20k to make his career is his luck, there are many big auto repair shops have been many years but they still going out business today . what can 20k do these days? 20k not enough to buy tools , 20k f no way to open car repair shop in boston or NY , liar .
@@thev5140not trying to be the barrier of bad news bud but certian states are different with that sort of thing. In yours would make sense but again its in a different state. Gotta do some homework man.
This video is horse💩 $20k isn’t enough to buy the basic tools to work in a fully equipped shop. Also banks don’t do small business loans, so where’d he get the $20k?
The absolute biggest plus for this shop is being on his own property. If you can go this route then definitely do it. Also Lucky seems to be a great boss/owner, easy going nice people always is a must. This guy will continue to grow.
Depends on a ton of factors like location, financing, site, etc. I know a shop that was in the same spot for 30 years and then recently sold the original location to a mixed use developer moved up the street and two years later sold the shop to another developer and is in a new spot further up the street. They’ve probably made more profits from real estate than auto work😂. On the flip side you got 1 mile east and there’s like a bunch of shops that are sitting unused and on the market for a long time because the area is low income and low visibility. Building is a whole different ballpark and delays can be detrimental if you don’t have existing cash to cover it.
20k to make his career is his luck, there are many big auto repair shops have been many years but they still going out business today . what can 20k do these days? 20k not enough to buy tools , 20k f no way to open car repair shop in boston or NY , liar .
@@thev5140 so guess you didn't pay attention he said it cost him 20k because he had the property and went the route of having the shop on his property they said that it would be at least double that today. Due to rent increases and inflation. And if you didn't research you would find that there are auto repair businesses that are for sale for 240k including tools all you would need is 20% to get a loan. And have a shop there is semi established already.
He hit every point most of us mechanics struggled with. Flat rate wasn't too bad but quality would take a hit, people would stress when they were under, working a 70hr job and warranty only paying you 42 was rough. Getting paid on days we couldn't even drive to the shop was un heard of. Getting paid hourly with a bonus system is a major plus. Love to see it! Keep on rocking on Lucky!
20k to make his career is his luck, there are many big auto repair shops have been many years but they still going out business today . what can 20k do these days? 20k not enough to buy tools , 20k f no way to open car repair shop in boston or NY , liar .
Developing a relationship with the customers probably one of the most important. They will tell their friends and family members so on and so forth how great of a person you are. All of my bbb awards we're based on such transparency
This is very true JD. Word of mouth referrals are one of the best referrals a business owner can receive. 😀 Congrats on your bbb awards. That's super amazing! What type of business are you in?
@@UpFlip electrical, but I'm a jack of all. Rebuilt transmissions on the side, work on cars as well. I was taught that when you first meet a customer you treat them like a friend, learn to know they like and don't like. Also not to use um,ah, and like in any of your conversations with customers. Transparency as well as honesty. I can also spot a shady customer a mile away some things you pick up after a decade or so. 🤣 I can go on and on my friend a job well done thank you 🙏
great comment, I learned this when I ran a computer business....being honest and transparent with your customers goes a long way, even when you mess up. It was key to my success at the time. It got to a point where customer's would have me over for dinner and treat like family, it was awesome.
yes, but profit close to zero ON PAPER, all those lifts are losing value, all those machines are losing value, even the building is losing value, so he can potentially have a HUGE year with great profit, but still file a loss due to value losses.
The industry is saturated with shops but the shops have a problem keeping and hiring mechanics because of the shortage of workers out there. So there's plenty of work out there.
@@SkilledEddie that's cause shops want to keep the flat rate system, and techs are figuring out it's bullshit at most shops, then there is warranty work at dealerships, where the contract to pay half labor rate is with the dealer and manufacturer, but the dealer passes the reduced pay cost down to the tech, when that should be illegal, cause technically it's theft of service/labor.
I read recently "No outside change can really take root without an inner change," so I'd like to hear more personal-related answers from these people about their previous failures and how they overcame them.
I take issue with his start up cost estimate. To outfit a garage to repair modern cars from bumper to bumper is going to be closer to 60K in tooling - factory scan tools for your top three car lines, AC machines, wallet flushing machines, a variety of timing alignment tools and the like plus another 40 to 80 in shop equipment like lifts, air compressors, fluid dispensers, jacks, snad blasting cabinets and parts washers, service information systems and such. Add another 40K if you buy a used alignment rack and new Hunter or John Bean system. I also have some issues with his thinking his high margin jobs are the engine swaps. They are massive time sucks with low profit margins on the parts as well. Give me half a dozen brake jobs and scheduled maintenance services any day of the week. The bay turns over faster and that drives up effective labor rates and gross profit.
A 10k somewhat quality lift is 5000+ , a r134a machine is 4000+, a 134a machine is 600”+. A decent scan tool is 4500, a box full of tools is well over 20k. I have no clue where he got that number from as I own/operate a shop.
I was thinking the same thing. He may have accumulated a lot of stuff during his career. He also may have owned the property and built on it with a “cheap” structure.
You’re 100% correct. My answer was based off of what it took me to start my shop. And when I say shop. It was 1 lift and minimal hand tools. Rest of the stuff was added as the business grew. In no way could i afford to outfit it with 20k the way it is now. But that should not deter someone from starting. I’ve talked to other business owners who have started with much less.
Barebones not counting personal tools 20k for 1 lift and all your fees and what you would consider to be shop equipment is probably about right plus or minus 10k depending on the state Washington doesn’t do inspections and western Washington doesn’t have a winter so there is less money in a tire machine like there is in eastern part of the state. You don’t really even need an ac machine a recovery tank and a vac pump is all you really need so you could do it for that also used equipment is always for sale
That’s great! He’s doing amazing! The shop I used to work at in Chicago called Lincoln Park Import service generates about 80k-100k a month on cars. The system the owner a friend of mine designed to pay off the place in 2 years at 1.5 mil then fix it all up after 2-3 years about now it’s all profits no lease or mortgage to pay. They have 4 lifts. He also allowed us to work on side jobs after work any day of the week for free. I think they stopped doing tires and focus’s on the more mechanical sides of the cars. Their lot only fits about 8-10 cars so every car has to be out by Friday-Saturday and on Saturday the owner is there for the new cars coming in for the start of the week on Monday. Sat-Sun everyone is off. Monday-Friday 8-6pm
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on the video Joel Cruz. What an amazing story. Auto Repair can be such a lucrative business to get into. 😀 Are you still in the auto industry?
I agree and disagree with this statement. Starting at the bottom of a dealership working to the top would take years. Not to mention the training that they send you to would cost a lot of money. Plus there’s already going to be a line of technicians that are already waiting to go.
@@gamersens2363 not true depending on you skill level i started as a apprentice at my local bus transit on 2 months i was moved up to technician 2 based on my knowledge and work i put in . ill be a full on mechanic by my whole year im a sponge at work i guess it depends on the person the employer especially if they pay attention to your work ethic.
Only problem with this is you're at the Mercy of those around you to be teaching you and sometimes those people were taught incorrectly and now they're passing wrong procedures and knowledge down to you getting you into bad habits. If you have a great mentor though and the right attitude then school doesn't matter. I went to school for automotive but I didn't really start to get a good grasp on things until I was working on cars everyday for at least 40 hours a week. I am thankful that I know the correct way to do everything though I see some of my coworkers who didn't get any professional training doing things that makes me extremely uncomfortable for their and the customers safety.
Disagree: School is meant to be condensed, specific training which done right can shave time down dramatically to learn. 1. School 2. Apprentice 3. Light Duty 4. Heavy 5. Drivability
Great information, Lucky's aproach of owner, worker, ceo is top notch. Keeping your employees happy and involved in there own skill set and growing is amazing. Salary is great and so if quality. I wish more owners in the automotive industry use your strategy.
We really appreciate your comment Almost Proper. This business was a great example of how to run a successful auto repair shop. 😀Are you in the same type of industry?
This has been my living for the past 20 years. I find people get put off starting this business due to a lack of mechanical experience and that works in my favour. I own 3 shops now never touched a tool in my life when i started. One unit and one mechanic on the payroll with me as the labourer. He now manages my whole business.
I love the information you just gave because I'm in the same situation you were in 20 yrs ago. I currently have a unit with a mechanic and a person that does autobody and paint. Are you able to give some input? Thanks.
Great Chanel! I'm Veteran tired of allowing poor managers, and degrading workplace business management that is driving me to follow my passion. The Information shared in this videl alone has truly made an impact and lit a fire under me to pursue my passion! Thank you!
Am 18 years old working at a dealership, had little knowledge but outworked other employees and soaked in everything. There paying for my school and I’ll be a journeyman by 21-22 this is the path, start a business after this
Dylan, great plan, one thing I would recommend is write your goals/dates down on paper and try to stick to them. I waited along time to start my business. If I were to do it again, I’d have started sooner. I was 29 when I started my shop.
@@luckysing2300 I have so many ideas like Auto Detailing, Flipping Cars, Collision Center and Car wrapping and I’m 26. Am I too old? And were do you recommend where to start?
@@RubioGamess best advise I can give you is focus on what you enjoy the most, There is money in most industries, if you become the best at it in your area. The Jack of all trades is a master of none.
Thank you for making this video, I am an teenager working really hard to start my own. This was exactly what I needed to know. Lucky answered a lot of the questions I had
Ben, glad it was helpful, although not all my answers will apply to everyone and their situation, they are based off my experience. I wish you success in what ever you put your mind too!
Great video! Help me a lot, I studied nursing 5 years, worked on a hospital few months then I say I'm out of here, my dream job is mechanic, now I'm finish my studies for technician on weekends and working almost for free to practice for a friend in automotive almost 2 years, I learn a lot there too. I think you need the both:study and practices with someone and keep learning your self.
Is a no brainer. A combination of Good quality of work, great staff and not charging an arm and a leg. Customers will be happy and become recurrent. This works as well with other type of businesses. Great job Lucky!
My father had two shops on Lorain Oh. He claimed the personalities of the customer were by far the hardest thing to deal with. Lucky seems to have the personality to deal with customers and his people. Good luck Lucky, may the blessings of the Lord be with you.
Most outlandish purchase has been my expensive tool box. It doesn’t make me any extra money and it just looks nice. Could have spent a quarter of the money for off brand and accomplish the same thing.
If you understand electronics you can easily be a good tech without school. The rest is learned hands on or in researching the systems themselves. But I agree learning g the electronic side is the hardest part, but the most important.
I myself flip cars on top of repair. Flipping cars has become my biggest means of income, now I’m to the point I’m selling mostly cool cars that have a fan base like gtr’s or collector cars.
@@castellanos9924 buddy get on your phone find decent cars that you can buy for a reasonable price & flip them until you get to better cars. My cousin flips cars & uses market place all hand to hand. Been doing that shit for 10 years & he's had just about every car you can think of.
Common mistake with most ppl DONT OVER TORQUE YOUR BOLTS and NEVER EVER run ur nut or bolt down with the air tool before finger tightening it to make sure the threads glide smoothly and not sear them and always tighten ur stuff in a "star pattern* so ur work always flushes up to ur work properly before tightening
Lucky Singh Sound he is of Indian origin. No other feelings, just curiosity. Looks like he is born and brought up here. I appreciate the way he is treating the business. He is paying his employees well and he himself paid well and making a decent and respectful 10%. That is the essence of life. I congratulate Lucky Singh for his achievements and also thanks for being so honest in answering all business questions without any hesitation. Thank both of you for the video.
Am very impressed by this Lucky Guy!! Lucky Auto Repair. I run a auto repair shop in Kampala Uganda and this has been very insightful me as an auto entrepreneur.
What a great video i wish i had learned from someone like Lucky when i had started out in this very complex industry well done you deserve all the success
Started my own business in Victoria, Tx Took me 7k to lease, insure, equip and hire 1 mechanic. I already had most equipment and tools. Just invested in a 2 post lift and specialty tools.
what's really good for the down times is to have a couple of low priority restoration jobs one can work on to rack up some extra hours when regular in-and-out customer work is slow
31:41 Suggestion for Winter months: A tow truck or car hauler to pickup peoples cars from house to shop for repair then return them for your Winter Repair Service. No business or automotive technician background, just brainstorming.
Thanks for watching TeamHHP. The auto repair industry and a great business to be in and it's amazing that you can work right from your own property. Congrats! 😀👍How long have you been in business?
@@UpFlip I started my own operation in 2009 . Starting from the trunk of my car , to having my own shop in an industrial area of Northern California to now having 3 acres in deep east Texas with a 3k sq ft shop . My specialty is classic cars/resto mods .
Im in the same field for seven years , start my wage from $10/hr till it gets better , I’m that guy who really cares and did a lot of extras , but I felt like the boss did not sees it and I’m under paid , that’s when I left this field and try something else, still this kind of work is my favorite work. It’s funny , I also gave up my WRX ( of course not as great as a GtR) to fund my house , then later sold the house to fund my GFs business. Our shop actually gets wayy more busy during winter being a collision shop , since people drives recklessly in my city .
That is so wonderful to hear 2_Dads.😀 We love when we hear feedback from real life experiences. Thank you so much for sharing. Do you work in auto repair as well?
@@UpFlip work in a custom car audio shop. Literally right down the street from Luckys. Not to many cars in the county that haven’t been thru our shop for either tint or audio. Lol. Thank you for the comment and most importantly thank you for the content. I love seeing my neighbors and friends succeed and this made my day. I’m gunna go ask em for autographs to mess with em but me day soon. Hehe
I just stumbled onto this channel and wanted to say that Paul asked all the questions that were popping in my head while watching this video. What an amazing host and quality channel that just boosted my determination in my career!
Nice video. Some is similar, but some totally different to Germany. However, interesting as always. I see his love in the business, that's what keeps it going. The shop looks amazing. Tools, lifts, office all clean and comfy. Thanks for the showaround.
Thanks for watching from Germany Marius and the amazing feedback. We're so happy you enjoyed the content😀😀. What are some similarities and differences you see in how shops are run here vs in Germany?
German shops are a nightmare in my experience (especially with the insanely limited amount of parking space) and the big chains, just like USA, are always trying to gouge you. I have recently found a Schwarzarbeit (illegal work) shop that charged me only 50€ for a crankshaft sensor change while the big place tried to charge me 300. A lot of shops here tho, in my experience, aren't ran by Germans and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I think the biggest difference is you can haggle with the foreigners. (I'm also a foreigner lol)
You've a nice shop Lucky and I'm happy to see you're very successful. I am 60 years old and been doing custom exhaust for the last 37 years and never want for work. Own your own building and rent it back to yourself. The best to you and your business in the future.
Big thanks for bringing your industry wisdom to the table. 37 years is impressive! Got more golden tips to share in the community, apart from the awesome one you just gave? We're all ears and excited to learn from experienced pros like you! 🙌
I want to add another comment. Your most important asset in automotive repair business is diagnostic skill. If you can pinpoint problem right the first time customers will come back to you, but if you go around throwing parts at a customers car and winging it running up the bill they will not come back and put bat rep about your shop.
That's true! A couple of software can run diagnostics to help mechanics pinpoint exactly what needs to be done. Tech should go hand in hand with skill for it to work. Thanks for watching! ☺️
Great questions. For example: What software is being used for shop operations? The shop owner experience during his first four years. I really like his polo shirt for shop uniform. Excellent episode!
I’ve been watching a few of these videos you guys make i really really really enjoy them.the person doing the interviewing ask really great questions!!!! So informative and very very inspiring which I find is really rare.and it’s easy to understand and follow it’s all done very calmly no jumping around and loud music.very good easy to follow format great links.keep up the amazing awesome job you guys are doing 👍😊✅✅👌
I've been working from home for a while now at least 5yrs. I'm Looking to get a bigger house an building a shop due to the fact I've grown so much over the yrs. Funds are a big part of this. I worked at alot of shops from. 18 till I was in my 30s. An decided to do my own shop. Great info. Blessings.
Weird I found this video. I am fixing to do the EXACT same thing Lucky did. Buying a new house with a ton of Acreage. Adding a HUGE shop and acquiring my Rebuilder license. My biggest hiccup is I am NOT qualified to do it professionally. So hoping to hire the perfect person to run it and actually have ME as his apprentice/employee. But man I tell you what, I have tried hiring for my other business and here in Southern GA, it's super rare to find good employees.
We're so happy you found the video as well Robs Device Unknown. 😀Thanks for sharing your personal business experiences. We wish you all the best with your new business venture and we hope the video will provide useful information. It can be challenging for a business to find just the right employee at times. Have you used any type of online services like indeed to find employees before?
Sick! , been swaping engines for this one guy back to back for 90$ a day with my own tools, days I wouldn’t eat lunch since I wasn’t allowed to close the shop to go eat , my boss had the habit of leaving and not coming back until way later , and it was only him and I . so I’d stuff my self in the mornings so atleast id have some energy for the rest of the day .and my boss would be out and about I wished I got paid for the jobs instead ,I got tired of it, felt taken advantage of, I don’t have papers so it’s a bit different, been looking to other shops for someone that needs an extra hand but no luck. One day I’ll find somewhere where I’d feel like my craft is appreciated or even have my own shop and make my bread in peace
@@startingtech3900 lmfao “if you’re illegal “ and nah if you clean cars for a living ye . Knowledge and experience is expensive, never settle for less regardless of your status . Know your crafts worth.
@@statillackeep at it man. Hope that you’re coming along in your career! I’m a tech myself 3-4 years in and sheesh it sucks. Try and get into some schooling programs if you can. Since you’re here and are being a regular member of society they should help you. Wish you the best man
Glad to see a local shop kicking ass. I also highly recommend vocationsl high schools like Sno-Isle Tech for their automotive program. I did 2 years of that and got into aerospace as a test tech and automotove repair and restorations on the side
Not sure how anyone makes money with 4 guys only doing 40 k a month. My boss is an amputee and him and I did 29,000 our first month just two guys in the shop 40,000 after 7 years raises some serious questions.
I was confused too. I'm the only tech in a 3 bay shop and I'm doing 35K most months and I'm old and broken from 37 years in the business so don't usually can't run much better than 65 or 70% efficiency.
Great video. I'm about to buy an auto repair shop. I have no formal automotive education, but I plan on leaving the actual wrenching to the pros who already work at the shop. I own five other businesses, and customer service is TOP priority for each and every one of them. It's important your customers leave with the value that they're paying for.
I've been subbed for a while and have never thrown shade, but this episode doesn't feel right. He has 150K in Snap-On/Matco tools easy, custom build shop with lifts, car hauler, 2 box trucks, tractors, etc. in Washington State and broke even in 4 years? That's an easy 10-15+ year goal. Must have been some outside revenue or inheritance.
I haven’t watched the video in full yet, but I’m guessing his accountant helped accelerate the time. Once I watch it I’ll get back to you and see if I agree. I’m 50/50 on it now
Easy guys, he said 20k in start up cost. He didn’t say 20k over the lifetime of the business lol. Moreover, he is making over 300k a year now. Obviously with that amount he can be able to spend and borrow more money
I have a farm generator setup in the shop, since we can loss power quite regulate up north. It also allows costumers to hang out and stay warm when we are working on their cars
My previous boss bought a tire shop franchise that does mechanical work. He gets a Salary, company truck/gas/insurance all paid for, bonus structure, and half the profits the shop makes. $50k to buy the franchise. His shop now makes about $300k profit a year. The franchiser pays for all the upgrades, equipment, advertising, accounting etc etc. They have all of the vendor accounts setup, national fleet's, etc. As a result they have a TON of buying power. It's an easier way to get into the industry vs starting from scratch. I've seen shops startup from scratch and go under within a year because they burn so much capital just setting the shop up they have nothing left for advertising. Or they use some for advertising but don't have enough to buy quality equipment (like a good balljoint Press, or good scan tool)
I’m sure there’s more to it than just putting up $50,000. They probably wanted him to have business experience or at least managerial expedience at minimum. Not only that but he probably had to have a decent net worth to even be considered.
Credit to anyone who owns a shop. I did a side auto shop on my days off only. Advertised on Nextdoor. Did it for 2 years. Made a killing working on BMW under 10 years old only. It was out of my garage. No overhead or bills. Had many people offer to sell me a shop. Would not want to take that risk of getting loans to pay off a shop etc. you never know what could happen. I make 45hr as a Diesel mechanic for a Garbage company. They gave me a 8k bonus and they pay for your kids college. I have friends who own businesses who are in their 40s like me. I like to only work 5 days a week anymore. These guys work way to much. I did enough overtime in my 20s and 30s.
What do you need to start: Location, Tools and Skill No need for special software or anything. Use stationary for customer receipts at first. This has worked fine since cars existed. Once you have money coming in and can support yourself, then you can start buying software and other things to help make the job easier. Not be an idiot and spend $1000 a month on useless software when you can't even support yourself - common sense.
I personaly invested at the startup 850k, it sounds ridicilous but ive got 3 lifts i paid 50k just for 1 everything i have is from wurth so it is quality shop. I am making 125 dollars a hour + i am flipping cars. Every second month i am at sea as a boat mechanic where i am making nearly 150k a year and i am working there 6 months per year
Most important thing said in video and I fully agree with, is. CUSTOMER SERVICE! Just being a genuine caring person and want to help your customers/clients it is Soooo huge towards word of mouth and future biz. I cant state it enough, think long term relationship and it has huge ROI in various ways. Best wishes!
Lucky is underpaying his guys at $20 hourly for technical labor, they can flip burgers and make the same $, Shop rates depending where you're at range from $100 up to $200 hourly in the average. Good for you lucky
I can guarantee that 100-200$ hourly rate does NOT go to the techs at those other shops. They too get ~20$. Thats the quote on the labor, not what other shops are paying their techs..
@@SouthKorea1991 There's been a pretty big change in tech pay the last couple years. I get 42 to 65 per billed hour depending on which labor rate applies to the car and the job. 40 to 50 isn't uncommon anymore in my area at independent shops, the dealers are lagging somewhat at 26 to 35 per hour billed.
@@crashm1 It's still a 40k/yr job in my area. Was making that after 6 years in the industry, idk where you're getting 50/hr but I'm guessing wherever that is the cost of living sucks it all away. Glad I got out, shitty experience overall but I learned a lot.
@@DeusTex-Mex a 3 bay gas station in a large MN city. COL is not all that high here. It helps that I have A1-A9, L1 and L2 ASE certs and 35 years in the industry so my employers know I have at least a good baseline of knowledge. I can also document my productivity via paystubs which also helps me get paid decently.
I’ve always wanted to startup my own niche auto repair shop. I have all the technical knowledge from 15 years of auto, auto racing, and marine engineering knowledge but don’t know the first thing on how to run a business.
That's ok Gibbos Garage. We all have to start somewhere, and learning is part of the process. You definitely have the knowledge and experience to get started. Have you shadowed a business owner in your industry to get an idea of how things are run? Another step you could take would be to start a business plan. Please let us know if you have questions along the way and we wish you the best.😀👍
Take business management classes and talk to the owner of the best shop in your area. It's not all that hard but the skills needed to run a successful profitable business are completely different than the skills you have as a tech.
As crashm said, take a business management class. While you will learn some useful stuff, the most important thing is to meet like minded people who want to start a business, build a social network, and possibly find a business partner who could take care of the administrative side while you focus on the technical side.
It may be a year old, but this is a great story and video. Tough business to be sure, but you can tell Lucky loves it and he's made some good business moves.
With all due respect to the hard work and ingenuity of this guy, "past $40 000/month" in revenue for a team of four people isn't all that impressive. There is plenty of room for improvement here. I started my shop in 2016 as well and first I got jealous seeing this guy's nice shop and that "$40 000/month" figure. But then I realized that I make half of that revenue working just on my own, alone, and in a much worse climate. I guess I'm not that bad of a businessman either! 🙂
@@ImNotHereToArgueFacts yes tf it is buddy bro probably didn't even have a shop he had bare minimum necessities to get the ball rolling. 20k is more than enough to start up. You probably never had 20k so you wouldn't know
guys you did an amazing job by doing this video it did help me a lot. im just open a new body shop business and i just learn so much w this video thanks guys
We’re thrilled to hear that the video was helpful for your new body shop business. Wishing you all the best as you kick off this exciting new venture! 💪
Great video, Lucky seems like a really nice guy and a good tech too. Im in the same field for eleven years now, opened my own shop five years ago, gotta say operating from your own property takes a huge load off of your running costs.
Definitely pros and cons. I've had mine on the same lot for over a decade. The no traffic thing is the best. I can wake up minutes before opening the doors. But I'm splitting them up next year. Hard to have time to yourself when people know you live on the same lot. Can't even sit on the porch on Sunday without someone rolling up talking about "I was hoping you were here!". And telling people I can't help them, hurts their feelings. Sometimes to the point of that being the last time I see them. Had 1 guy leave a butthurt 1 star.
That mustache is very questionable but seriously though you don’t need to necessarily go to school per say. It can be done without the school just might take longer. Also I’m getting my experience through the Army (91B). Hope everyone watching that has a plan puts it into action and everything works out. Just gotta get out there and do it !! Hooah ! 💪🏽
Even if Lucky didnt had a successful repair shop he wont loose because he owns the place. he knows what hes doing and he never had to pay rent. Thats the secret for eveything... if you pay rent, youre bound to hit a wall. Just my 2 cents😊✌
When lucky is talking about the bigger tires and how he thinks the host goes off roading. You can 100% tell he has never even parked it on grass before, definitely never went offroading.
Lucky: "For me, since I already owned the property, $20,000.... These days probably double that because of inflation, etc." UpFlip: "Yeah well I'm going to put 20k in the title anyway so it gets views"
Training business. Train new people during winter time. You can introduce mini training program not for professionals but also for beginners , like how to check oil at home ,how to fix small issues at home . You can sell tools , small repairing tools. Make a mobile workshop. Offer home maintenance
I know that the book giveaway is over - but the most outlandish purchase I made for my business was a casket dolly. I liquidated a Funeral Home, and the guy took the casket dolly. So we used the dolly to move the sold caskets, then sold the dolly as well.
What does he pay his mechanics? Shops want employees to have all the tools and training but pay you crap money. Then shops have the nerve to tell employees don't do side jobs.
Had no clue you were literally less than 2 miles away. I just had a brake job done by Midas on my 2017 rogue, they charged me $716. Should have came to you for a second opinion. They do guarantee for the life of the vehicle though, which is at 75000 miles. I will trying your shop out in the future though. You seem like an honest person and business man.
Stop by anytime! And yes we are quite hidden, most people find us from google, definitely not a place you see and visit. From what our customers tell us.
Keep your shop busy and your customers happy! Try Broadly for free! Visit the link: Broadly.com/UpFlip to learn more!
20k to make his career is his luck, there are many big auto repair shops have been many years but they still going out business today . what can 20k do these days? 20k not enough to buy tools , 20k f no way to open car repair shop in boston or NY , liar .
To anyone watching, these are videos just to sell this link... no way on earth only 20k to start an auto repair shop.
❤❤
m
@@thev5140not trying to be the barrier of bad news bud but certian states are different with that sort of thing. In yours would make sense but again its in a different state. Gotta do some homework man.
This video is horse💩 $20k isn’t enough to buy the basic tools to work in a fully equipped shop. Also banks don’t do small business loans, so where’d he get the $20k?
The absolute biggest plus for this shop is being on his own property. If you can go this route then definitely do it. Also Lucky seems to be a great boss/owner, easy going nice people always is a must. This guy will continue to grow.
Depends on a ton of factors like location, financing, site, etc. I know a shop that was in the same spot for 30 years and then recently sold the original location to a mixed use developer moved up the street and two years later sold the shop to another developer and is in a new spot further up the street. They’ve probably made more profits from real estate than auto work😂. On the flip side you got 1 mile east and there’s like a bunch of shops that are sitting unused and on the market for a long time because the area is low income and low visibility. Building is a whole different ballpark and delays can be detrimental if you don’t have existing cash to cover it.
Purchased my shop 30 years ago for 200k,
it's now worth millions. So yeah, location.
20k to make his career is his luck, there are many big auto repair shops have been many years but they still going out business today . what can 20k do these days? 20k not enough to buy tools , 20k f no way to open car repair shop in boston or NY , liar .
100%, thanks George
@@thev5140 so guess you didn't pay attention he said it cost him 20k because he had the property and went the route of having the shop on his property they said that it would be at least double that today. Due to rent increases and inflation. And if you didn't research you would find that there are auto repair businesses that are for sale for 240k including tools all you would need is 20% to get a loan. And have a shop there is semi established already.
He hit every point most of us mechanics struggled with. Flat rate wasn't too bad but quality would take a hit, people would stress when they were under, working a 70hr job and warranty only paying you 42 was rough. Getting paid on days we couldn't even drive to the shop was un heard of. Getting paid hourly with a bonus system is a major plus. Love to see it! Keep on rocking on Lucky!
When your an AA Tech, making warr time is not that hard.. just keep at it!
20k to make his career is his luck, there are many big auto repair shops have been many years but they still going out business today . what can 20k do these days? 20k not enough to buy tools , 20k f no way to open car repair shop in boston or NY , liar .
@@thev5140 no way ANYWHERE... its a little misinformation to make a good story is all... And being humans we beleive EVERYTHING
Dealerships used to pay 50/50 to the mechanic..50 percent parts and 50 percent labor. Flat rate was designed make it not worth wrenching.
flat rate can be good , just wasn’t something I was drawn to based on my experience. Thanks for your kind words 🙏
Developing a relationship with the customers probably one of the most important. They will tell their friends and family members so on and so forth how great of a person you are. All of my bbb awards we're based on such transparency
This is very true JD. Word of mouth referrals are one of the best referrals a business owner can receive. 😀 Congrats on your bbb awards. That's super amazing! What type of business are you in?
@@UpFlip electrical, but I'm a jack of all. Rebuilt transmissions on the side, work on cars as well.
I was taught that when you first meet a customer you treat them like a friend, learn to know they like and don't like. Also not to use um,ah, and like in any of your conversations with customers. Transparency as well as honesty. I can also spot a shady customer a mile away some things you pick up after a decade or so. 🤣 I can go on and on my friend a job well done thank you 🙏
great comment, I learned this when I ran a computer business....being honest and transparent with your customers goes a long way, even when you mess up. It was key to my success at the time. It got to a point where customer's would have me over for dinner and treat like family, it was awesome.
He gave you the best business advice in the beginning, “ profit close to zero”
IRS is kicking and screaming right now 😂
yes, but profit close to zero ON PAPER, all those lifts are losing value, all those machines are losing value, even the building is losing value, so he can potentially have a HUGE year with great profit, but still file a loss due to value losses.
I just wanted to say props to lucky! Created a way for himself in a saturated difficult industry and it’s very respectable.
The industry is saturated with shops but the shops have a problem keeping and hiring mechanics because of the shortage of workers out there. So there's plenty of work out there.
Thanks Jacob, teamwork makes the dream work
@@SkilledEddie that's cause shops want to keep the flat rate system, and techs are figuring out it's bullshit at most shops, then there is warranty work at dealerships, where the contract to pay half labor rate is with the dealer and manufacturer, but the dealer passes the reduced pay cost down to the tech, when that should be illegal, cause technically it's theft of service/labor.
I read recently "No outside change can really take root without an inner change," so I'd like to hear more personal-related answers from these people about their previous failures and how they overcame them.
Great suggestion, we'll do that!
@@UpFlip Awesome! Thanks!!
@@UpFlip that’s great! I’d like that too!
reply 2 thé guy cómment taking root daily sounds gay
@@UpFlip learn to code
I take issue with his start up cost estimate. To outfit a garage to repair modern cars from bumper to bumper is going to be closer to 60K in tooling - factory scan tools for your top three car lines, AC machines, wallet flushing machines, a variety of timing alignment tools and the like plus another 40 to 80 in shop equipment like lifts, air compressors, fluid dispensers, jacks, snad blasting cabinets and parts washers, service information systems and such. Add another 40K if you buy a used alignment rack and new Hunter or John Bean system.
I also have some issues with his thinking his high margin jobs are the engine swaps. They are massive time sucks with low profit margins on the parts as well. Give me half a dozen brake jobs and scheduled maintenance services any day of the week. The bay turns over faster and that drives up effective labor rates and gross profit.
completely agree, or maybe we just live in horrible locations lol
I agree. I'll take volume work all day long.
Yeah those numbers were imaginative to say the least .
Im assuming that was just startup to get things rolling. As time progressed he probably invested into outfitting his garage with the proper tooling.
Not to mention the actual property and the steel building!
As a 10 year Audi & Porsche dealer tech this is awesome!!! I’d go back to turning wrenches 🔧🤘🏼 Mad respect how lucky runs the shop!! 💯
A 10k somewhat quality lift is 5000+ , a r134a machine is 4000+, a 134a machine is 600”+. A decent scan tool is 4500, a box full of tools is well over 20k. I have no clue where he got that number from as I own/operate a shop.
I was thinking the same thing.
He may have accumulated a lot of stuff during his career. He also may have owned the property and built on it with a “cheap” structure.
He pulled those numbers out of his @$$.
You’re 100% correct. My answer was based off of what it took me to start my shop. And when I say shop. It was 1 lift and minimal hand tools. Rest of the stuff was added as the business grew. In no way could i afford to outfit it with 20k the way it is now. But that should not deter someone from starting. I’ve talked to other business owners who have started with much less.
Barebones not counting personal tools 20k for 1 lift and all your fees and what you would consider to be shop equipment is probably about right plus or minus 10k depending on the state Washington doesn’t do inspections and western Washington doesn’t have a winter so there is less money in a tire machine like there is in eastern part of the state. You don’t really even need an ac machine a recovery tank and a vac pump is all you really need so you could do it for that also used equipment is always for sale
I guess he started low and than bought more and more stuff. I would do it but I don't have a business
That’s great! He’s doing amazing! The shop I used to work at in Chicago called Lincoln Park Import service generates about 80k-100k a month on cars. The system the owner a friend of mine designed to pay off the place in 2 years at 1.5 mil then fix it all up after 2-3 years about now it’s all profits no lease or mortgage to pay. They have 4 lifts. He also allowed us to work on side jobs after work any day of the week for free. I think they stopped doing tires and focus’s on the more mechanical sides of the cars. Their lot only fits about 8-10 cars so every car has to be out by Friday-Saturday and on Saturday the owner is there for the new cars coming in for the start of the week on Monday. Sat-Sun everyone is off. Monday-Friday 8-6pm
Thank you for taking the time to watch and comment on the video Joel Cruz. What an amazing story. Auto Repair can be such a lucrative business to get into. 😀 Are you still in the auto industry?
I disagree. You don't need school at all. You can start at a dealer work your way up. They will send you to training. No school debt.
I agree and disagree with this statement. Starting at the bottom of a dealership working to the top would take years. Not to mention the training that they send you to would cost a lot of money. Plus there’s already going to be a line of technicians that are already waiting to go.
@@gamersens2363 not true depending on you skill level i started as a apprentice at my local bus transit on 2 months i was moved up to technician 2 based on my knowledge and work i put in . ill be a full on mechanic by my whole year im a sponge at work i guess it depends on the person the employer especially if they pay attention to your work ethic.
Facts depending on dealers
Only problem with this is you're at the Mercy of those around you to be teaching you and sometimes those people were taught incorrectly and now they're passing wrong procedures and knowledge down to you getting you into bad habits. If you have a great mentor though and the right attitude then school doesn't matter. I went to school for automotive but I didn't really start to get a good grasp on things until I was working on cars everyday for at least 40 hours a week. I am thankful that I know the correct way to do everything though I see some of my coworkers who didn't get any professional training doing things that makes me extremely uncomfortable for their and the customers safety.
Disagree: School is meant to be condensed, specific training which done right can shave time down dramatically to learn.
1. School
2. Apprentice
3. Light Duty
4. Heavy
5. Drivability
Great information, Lucky's aproach of owner, worker, ceo is top notch. Keeping your employees happy and involved in there own skill set and growing is amazing. Salary is great and so if quality. I wish more owners in the automotive industry use your strategy.
We really appreciate your comment Almost Proper. This business was a great example of how to run a successful auto repair shop. 😀Are you in the same type of industry?
Thank you for such kind words. 🙏
Bro.. really great inspiration... ❤
This RUclips channel is very underrated, there's great info in every video. And im noticing some common trends among all the owners
This has been my living for the past 20 years. I find people get put off starting this business due to a lack of mechanical experience and that works in my favour. I own 3 shops now never touched a tool in my life when i started. One unit and one mechanic on the payroll with me as the labourer. He now manages my whole business.
In where sir
Good shit brotha !
I love the information you just gave because I'm in the same situation you were in 20 yrs ago. I currently have a unit with a mechanic and a person that does autobody and paint. Are you able to give some input? Thanks.
Great Chanel! I'm Veteran tired of allowing poor managers, and degrading workplace business management that is driving me to follow my passion. The Information shared in this videl alone has truly made an impact and lit a fire under me to pursue my passion! Thank you!
You can do it!
Am 18 years old working at a dealership, had little knowledge but outworked other employees and soaked in everything. There paying for my school and I’ll be a journeyman by 21-22 this is the path, start a business after this
Dylan, great plan, one thing I would recommend is write your goals/dates down on paper and try to stick to them. I waited along time to start my business. If I were to do it again, I’d have started sooner. I was 29 when I started my shop.
@@luckysing2300 I have so many ideas like Auto Detailing, Flipping Cars, Collision Center and Car wrapping and I’m 26. Am I too old? And were do you recommend where to start?
@@RubioGamess best advise I can give you is focus on what you enjoy the most, There is money in most industries, if you become the best at it in your area. The Jack of all trades is a master of none.
And no, your never too old to learn and grow. :)
Thank you for making this video, I am an teenager working really hard to start my own. This was exactly what I needed to know. Lucky answered a lot of the questions I had
Super impressive Ben. 😀Keep up the great work. We think you'll do wonderful. Do you currently work in this industry?
Ben, glad it was helpful, although not all my answers will apply to everyone and their situation, they are based off my experience. I wish you success in what ever you put your mind too!
Great video! Help me a lot, I studied nursing 5 years, worked on a hospital few months then I say I'm out of here, my dream job is mechanic, now I'm finish my studies for technician on weekends and working almost for free to practice for a friend in automotive almost 2 years, I learn a lot there too. I think you need the both:study and practices with someone and keep learning your self.
This is by far the best channel on youtube that covers different businesses. Most are just scammy hustle content farms.
Is a no brainer. A combination of Good quality of work, great staff and not charging an arm and a leg. Customers will be happy and become recurrent. This works as well with other type of businesses. Great job Lucky!
Well said! Are you a business owner yourself, or are you looking to start one? ☺️
My father had two shops on Lorain Oh. He claimed the personalities of the customer were by far the hardest thing to deal with. Lucky seems to have the personality to deal with customers and his people. Good luck Lucky, may the blessings of the Lord be with you.
Thank you! And yes in retail customer retention is key to staying in business. Being genuinely curious about people helps solving their problems
you have to really be observant with customers and know when to not work with someone
Most outlandish purchase has been my expensive tool box. It doesn’t make me any extra money and it just looks nice. Could have spent a quarter of the money for off brand and accomplish the same thing.
Good video. They really talk about some of the more complicated aspects of running a business that a shop might encounter
You truly deserve more recognition for your work on this channel, thank you so much. Greetings from Perú!! :)
Thank you for the kind words!
If you understand electronics you can easily be a good tech without school. The rest is learned hands on or in researching the systems themselves. But I agree learning g the electronic side is the hardest part, but the most important.
Lucky is a great, honest guy. I love his volumes of transparent tips.
Thank you 🙏
Glad to be of help :)
I myself flip cars on top of repair. Flipping cars has become my biggest means of income, now I’m to the point I’m selling mostly cool cars that have a fan base like gtr’s or collector cars.
Hey man, can you speak more about this? I’m thinking of doing this
@@castellanos9924 buddy get on your phone find decent cars that you can buy for a reasonable price & flip them until you get to better cars. My cousin flips cars & uses market place all hand to hand. Been doing that shit for 10 years & he's had just about every car you can think of.
Common mistake with most ppl DONT OVER TORQUE YOUR BOLTS and NEVER EVER run ur nut or bolt down with the air tool before finger tightening it to make sure the threads glide smoothly and not sear them and always tighten ur stuff in a "star pattern* so ur work always flushes up to ur work properly before tightening
Beautiful business model, he deserves all the success.
🙏
Lucky Singh
Sound he is of Indian origin. No other feelings, just curiosity. Looks like he is born and brought up here. I appreciate the way he is treating the business. He is paying his employees well and he himself paid well and making a decent and respectful 10%. That is the essence of life.
I congratulate Lucky Singh for his achievements and also thanks for being so honest in answering all business questions without any hesitation.
Thank both of you for the video.
Purchased a 25ft enclosed trailer and truck to jump start my automotive business! Great video and insight into the automotive sector
How’s business going?!
Am very impressed by this Lucky Guy!! Lucky Auto Repair.
I run a auto repair shop in Kampala Uganda and this has been very insightful me as an auto entrepreneur.
Hello John.
I am from Kenya. I am glad to hear you.
What a great video i wish i had learned from someone like Lucky when i had started out in this very complex industry well done you deserve all the success
Glad you liked the video! How long have you been in the industry?
Thank you 🙏
I’m learning my self everyday!!
Stay positive:)
Just started a small shop. This gave me a lot of insight. Thank you. 🙏
Started my own business in Victoria, Tx
Took me 7k to lease, insure, equip and hire 1 mechanic. I already had most equipment and tools. Just invested in a 2 post lift and specialty tools.
how it going?
We are booked out till end of july. We stay busy
How many bays do you have?
what's really good for the down times is to have a couple of low priority restoration jobs one can work on to rack up some extra hours when regular in-and-out customer work is slow
31:41 Suggestion for Winter months: A tow truck or car hauler to pickup peoples cars from house to shop for repair then return them for your Winter Repair Service.
No business or automotive technician background, just brainstorming.
Great video! I too own and operate a shop located on my property . Low overhead with no commute is a winning combination.
Thanks for watching TeamHHP. The auto repair industry and a great business to be in and it's amazing that you can work right from your own property. Congrats! 😀👍How long have you been in business?
@@UpFlip I started my own operation in 2009 . Starting from the trunk of my car , to having my own shop in an industrial area of Northern California to now having 3 acres in deep east Texas with a 3k sq ft shop . My specialty is classic cars/resto mods .
Bro a shed isn't a shop
👌
Im in the same field for seven years , start my wage from $10/hr till it gets better , I’m that guy who really cares and did a lot of extras , but I felt like the boss did not sees it and I’m under paid , that’s when I left this field and try something else, still this kind of work is my favorite work. It’s funny , I also gave up my WRX ( of course not as great as a GtR) to fund my house , then later sold the house to fund my GFs business. Our shop actually gets wayy more busy during winter being a collision shop , since people drives recklessly in my city .
biggest mistake "fund my gf business"
Auto repair is like an evergreen business. He did really great in marketing and all explained how he serves customers
This shop is 2 min from my work. We have done many many work projects for each other. I always recommend Luckys to all the people that walk in here.
That is so wonderful to hear 2_Dads.😀 We love when we hear feedback from real life experiences. Thank you so much for sharing. Do you work in auto repair as well?
@@UpFlip work in a custom car audio shop. Literally right down the street from Luckys. Not to many cars in the county that haven’t been thru our shop for either tint or audio. Lol. Thank you for the comment and most importantly thank you for the content. I love seeing my neighbors and friends succeed and this made my day. I’m gunna go ask em for autographs to mess with em but me day soon. Hehe
For sure
cheers brother 🍻
And thanks for the love
I just stumbled onto this channel and wanted to say that Paul asked all the questions that were popping in my head while watching this video. What an amazing host and quality channel that just boosted my determination in my career!
That’s awesome to hear! What career are you on? And hey, Paul appreciates your comment! 🙏
@@UpFlip I do mobile diagnostics on vehicles
Nice video.
Some is similar, but some totally different to Germany. However, interesting as always. I see his love in the business, that's what keeps it going. The shop looks amazing. Tools, lifts, office all clean and comfy. Thanks for the showaround.
Thanks for watching from Germany Marius and the amazing feedback. We're so happy you enjoyed the content😀😀. What are some similarities and differences you see in how shops are run here vs in Germany?
German shops are a nightmare in my experience (especially with the insanely limited amount of parking space) and the big chains, just like USA, are always trying to gouge you. I have recently found a Schwarzarbeit (illegal work) shop that charged me only 50€ for a crankshaft sensor change while the big place tried to charge me 300.
A lot of shops here tho, in my experience, aren't ran by Germans and that's not necessarily a bad thing. I think the biggest difference is you can haggle with the foreigners. (I'm also a foreigner lol)
Thank you for checking it out! 🙏
You've a nice shop Lucky and I'm happy to see you're very successful. I am 60 years old and been doing custom exhaust for the last 37 years and never want for work. Own your own building and rent it back to yourself. The best to you and your business in the future.
Big thanks for bringing your industry wisdom to the table. 37 years is impressive! Got more golden tips to share in the community, apart from the awesome one you just gave? We're all ears and excited to learn from experienced pros like you! 🙌
I’m thinking to open a muffler shop, any suggestions for me as starting up?
I want to add another comment. Your most important asset in automotive repair business is diagnostic skill. If you can pinpoint problem right the first time customers will come back to you, but if you go around throwing parts at a customers car and winging it running up the bill they will not come back and put bat rep about your shop.
That's true! A couple of software can run diagnostics to help mechanics pinpoint exactly what needs to be done. Tech should go hand in hand with skill for it to work. Thanks for watching! ☺️
In my senior of college and I'm done with school and I'm done with working for other people. I hope someday I can own my own business
Great questions. For example: What software is being used for shop operations? The shop owner experience during his first four years. I really like his polo shirt for shop uniform. Excellent episode!
Bolton/Mitchell for software
And thank you 🙏we. Relly like the shirts too. company called Redcap for the shirts :)
We use Alldata for Repair module and Shop management system.
I’ve been watching a few of these videos you guys make i really really really enjoy them.the person doing the interviewing ask really great questions!!!! So informative and very very inspiring which I find is really rare.and it’s easy to understand and follow it’s all done very calmly no jumping around and loud music.very good easy to follow format great links.keep up the amazing awesome job you guys are doing 👍😊✅✅👌
Pay well to employees and pay no tax to government. Good idea. Thanks.
I've been working from home for a while now at least 5yrs. I'm Looking to get a bigger house an building a shop due to the fact I've grown so much over the yrs. Funds are a big part of this. I worked at alot of shops from. 18 till I was in my 30s. An decided to do my own shop. Great info. Blessings.
Wow! Congratulations on your success and growth over the years! Thanks for the support @Ride Right Rc.
Weird I found this video. I am fixing to do the EXACT same thing Lucky did. Buying a new house with a ton of Acreage. Adding a HUGE shop and acquiring my Rebuilder license. My biggest hiccup is I am NOT qualified to do it professionally. So hoping to hire the perfect person to run it and actually have ME as his apprentice/employee. But man I tell you what, I have tried hiring for my other business and here in Southern GA, it's super rare to find good employees.
We're so happy you found the video as well Robs Device Unknown. 😀Thanks for sharing your personal business experiences. We wish you all the best with your new business venture and we hope the video will provide useful information. It can be challenging for a business to find just the right employee at times. Have you used any type of online services like indeed to find employees before?
I wonder if it’s difficult to find good help in North Georgia? It’s probably the same everywhere; difficult but not impossible.
good
Probably the first so honest video about bussines im saw last few moths thanks budy wish you best fell blesed
Sick! , been swaping engines for this one guy back to back for 90$ a day with my own tools, days I wouldn’t eat lunch since I wasn’t allowed to close the shop to go eat , my boss had the habit of leaving and not coming back until way later , and it was only him and I . so I’d stuff my self in the mornings so atleast id have some energy for the rest of the day .and my boss would be out and about I wished I got paid for the jobs instead ,I got tired of it, felt taken advantage of, I don’t have papers so it’s a bit different, been looking to other shops for someone that needs an extra hand but no luck. One day I’ll find somewhere where I’d feel like my craft is appreciated or even have my own shop and make my bread in peace
if you are illegal 100 a day aint bad
@@startingtech3900 lmfao “if you’re illegal “ and nah if you clean cars for a living ye . Knowledge and experience is expensive, never settle for less regardless of your status . Know your crafts worth.
Go work for used Car dealerships, you’ll learn a lot more too
@@statillackeep at it man. Hope that you’re coming along in your career! I’m a tech myself 3-4 years in and sheesh it sucks. Try and get into some schooling programs if you can. Since you’re here and are being a regular member of society they should help you. Wish you the best man
I like how clean the shop is, that’s my favorite part of being an OCD mechanic
Don't we all, Manni! It's the dream. Any tips you can share with the community on how you maintain it that way?
🙏 thank you
We clean the shop every week, one of my techs is the OCD guy. And I’m greatful for him keeping the standard high.
Thanks. I shared your video to my automotive blog.
Heck yes ! From one mechanic to another , dirty hands clean money !
We're so happy you found the video relatable Aspley Automotive. 😀Thanks for tuning in. How long have you been in the industry?
@@UpFlip really enjoyed it thank you. 23 years myself
🍻
Glad to see a local shop kicking ass. I also highly recommend vocationsl high schools like Sno-Isle Tech for their automotive program. I did 2 years of that and got into aerospace as a test tech and automotove repair and restorations on the side
Not sure how anyone makes money with 4 guys only doing 40 k a month. My boss is an amputee and him and I did 29,000 our first month just two guys in the shop 40,000 after 7 years raises some serious questions.
I was confused too. I'm the only tech in a 3 bay shop and I'm doing 35K most months and I'm old and broken from 37 years in the business so don't usually can't run much better than 65 or 70% efficiency.
He's probably underreporting for a tax strategy
Great video. I'm about to buy an auto repair shop. I have no formal automotive education, but I plan on leaving the actual wrenching to the pros who already work at the shop. I own five other businesses, and customer service is TOP priority for each and every one of them. It's important your customers leave with the value that they're paying for.
Best of luck! 🙏
Am an auto mechanic based in Nigeria, I would love to work with you.
I've been subbed for a while and have never thrown shade, but this episode doesn't feel right. He has 150K in Snap-On/Matco tools easy, custom build shop with lifts, car hauler, 2 box trucks, tractors, etc. in Washington State and broke even in 4 years? That's an easy 10-15+ year goal. Must have been some outside revenue or inheritance.
I haven’t watched the video in full yet, but I’m guessing his accountant helped accelerate the time. Once I watch it I’ll get back to you and see if I agree. I’m 50/50 on it now
Definitely didn’t start this business with $20k in capital. You can barely fund renting 2 bays in a gas station with that money.
Easy guys, he said 20k in start up cost. He didn’t say 20k over the lifetime of the business lol. Moreover, he is making over 300k a year now. Obviously with that amount he can be able to spend and borrow more money
@@thetruthsayer8347 Just let me know what company you can break even in 4 years and make 300K a year and I'll fund you the 20k today.
@@SidewaysInTraffic I think he said 7 years. Moreover, every one’s situation is different.
I have a farm generator setup in the shop, since we can loss power quite regulate up north. It also allows costumers to hang out and stay warm when we are working on their cars
it was so flipping hot out filming this but was incredibly fun and educational, thanks Lucky!
If you're the videographer HUGE kudos to you! We did a video response and discussed at length the quality of the video and editing! It's epic!
Seriously Paul, I wish we get that heat back soon, it’s been a long winter my friend 😂
I’m a mobile auto glass buisness and I drive by Lucky’s all the time! Always loved his location and setup
@G-TAlan That's so cool! Did you learn anything in the video to apply to your business?
Hey 4G63-T{Alan916} stop in sometime to introduce your self and drop off some cards, we love supporting local business!
My previous boss bought a tire shop franchise that does mechanical work. He gets a Salary, company truck/gas/insurance all paid for, bonus structure, and half the profits the shop makes. $50k to buy the franchise. His shop now makes about $300k profit a year. The franchiser pays for all the upgrades, equipment, advertising, accounting etc etc. They have all of the vendor accounts setup, national fleet's, etc. As a result they have a TON of buying power. It's an easier way to get into the industry vs starting from scratch. I've seen shops startup from scratch and go under within a year because they burn so much capital just setting the shop up they have nothing left for advertising. Or they use some for advertising but don't have enough to buy quality equipment (like a good balljoint Press, or good scan tool)
I’m sure there’s more to it than just putting up $50,000. They probably wanted him to have business experience or at least managerial expedience at minimum. Not only that but he probably had to have a decent net worth to even be considered.
Credit to anyone who owns a shop. I did a side auto shop on my days off only. Advertised on Nextdoor. Did it for 2 years. Made a killing working on BMW under 10 years old only. It was out of my garage. No overhead or bills. Had many people offer to sell me a shop. Would not want to take that risk of getting loans to pay off a shop etc. you never know what could happen. I make 45hr as a Diesel mechanic for a Garbage company. They gave me a 8k bonus and they pay for your kids college. I have friends who own businesses who are in their 40s like me. I like to only work 5 days a week anymore. These guys work way to much. I did enough overtime in my 20s and 30s.
What do you need to start: Location, Tools and Skill
No need for special software or anything. Use stationary for customer receipts at first. This has worked fine since cars existed. Once you have money coming in and can support yourself, then you can start buying software and other things to help make the job easier. Not be an idiot and spend $1000 a month on useless software when you can't even support yourself - common sense.
Good tips.
100% correct 👍
just wanted to say what an amazing channel this is..... the amount of useful knowledge here is insane.... thanks alot and keep it up!
1:54
I personaly invested at the startup 850k, it sounds ridicilous but ive got 3 lifts i paid 50k just for 1 everything i have is from wurth so it is quality shop. I am making 125 dollars a hour + i am flipping cars. Every second month i am at sea as a boat mechanic where i am making nearly 150k a year and i am working there 6 months per year
Most important thing said in video and I fully agree with, is. CUSTOMER SERVICE! Just being a genuine caring person and want to help your customers/clients it is Soooo huge towards word of mouth and future biz. I cant state it enough, think long term relationship and it has huge ROI in various ways. Best wishes!
Well said! The customer is the heart of any business.
Lucky is underpaying his guys at $20 hourly for technical labor, they can flip burgers and make the same $, Shop rates depending where you're at range from $100 up to $200 hourly in the average. Good for you lucky
I can guarantee that 100-200$ hourly rate does NOT go to the techs at those other shops. They too get ~20$. Thats the quote on the labor, not what other shops are paying their techs..
@@SouthKorea1991 There's been a pretty big change in tech pay the last couple years. I get 42 to 65 per billed hour depending on which labor rate applies to the car and the job. 40 to 50 isn't uncommon anymore in my area at independent shops, the dealers are lagging somewhat at 26 to 35 per hour billed.
@@crashm1 Nice to know, i havnt work at dealership since ~2015. If so maybe i should go back!
@@crashm1 It's still a 40k/yr job in my area. Was making that after 6 years in the industry, idk where you're getting 50/hr but I'm guessing wherever that is the cost of living sucks it all away. Glad I got out, shitty experience overall but I learned a lot.
@@DeusTex-Mex a 3 bay gas station in a large MN city. COL is not all that high here. It helps that I have A1-A9, L1 and L2 ASE certs and 35 years in the industry so my employers know I have at least a good baseline of knowledge. I can also document my productivity via paystubs which also helps me get paid decently.
OMG great video, very informative. As someone who is trying to start a small shop, this answered all my questions!
Glad it was helpful! Best of luck! 🙌
I’ve always wanted to startup my own niche auto repair shop. I have all the technical knowledge from 15 years of auto, auto racing, and marine engineering knowledge but don’t know the first thing on how to run a business.
That's ok Gibbos Garage. We all have to start somewhere, and learning is part of the process. You definitely have the knowledge and experience to get started. Have you shadowed a business owner in your industry to get an idea of how things are run? Another step you could take would be to start a business plan. Please let us know if you have questions along the way and we wish you the best.😀👍
Take business management classes and talk to the owner of the best shop in your area. It's not all that hard but the skills needed to run a successful profitable business are completely different than the skills you have as a tech.
As crashm said, take a business management class. While you will learn some useful stuff, the most important thing is to meet like minded people who want to start a business, build a social network, and possibly find a business partner who could take care of the administrative side while you focus on the technical side.
Doooo it
I am just on my way to open my own car repair shop. You, guys are amazing. I found in this video plenty of USEFUL information.
Best of luck! 👊
skilled labor is 40k a year? servers bartenders are pulling in more than that for unskilled labor. doesn't seem fair.
Not at all
It may be a year old, but this is a great story and video. Tough business to be sure, but you can tell Lucky loves it and he's made some good business moves.
the 12 step program joke was underrated
With all due respect to the hard work and ingenuity of this guy, "past $40 000/month" in revenue for a team of four people isn't all that impressive. There is plenty of room for improvement here. I started my shop in 2016 as well and first I got jealous seeing this guy's nice shop and that "$40 000/month" figure. But then I realized that I make half of that revenue working just on my own, alone, and in a much worse climate.
I guess I'm not that bad of a businessman either! 🙂
$20k he wasn't honest. It did not cost him that little.
Barebones buddy start from the bottom work your way up. His shop probably didn't look nothing like that until he could afford it
@@SSGKvsh Not what he said, wasn't honest about it. Bare bones isn't $20k...buddy
@@ImNotHereToArgueFacts yes tf it is buddy bro probably didn't even have a shop he had bare minimum necessities to get the ball rolling. 20k is more than enough to start up. You probably never had 20k so you wouldn't know
He said he didn't draw a wage for 4 years, there's 200-400k that he reinvested into setting up the shop.
guys you did an amazing job by doing this video it did help me a lot. im just open a new body shop business and i just learn so much w this video thanks guys
We’re thrilled to hear that the video was helpful for your new body shop business. Wishing you all the best as you kick off this exciting new venture! 💪
He’s actually Heisenberg
Great video, Lucky seems like a really nice guy and a good tech too. Im in the same field for eleven years now, opened my own shop five years ago, gotta say operating from your own property takes a huge load off of your running costs.
S40k/yr and "we pay our guys really well" don't belong in the same video
😂 right
Disgraceful
40k yr. Your barely making a living. If you have a family. You will be on assistance and food stamps.
U should rewatch the video cuz they clearly said 40 A MONTH not a year
@@abrahamsandoval6257 You never watched
@@ImNotHereToArgueFacts ImNotHereToArgueFacts
Such a smart move honestly to have the shop next to your house. Other people have to drive more than 30 minutes + traffic .
Definitely pros and cons. I've had mine on the same lot for over a decade. The no traffic thing is the best. I can wake up minutes before opening the doors. But I'm splitting them up next year. Hard to have time to yourself when people know you live on the same lot. Can't even sit on the porch on Sunday without someone rolling up talking about "I was hoping you were here!". And telling people I can't help them, hurts their feelings. Sometimes to the point of that being the last time I see them. Had 1 guy leave a butthurt 1 star.
That mustache is very questionable but seriously though you don’t need to necessarily go to school per say. It can be done without the school just might take longer. Also I’m getting my experience through the Army (91B). Hope everyone watching that has a plan puts it into action and everything works out. Just gotta get out there and do it !! Hooah ! 💪🏽
Do it!
The mustache has its own personality for sure 😂
Man you're an awesome interviewer, great questions!
Thank you for the kind words! Any particular question you'd like us to ask entrepreneurs?
Even if Lucky didnt had a successful repair shop he wont loose because he owns the place. he knows what hes doing and he never had to pay rent. Thats the secret for eveything... if you pay rent, youre bound to hit a wall. Just my 2 cents😊✌
When lucky is talking about the bigger tires and how he thinks the host goes off roading. You can 100% tell he has never even parked it on grass before, definitely never went offroading.
Lucky: "For me, since I already owned the property, $20,000.... These days probably double that because of inflation, etc."
UpFlip: "Yeah well I'm going to put 20k in the title anyway so it gets views"
Training business. Train new people during winter time. You can introduce mini training program not for professionals but also for beginners , like how to check oil at home ,how to fix small issues at home . You can sell tools , small repairing tools.
Make a mobile workshop. Offer home maintenance
I could never live right next to my job. That destroys any resemblance of a work/personal life balance
Good point
It does: you are always at home and never have to go to work.
I’ve been watching another negative people, but I really like this one, God bless you with your business buddy.
Thank you for the video! I was patiently waiting for a mechanic video.
You're very much welcome Ricky. We're happy your wait is over. 😀Are you in the auto industry as well?
I have a two bay auto shop and I make 500k a year
TURN AN BURN,,,,
I know that the book giveaway is over - but the most outlandish purchase I made for my business was a casket dolly. I liquidated a Funeral Home, and the guy took the casket dolly. So we used the dolly to move the sold caskets, then sold the dolly as well.
Revenue is not income ppl...
Thank you
Having. A shop on your property is massive game changer
What does he pay his mechanics? Shops want employees to have all the tools and training but pay you crap money. Then shops have the nerve to tell employees don't do side jobs.
Prob 18-20 an hour
Had no clue you were literally less than 2 miles away. I just had a brake job done by Midas on my 2017 rogue, they charged me $716. Should have came to you for a second opinion. They do guarantee for the life of the vehicle though, which is at 75000 miles. I will trying your shop out in the future though. You seem like an honest person and business man.
Stop by anytime! And yes we are quite hidden, most people find us from google, definitely not a place you see and visit. From what our customers tell us.
Soon as he said "Just watching videos does nothing, you NEED TO WORK." 100% of the millennials left the channel.