How many of you own more than 1 shop??
- Thread starter bdoggman
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Mindfulness
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It completely depends on your situation. Could you give more details to your situation? Would you be expanding to a new market?
NYJimbo
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How or why are you going to open another shop if you are just a one man operation ?
I opened a 2nd shop back in 97. It lasted 3 years before we were hit with a Hurricane on the east coast. Flooded with 5' of water in the shop. We tried to recover but had to move to a less than desirable location in the same town. Ended up closing that shop within 1 year. What I can tell you from my past experience is this. Don't open it too close to your other location. My second location was 20 miles away. Once customers learned they could access me, the key person, at another location, sales of my primary location suffered. Second, if you are primarily residential, a second location may help grow the business as it will provide more exposure. Just make sure you understand your competition before you dump money into a second effort. You may be better of putting those funds into your current shop rather than spreading thin. Of course, if you have unlimited funds, it may not matter. If you focus on business or want to eventually become an MSP, chances are a second location will only hinder your efforts. You will spread yourself thin with two locations unless you can hire competent and trust worthy employees.
And lastly, if you value your personal life, don't do it unless you are prepared to hire good help.
And lastly, if you value your personal life, don't do it unless you are prepared to hire good help.
codegreen
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That's what I'm wondering. Wouldn't it make more sense to hire on some staff at your current location first?
seedubya
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I do but am considering closing it and re-focusing my efforts in B2B which already provides 80% of my revenue anyway.
When I say considering - I mean almost definitely. Trying one final marketing campaign and then out the door if there's no joy. I want to start getting some extra business clients before all of the guys in other shops start getting the same idea.
When I say considering - I mean almost definitely. Trying one final marketing campaign and then out the door if there's no joy. I want to start getting some extra business clients before all of the guys in other shops start getting the same idea.
adewale
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Opening another shop is a good idea when you have the required resources-human and capital resources.
Paul Rodgers
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Lisa (callthatgirl) did but ended up closing all of them.
lan101
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The customers that I work for...most of them could barely hook up their tower correctly if needed. Most just either don't have the knowledge to do it, and or too old to be able to see etc etc. Over half the time, to me it's way easier just to charge appropriately and get everything reconfigured onsite so you know it's working properly. The last thing I want is a call about, printer dont work, sound dont work, or whatever.
Depending on the problem, the same thing goes for business clients. I think most people here deal with way more business clients than I do, but even the ones I work for, it's either onsite or remote anyways. I don't see how a "store or shop" gains you much anymore. I know there are exceptions like NYJimbo who does a ton of laptop repair and stuff like that. Also the guys that do tons of cell phone repairs and screen replacements. For that work it totally makes sense, but if your not doing a lot of work in those areas, then I don't see what's going to bring in the revenue to maintain. Just my 2 cents about it. So I would say no on opening another shop unless you got someone else to help run it correctly.
Depending on the problem, the same thing goes for business clients. I think most people here deal with way more business clients than I do, but even the ones I work for, it's either onsite or remote anyways. I don't see how a "store or shop" gains you much anymore. I know there are exceptions like NYJimbo who does a ton of laptop repair and stuff like that. Also the guys that do tons of cell phone repairs and screen replacements. For that work it totally makes sense, but if your not doing a lot of work in those areas, then I don't see what's going to bring in the revenue to maintain. Just my 2 cents about it. So I would say no on opening another shop unless you got someone else to help run it correctly.
I wouldn't open another shop if you're managing this store by yourself. Who could you trust to run either store? There is a lot of theft, and dishonest people out there. You need to get someone in your previous store first, and make sure they are capable of doing such a task, before even thinking about it, or putting any more effort in to this, or it will be gloomy on the other side.
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Paul, I'd glad you said before me! Please don't yet....here is what I would do if I were you, and if I could go back in time 3 years what I would have done.
Market to the new location via Google, blogs, Chamber, etc. See how you can get traffic with just those options. Then do home visits and drive there to the jobs. Once you feel you can get more clients via these easy methods, then consider a store. I'm not sure what you have done already, but going there for the work and offering remote support is so much cheaper and you have a bench at your current shop and a remote bench that costs you very little.
Here is my current setup.
I have a tech who does all my remote tune ups and virus removals and snaggy tech jobs I don't want.
He also does onsite for me in one town, I have another tech who is my Mac/Networking whiz who handles another town and does onsite for me too.
I do all the work I want and upsell packages to business clients.
Life is great now.
Market to the new location via Google, blogs, Chamber, etc. See how you can get traffic with just those options. Then do home visits and drive there to the jobs. Once you feel you can get more clients via these easy methods, then consider a store. I'm not sure what you have done already, but going there for the work and offering remote support is so much cheaper and you have a bench at your current shop and a remote bench that costs you very little.
Here is my current setup.
I have a tech who does all my remote tune ups and virus removals and snaggy tech jobs I don't want.
He also does onsite for me in one town, I have another tech who is my Mac/Networking whiz who handles another town and does onsite for me too.
I do all the work I want and upsell packages to business clients.
Life is great now.
Krynn72
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I'm not the owner, but I essentially run one of several shops the owner/my boss has opened up in this state. You definitely, definitely cannot run multiple shops on your own. The owner of our store at this point just travels from one store to the other every day doing administrative stuff, parts deliveries, and moving repair jobs around to the best suited techs. Rarely does he have time fix anything.
We're entirely in-shop break/fix repairs, so if that's your market then it may be worth it if you can afford to hire at least two trustworthy people (one to work each shop full time, leaving you free to float between the two). You definitely want to open it up far enough away to not cut into your current store's customer-base.
We're entirely in-shop break/fix repairs, so if that's your market then it may be worth it if you can afford to hire at least two trustworthy people (one to work each shop full time, leaving you free to float between the two). You definitely want to open it up far enough away to not cut into your current store's customer-base.
Tony_Scarpelli
Rest In Peace Tony
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But what do you do when they do get that same idea and come later? Prices get squeezed.
PCX
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I have a few concerns:
1. If you are only a one man operation, then I am assuming that you are unable to produce enough business in your own area to hire on more techs. Which means that money will likely be tight if you were able to open another store.
2. If you are only a one man operation, then that means that instead of concentrating on growing your business, you are actually working the business. How are you going to grow your business at a new location, if you are unable to do so at your current location? This may also be a contributing factor if you have not been able to produce enough business to hire on more techs at your current location.
3. If you are only a one man operation, then that means you do not have any other trained techs who you can trust to run a shop for you. Now, I could be wrong, you may have someone you would like to partner with, but I would think good and hard about that decision.
4. Finally, being a one man operation with no other trained techs who you trust to make decisions like you and to provide the same quality and customer care as you, how do you plan on implementing quality control in either your old or new location?
Here are a few suggestions:
When considering a new shop, you will have to do a lot of research in the area you are interested in. Ultimately, you will need to determine if it will be profitable or not. Here are a few things you should look into and by no means is this extensive or all inclusive:
Find out what the average pricing for repairs are in that market.
Find out who your competitors are.
Find out how your competitors are advertising.
What kind of web presence do these competitors have?
What kind of reputation do they have?
Are they doing well? If not, then why?
Find out what your soon to be competition is doing right and what they are doing wrong.
What is the average price you should expect to pay for a lease?
Do you have the option to buy a building?
Should you buy a building?
What kind of expenses should you expect?
What are the main avenues for advertising? How much do they cost?
After considering average pricing and expenses, will your business be profitable?
What is the demographics of the area?
Does the characteristics of the area make for a profitable market?
Even if you are able to be profitable, how profitable will you really be?
Finally, after doing your due diligence, find some good business people who are smarter and more successful than your self and that you trust to be honest and straightforward with you. Ask them their opinion of your business plan. Tell them your ideas and lay out your findings. Leave out no details, especially the bad ones. Often times we will want to convince ourselves that we have a good idea and that we are making the right decision. Because of this, we try not to prove ourselves wrong and we most definitely do not seek counsel from others smarter than ourselves. I encourage you to do the opposite. Do everything possible to find out why this may be a bad idea and seek the counsel of those who are smarter and more successful than yourself. If after doing all of this, your business plan still seems like a good idea, then move forward. I wish you the best of luck.
1. If you are only a one man operation, then I am assuming that you are unable to produce enough business in your own area to hire on more techs. Which means that money will likely be tight if you were able to open another store.
2. If you are only a one man operation, then that means that instead of concentrating on growing your business, you are actually working the business. How are you going to grow your business at a new location, if you are unable to do so at your current location? This may also be a contributing factor if you have not been able to produce enough business to hire on more techs at your current location.
3. If you are only a one man operation, then that means you do not have any other trained techs who you can trust to run a shop for you. Now, I could be wrong, you may have someone you would like to partner with, but I would think good and hard about that decision.
4. Finally, being a one man operation with no other trained techs who you trust to make decisions like you and to provide the same quality and customer care as you, how do you plan on implementing quality control in either your old or new location?
Here are a few suggestions:
- Start writing a policies and procedures manual for everything you do in the shop. Anything you feel that you would ever have to train someone to do, write a manual for it.
- Work on growing your business rather than working your business. This may mean you will need to hire a part/full time tech to do all the technical work. Keep in mind that you may be training for a few months before you are comfortable with letting them doing all the repairs without you. It may take even longer before you are comfortable with them working with the customers without you being by their side. Eventually though, this is what you want.
- Start saving money for the new shop. I would put away at least 6 months rent and expenses, as well as any startup costs that you may incur. This will require some time and research. When in doubt, over compensate and put away more than you think you need.
- Once you have a few good techs working for you and you can trust one of them to manage your shop AND this all happens profitably without you, then it is time to consider opening another shop.
When considering a new shop, you will have to do a lot of research in the area you are interested in. Ultimately, you will need to determine if it will be profitable or not. Here are a few things you should look into and by no means is this extensive or all inclusive:
Find out what the average pricing for repairs are in that market.
Find out who your competitors are.
Find out how your competitors are advertising.
What kind of web presence do these competitors have?
What kind of reputation do they have?
Are they doing well? If not, then why?
Find out what your soon to be competition is doing right and what they are doing wrong.
What is the average price you should expect to pay for a lease?
Do you have the option to buy a building?
Should you buy a building?
What kind of expenses should you expect?
What are the main avenues for advertising? How much do they cost?
After considering average pricing and expenses, will your business be profitable?
What is the demographics of the area?
Does the characteristics of the area make for a profitable market?
Even if you are able to be profitable, how profitable will you really be?
Finally, after doing your due diligence, find some good business people who are smarter and more successful than your self and that you trust to be honest and straightforward with you. Ask them their opinion of your business plan. Tell them your ideas and lay out your findings. Leave out no details, especially the bad ones. Often times we will want to convince ourselves that we have a good idea and that we are making the right decision. Because of this, we try not to prove ourselves wrong and we most definitely do not seek counsel from others smarter than ourselves. I encourage you to do the opposite. Do everything possible to find out why this may be a bad idea and seek the counsel of those who are smarter and more successful than yourself. If after doing all of this, your business plan still seems like a good idea, then move forward. I wish you the best of luck.
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