I have a dream..... actually it's more like an idea

[Kneescrubber]

I never said that is what I would charge. I said that is what the Army charges you on post. The Army Auto Craft Center is subsidized. They don't have to make money.

Well, that was the point I was trying to make. So how much is this going to cost me? Is it structured around what I use? I.E., separate charges for space, tools, lift....?

[NoGear]

Well, that was the point I was trying to make. So how much is this going to cost me? Is it structured around what I use? I.E., separate charges for space, tools, lift....?

That will have to wait till I do the business plan and figure out the costs.

[HipGnosis]

I liked the auto center in the Air Force.  I was use to a well supplied garage as my Dad use to be an auto mechanic.

Your post reminds me of a place like you're talking about; Hands-on Garage  Milwaukee if you want to google them.
I think I'll use them to change the oil in my car this winter - can't get it in the garage now that I have 2 bikes.

I'm pretty sure a rental-garage will certainly do better where there is bad weather; cold, hot, etc.

[Justin]

I thought of this thread while reading - http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,69893.0.html

Said to myself, "This sounds familiar"  

Just passing this along in case you are still pondering the idea. Looks like http://www.bayareamotoshop.com is doing something very similar to what you want to do, except limited to bikes. Might be worth looking through their site to see what they are doing for some ideas.

[stevent]

I used the one on base all the time when I was in the Navy, I don't even think we had to pay for it back then. The biggest problem I can see is that newer cars are a whole lot harder to work on than the 60's and 70's cars we all drove and worked on. There's an awful lot of expensive plastic under the hood these days that most people would be leery about messing with. Simple things like air cleaners can be done in your own driveway, I think your biggest business is going to be oil changes and brake pads. I'd rent out floor jacks and creepers as well as hydraulic lifts for that kind of work.

A well stocked shop is going to be expensive, keeping even basic consumables on hand for all the different makes and models out there now is going to be spendy. Maybe some kind of sweetheart deal with a local auto parts shops would work, you send customers there for parts at a slight discount, the auto parts shop recommends you to their customers, that kind of a deal. On the plus side with so many people living in apartments and duplex's now, there's a lot less places an owner can do any kind of work on a car without the neighbors or property managers having a fit. That would work in your favor.

[Kneescrubber]

I thought of this thread while reading - http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,69893.0.html

Said to myself, "This sounds familiar"  

Just passing this along in case you are still pondering the idea. Looks like http://www.bayareamotoshop.com is doing something very similar to what you want to do, except limited to bikes. Might be worth looking through their site to see what they are doing for some ideas.

Yeah, me too. Only I couldn't remember NoGear's name or post title.  

[NoGear]

Thanks!