???How to be and After Market parts dealer???

[P.J.]

I didn't really know where to post this but...

I wanted to know if there were anyone here that has an actual store or knows anyone that has a "speed shop."

I've always wanted to open up an after market parts store. That being part of the reason I attended UTI. But my question is how does someone get started. I understand the small business loans and grants that are all out there but the business plan is what gets me.

Would you just call up different venders and let them know what your trying to do? How do you go about getting your dealers license?

If anybody knows anything about it your help would be Mucho Appreciated!

Thanks
P.J.

[xdforme22]

Well, I do not know the owner personally, but I have bought from them before. You could try calling the Langhorne Speed Shop (Langhore PA), and talking to them. When I was there they were quite friendly and helpful. I think part of what they do is fix/resotre cars. I have seen some nice cars parked in front of their shop in various stages of restoration. Here is the contact info:
Langhorne Speed Shop Incorporated
1732 Super Hwy
Langhorne, PA 19047

(215) 757-4406

[Doohickie]

Join DFWHyundais.com. Even though we are Dallas-Fort Worth based, we have a regional membership including some Houston members. And one or two guys have some connections and may be attempting something similar in the DFW area (start in the strut bar group buy discussion). If you could hook up with them, you might be able to get volumes up enough between the two areas to be more viable.

There are a few ways to get into this kind of business from what I can tell. One is big budget- open up a shop and all that. The other is to do it as more of a part time thing to learn how the biz works and do a lot of networking to line up suppliers and stuff. I think the DFW guy(s) are working on the latter approach.

[hyunelan2]

A friend of mine that I used to work with was trying to open his own performance shop. He built racecars out of his garage and raced every Friday night. He had a location (his father-in-law owned a Junkyard, and would let him have part of the shop space with roll up doors), knowledge, and reputation to start it. He had money aside for ordering the first 'batch' of parts, and even knew some distributors who were going to cut him a break. What he didn't have was licensing from the parts companies to sell the parts. A lot of the manufacturers of parts (Holly comes to mind) wanted HUGE cash payments upfront, just for the right to sell their products. That was what killed him. I don't think that's the case for every manufacturer, but something to look into further.

...on a side-note, that friend decided to go to law-school instead. Turns out that was cheaper than starting a shop.

[Doohickie]

I kind of agree with that thought. If you're doing this because it's you hobby/passion, go for it. If you plan to support a family (or even yourself) off of it, don't count on it. A coworker has a side business building specialty parts for Porsches. He'a a Porsche owner and enthusiast, and the side business allows him to give back to the community and write off travel expenses to meets, but he doesn't make nearly enough at it to support a family. Maybe someday it will, but he's probably ten years away from that.

I bet you are too. Not to be discouraging, but realistic. Do it if you love it, but keep your day job, at least until the side job is already making money.

[P.J.]

I kind of agree with that thought. If you're doing this because it's you hobby/passion, go for it. If you plan to support a family (or even yourself) off of it, don't count on it. A coworker has a side business building specialty parts for Porsches. He'a a Porsche owner and enthusiast, and the side business allows him to give back to the community and write off travel expenses to meets, but he doesn't make nearly enough at it to support a family. Maybe someday it will, but he's probably ten years away from that.

I bet you are too. Not to be discouraging, but realistic. Do it if you love it, but keep your day job, at least until the side job is already making money.



Yeah I am keeping that In mind. I know that most small business owner don't really make a huge profit until about their third year in business.

I dunno if anyone knows much abuot houston but I've been looking at some of the leasable properties within the Galleria (Westhiemer) area. There's acctually a building right behind my apartment that's a perfect location.

There are a lot of Tuner enthusiast in town but the galleria area has more of the high end vehicles. I wanted to do all around performance, sound , and wheels.

[BobMs_wht2k2]

If it helps, there have been 4 such shops here in Indy have opened and shut down in the last 3 years.

[P.J.]

A friend of mine that I used to work with was trying to open his own performance shop. He built racecars out of his garage and raced every Friday night. He had a location (his father-in-law owned a Junkyard, and would let him have part of the shop space with roll up doors), knowledge, and reputation to start it. He had money aside for ordering the first 'batch' of parts, and even knew some distributors who were going to cut him a break. What he didn't have was licensing from the parts companies to sell the parts. A lot of the manufacturers of parts (Holly comes to mind) wanted HUGE cash payments upfront, just for the right to sell their products. That was what killed him. I don't think that's the case for every manufacturer, but something to look into further.

...on a side-note, that friend decided to go to law-school instead. Turns out that was cheaper than starting a shop.





That's another question I have. What distributors to go with? DO you think I would have to go with the "big name brands"? or go with places that would provide more than one brand of product(not knowing if that's even possible.)

Also do you think any of the hyundia enthusiast sites would be up for someone selling their products?

Also does anyone know about who to talk to about being legal. like tax wise would i have to get an accountant for that?

If it helps, there have been 4 such shops here in Indy have opened and shut down in the last 3 years.



It does. I mean that's why I have sooo many questions because it is something that i've always wanted to do, but i know if u spend all this money to get started and nothing goes out the door then ur pretty much stuck.

I have a friend now that owns a cricket store. I dunno if everyone know what tat is but it's pretty much a local cell phone service. kind of like a mobile land line with no credit check. But i know she's been going through the motions with it. But because she's located in an area where not too many people have all that great of credit she makes money. She may sell maybe 10-13 phones a day. and at 2-400 dollars a phone after the markup that's pretty good money. then she only has one other employee she pays 7 dollars an hour.

But she always wonders how long she can be able to stay that productive.