Breaking into the "biz"

[Kevin]

Salutations Mondo!

Was going to post this in the tools section but it's probably more of a general discussion post.

After 20+ years in the cube farm I've decided that it's time for a change. My office is living on borrowed time as it is and I really don't want to work in an office environment any longer. While I've still got a steady paycheck I think it's a good time to look into something different.

I've been turning wrenches shade tree style since I was a kid, I decided long ago that I didn't want to someone to fix something that I could take care of myself. A friend of mine brought up small engine repair as a possible plan B for me, not sure why I didn't think of it before she said anything.

I'm not sure exactly where to start. I have a 3 bay garage that I will wall off for a 20x20 shop. I have basic tools and can probably figure out 90% of what I'll need tool wise (although any pointers in this department will be appreciated too) the thing that's got me scratching my bald head is education. I can find no formal training for small engine or power equipment repair in my area so I was considering some online training. I'm looking at Penn Foster but before I sign up for that or anything else I wanted to get some opinions from people that are already in the trenches with the wrenches, as it were.

Basically is there any good distance learning opportunities for this? I have several pieces of power equipment that I can learn on and access to more. I live in North Western PA so we have just about everything up here. Chain saws, ATVs, mowers etc... and while I have no aspirations to get rich doing this I think there should be enough business around here to pay the bills, hopefully anyway.

Also what specialized certifications should I plan on obtaining?

Thanks in advance and sorry for making my first post so long.

Kevin~

[bgsengine]

Hmm Northwest PA.. Nice.. a couple hours to our left .. (We're North Central)

OK to start with you'll need a supply for parts (for now ebay, amazon, and some of the online places will do - I have a project in the works to supply parts to small shops just like yours, and mobile shops, etc at far better pricing..) Stens, Rotary, and if you are anywhere near Erie, PA, Laser Sales might be a starting point too when you get reasonably busy.

As for training -all those diploma mill courses just take your money and hand you a diploma - whether you actually learn anything from it is *up to you* - You can get a good grasp of the basics for much less money from any number of good books on Amazon (Such as "Small Engines" by Bruce Radcliff - http://www.amazon.com/Small-Engines-R-B ... 0826900267 ) But it won't be as structured as home study courses - I myself took the Foley-Belsaw course when I was , oh 12 years old.. and started my shop at age 13 .. gosh that was a LONG freakin time ago.. haha!

NRI also has a good program (Are they still in business either? I dont know.) I never cared much for Penn Foster

Once you get set up and start doing some work, if you get a good relationship with a Briggs dealer, they might set you up with a technician account at Briggs power portal - much training to be had there and you can also take the tech tests (and even the Briggs Master tech certification) online.

And of course, the guys here are , in my opinion, second to none when it comes to small engines,, and you can always inquire here when you get a tough one...

We'll be happy to help you out.. Tips and tricks, tools you may need. (You will absolutely need a few good torque wrenches! I have 8 of them)

Service manuals, information, tech tips, bulletins and the like (and safe work practices) are free to be had from many sources including here. (after your third post you should have access to downloads section)

As for your shop space - you will have more room than I did when I started! (16 x 18)

Don't sell yourself short on labor either.. any business related stuff, feel free to ask me via P.M. and I'll be happy to help you out, too.

You will want to get a PA Tax license, and if really serious and a shop name in mind, register your business name with PA Dept of State (I can explain how to do all that if you want.)

[Kevin]

Thanks for the reply bgsengine, good food for thought and exactly the kind of info that I was looking for.

So I hit the link in your sig, we're not quite an hour away from each other, I live just outside of Bradford and work in Coudersport so I drive 6 daily . Small world eh ? I'll have to stop in and pick your brain from time to time and if you get the supply thing going wile I'm still commuting it'll save time and shipping, gotta love that.

Oh and to answer your question, no more NRI: "Due to changes in the marketplace, The McGraw-Hill Companies has recently reached the decision to phase out the NRI Schools operation. Effective April 1, 1999, NRI is no longer accepting additional enrollments. Based on this decision, NRI will no longer be sending out catalogs or promotional materials regarding our courses. "


Bummer

[bgsengine]

Awesome! Which of the Coudersport operations you work at if I may ask? Just curious... (if it had been 10 years ago I'd have guessed Adelphia!) I am born and raised Potter County native Feel free to stop in any time (You probably go right by Roulette on U.S. 6.. Probably have a heck of a time back and forth when Hawbaker is blacktopping, lately..)

[bobodu]

Find a real job without the hassles.

[bgsengine]

Find a real job without the hassles.

Where's the fun in that? After being self employed full time all this time, I do not think I could possibly stand to work for someone else.. despite the hours, horrible pay, and worse boss... Just couldn't do it.

[Kevin]

Awesome! Which of the Coudersport operations you work at if I may ask? Just curious... (if it had been 10 years ago I'd have guessed Adelphia!) I am born and raised Potter County native Feel free to stop in any time (You probably go right by Roulette on U.S. 6.. Probably have a heck of a time back and forth when Hawbaker is blacktopping, lately..)

Hey I'll take the delay for a smoother ride, besides they're moving pretty quickly, one of their teams started in Smethport this morning, much nicer. My wife works at CCMH so at least we've got a semi-carpool going on, it gets to be a boring drive when you're alone. It's great not feeling like we're driving on a wash board anymore.

I'm currently with Level3, moved up here from Tampa back in '01 to work for Adelphia Business Solutions shortly before the bottom fell out (Adelphia Cable was right on our heals with their bankruptcy ). Been dodging the RIF bullets ever since, I've been lucky so far but not sure how long that will continue.

As for the big city of Roulette, yup, drive past twice a day, nearly every day so I'll stop in one of these days soon to start the brain picking LOL. I'm originally from a town in Iowa about the size of Roulette, some people don't understand how anybody could live in a town that small but I totally get it.

Find a real job without the hassles.

bobodu, I've been in telecom for a long time, not much of that around here anymore and there are zero positions in that field without hassles. If I'm going to have to retrain for a new line of work I'll make sure that it's something that I'll enjoy this time and I do love turning wrenches

[RoyM]

Before jumping in with both feet maybe look into pulling wrenches in a successful shop to see what it's like. Look at the way they run the business, learn what to do and just as important what not to do. It's not enough to open the door with a smile on your face and tools on the bench, the small business owner needs a solid plan and book keeping skills to survive. Know where every dollar is going and know your costs.

[bgsengine]

Before jumping in with both feet maybe look into pulling wrenches in a successful shop to see what it's like. Look at the way they run the business, learn what to do and just as important what not to do. It's not enough to open the door with a smile on your face and tools on the bench, the small business owner needs a solid plan and book keeping skills to survive. Know where every dollar is going and know your costs.

Good advice for most .. seeing as he'll be dropping by here, can probably skip over the turning wrenches for other people part (This area, such jobs are more of a "high school dropout" category of job - the pay sucks and the travel expense to and from, once you figure that in, hardly worth going to work in the offseason.. lots of layoffs, and I cannot think of a single employer in the area in this business I would want to work for...) - I can probably offer the needed guidance and advice - always happy to help other dealers (as if they even bother to check with me.. heh.. to each their own..)

All the distributors and their employees are pretty much located in urban areas with huge markets - none of them truly understand small town living like we do.. Bradford, PA , to *US* here in the boondocks is "the big city" - but to someone from Pittsburgh or Miami for example, it's "a little town up north" - so it is hard to explain to a salesman trying to get you to book 30-40 chainsaws thinking a good dealer should be able to move 40-50 a month if not more that there just is not enough of a market for it around here. I'd be thrilled if we were moving 10 a month - Having a dealership every 20 miles or so around here is like having a dealer on every city block in Miami or Pittsburgh - its just too crowded

I'm reminded of a T-Shirt that used to be around a long time ago (I think the local C of C printed them up for a celebration in the 70's) - The shirt had a picture of the devil on the front saying "Where the hell is Roulette?" .. and on the back of the shirt "Who the hell CARES?" - its that kind of small town - if you blink while driving by, you miss it.

[bobodu]

Well...if the wife has a REAL job...then you can afford the months with nothing to do and she can do all the housework when you are doing the 27 snowblowers that came in today at once or all the generators that won't start and are needed right now because of the storm. Don't worry about the $200 repair bill for the $200 mower....people love to pay up for that stuff after you spent time finding the problem..If I were to do it all over again...I would go into drain opening...start up cost is much lower and you still get to deal with the sh!^.