you out.

You can't just walk in and ask for a $50,000 to start an audio business. You have to demonstrate that this business will survive and have the ability to repay the loan (not only in the future, but that you presently have the ability to repay the loan). That you have the business knowledge to a run a sucessful business. You'd need to be able to offer sufficient collateral. Etc etc. Also, almost no bank will be willing to lend you the entire amount of money you need to get started. They'll expect you to have a substantial portion of your own funds invested in this aswell. So, start saving up now.

Not to shoot you down.....but, frankly, chances of you walking into a bank and getting a loan [of any decent size] are slim to none.

Your best bet would be to try to go through the SBA: http://www.sba.gov/

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

1. 9-12 volt drill with a clutch

2. drill bit set

3.90 degree driver end for your drill

4. a uni bit

5. a full on socket set (ps make sure to get extra 5.5 mm 7mm and 10 mm sockets)

6. full on set of english and metric wrenches

7. at least one dmm

8. table saw

9. a good jig saw

10. pick set

11. star bit socket set

12. tape measure

13.gm battery wrench

14. a dewalt drill end kit (comes with a sleeved extention star bits screw driver ends and a 1/4 socket adapter.

15. a dremmel tool

16. a table grinder

17. a belt sander

18. heat gun

19. air compressor (55-60 gallon if you plan on glassing)

20. an air saw

21. a da sander (if you plan on glassing)

22. a window crank remover

23. door pin remover

 

[Moe Lester 10+ year member]

1. 9-12 volt drill with a clutch2. drill bit set

3.90 degree driver end for your drill

4. a uni bit

5. a full on socket set (ps make sure to get extra 5.5 mm 7mm and 10 mm sockets)

6. full on set of english and metric wrenches

7. at least one dmm

8. table saw

9. a good jig saw

10. pick set

11. star bit socket set

12. tape measure

13.gm battery wrench

14. a dewalt drill end kit (comes with a sleeved extention star bits screw driver ends and a 1/4 socket adapter.

15. a dremmel tool

16. a table grinder

17. a belt sander

18. heat gun

19. air compressor (55-60 gallon if you plan on glassing)

20. an air saw

21. a da sander (if you plan on glassing)

22. a window crank remover

23. door pin remover

24. router + circle jig

25. T square

26. Angle/Die grinder

27. brad nailer

28. wire cutters/strippers

29. several types of clamps

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

if you go incorperated you arent as responsible as the company is. if the shop totals the car the shop is responsable not you. so in a sense in a corperation you can only lose so much personaly (but you are still responsible for the loan) incorperated also lends to more costs and paper work lol. when you open a shop you have too look at a few things. you have to read your customer areas. like how much they make where they work, average age of you customer. will your bizz lend more to remote starts or audio/ video. its a bad idea to start up a shop with very little product as in a worse case scenario you sell it off it pays for itself. much harder to do that with tools and sound boards (if you want a sound board make it or buy used they depriciate very fast like 50% as soon as you hook it up)

also you have to come to the realization that you wont make money for 6-12 months at least so paying yourself will be the last priority. even if you happened to make money in that span you should stick it right back into the bizz as you would in the long run be alot better off.

 

[theCybe 5,000+ posts]

"LLC."

There are window-tinting forums; Quite interesting to read, honestly. There are dozens of techniques.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

Also, this is now required reading for anyone looking to open a shop:

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showthread.php?threadid=98319

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showthread.php?threadid=98368

http://forum.elitecaraudio.com/showthread.php?threadid=98536

Very, very good read. Gives you an insight into how one of the best in the biz started out, aswell as some great tips and ideas on what to do when you are just starting out yourself.

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

24. router + circle jig25. T square

26. Angle/Die grinder

27. brad nailer

28. wire cutters/strippers

29. several types of clamps

30. utility knive

31. electrical tape

32. heat shrink

33. red , blue , and yellow butt connectors

34. soldering iron and solder

35. self tapping screws 1/2" to 1.25"

36. double sided tape

37. zip ties

38. pan and wood screws .5"-1.25"

 

[guy022077 10+ year member]

30. utility knive31. electrical tape

32. heat shrink

33. red , blue , and yellow butt connectors

34. soldering iron and solder

35. self tapping screws 1/2" to 1.25"

36. double sided tape

37. zip ties

38. pan and wood screws .5"-1.25"

dont worry about tables and cabinets and shelves and storage for things...i built most of the stuff shop stuff ie shelves in storage room and displays..no need to fork over dough on that stuff just build it. like the glass top counter in the front for example...

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

30. utility knive31. electrical tape

32. heat shrink

33. red , blue , and yellow butt connectors

34. soldering iron and solder

35. self tapping screws 1/2" to 1.25"

36. double sided tape

37. zip ties

38. pan and wood screws .5"-1.25"

39. Stripper in install bay posing for pictures half nekkid.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

 

[audiolife 5,000+ posts]

39. Stripper in install bay posing for pictures half nekkid.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

40. a bathroom with a gloryhole lmao

 

[TRANSAMCHARGER2 10+ year member]

what are some products that i might look into to carry?