Exploring Options To Become Certified to work on Spyders

[CloverHillCrawler]

As a suggestion, based on your computer background, I would skip dirty work entirely. Meaning, do not bother with oil changes, alignments or tire changes. Use the skills you have and offer a specialty service to add on customer supplied accessories that require electrical knowledge. As examples, led lights, led headlights, trailer wiring, sound systems, navigation, heated gear, battery tender hookups, power panels and more.

Specialty services, such as those are not done by dealers, except maybe oem trailer stuff. Becoming a service and installation center for these products jumps you into competition with similar shops, and away from the drudge work dealers contend with. Doing this also avoids two of the most controversial Spyder topics, tires and oil.

I hear what you are saying but I am no stranger to doing dirty work, while working at the hospital I would deal with plenty of "dirty stuff" I maintained various sizes of cummings emergency generators, several trane centravac 3 and 5 stage chillers, and 3 Cleaver brooks boilers (2 - 750 BHP water tube boilers and a 500 BHP fire tube boiler) along with all of the associated equipment for a Physical Plant. And the Oil change is probably the one thing that would get this going as the wait time for this amongst dealers in this area is absolutely ridiculous for one of the most easiest things to do with our Spyders.

 

[PMK]

I hear what you are saying but I am no stranger to doing dirty work, while working at the hospital I would deal with plenty of "dirty stuff" I maintained various sizes of cummings emergency generators, several trane centravac 3 and 5 stage chillers, and 3 Cleaver brooks boilers (2 - 750 BHP water tube boilers and a 500 BHP fire tube boiler) along with all of the associated equipment for a Physical Plant. And the Oil change is probably the one thing that would get this going as the wait time for this amongst dealers in this area is absolutely ridiculous for one of the most easiest things to do with our Spyders.

Fully agree, oil changes with filter are super easy. Logistically, the task is easy, having the parts is a bit of an inventory issue. Some run BRP oil and filter, others run BajaRon filters, with Shell Rotella, or Amsoil, or Mobil 1 or Motul or ??? This assumes you plan to profit on parts sales. Owners could always bring their own oil and filter.

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

Some words from my own experience as a small business owner/operator from 45 years ago. They're still relevant.

1. People do not like to pay for labor as a line item. They always think you're charging too much. That's why car dealers sell an oil change or brake pad replacements as a job bundle with no breakout for labor.

2. The time spent on "overhead" activities such as getting the customer's information, determining what they want/need, dealing with suppliers, bookkeeping, researching for answers, and on and on, take up a tremendous percentage of the time you spend at and in the business. You will need to earn 100% of your income with about 50 to 60% chargeable time. And don't forget having income to cover time off for vacations, etc. When I tracked all my activities during the day for a week or two once, I discovered that for every 10 hours I spent in the print shop, I was generating revenue, i.e., running the printing press, or taking orders for wedding invitations and rubber stamps, about 4 or 5 hours a day.

3. Social security taxes, insurance, and so forth will eat up probably about 20% of your income. This doesn't include personal income tax. That eats away another big chunk.

4. Making connection with potential customers will a challenge. They don't just come to you out of the blue. Advertising is at best, a crap shoot. And as you may have seen even in this forum, the 15% of customers who are complainers out shout probably 10 to 1 the 85% of satisfied customers.

5. If anyone else in the area is doing the same business, but has an attitude of, "If I can just cover my expenses (pay my rent; make my equipment payment; etc.) I'll be OK," you'll be done for before you even start. You can't compete against someone who is dumb enough to work for nothing. And believe me, they are out there. And as soon as one folds another one pops up.

6. The fewer resources needed to enter the business, the lower the probability of success. The greater the required investment to get into a vocation, meaning time, education, and money, the greater the income one can realize from it. Why do suppose a brain surgeon makes a hell of a lot more money than does the local school janitor?

7. You will need to see yourself as a small business operator first, and a mechanic second. If you love Spyders, and love to work on them, you'll have to make that love subservient to being a business man. Otherwise your priorities will get all screwed up.

The greatest force that keeps small businesses alive is - - - - - HOPE! And you can't borrow money against hope! A great resource for business advice is SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives. They're a service of the Small Business Administration. https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/score-business-mentoring. The best part is they don't charge for their consultations.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Doing this poll is a good start, but be careful how much you rely on it.

Hey do you know my wife? I get this type of lecture from her each time I talk about starting my own business. The last time was when we were living in Raleigh I wanted to open a general store with the live in area above it that you could get your groceries like a quickie mart but also had PC repair available.

The one thing she puts emphasis on each time ... 50% of all small businesses go under! I don't think she will ever let me start a full blown business on my own or let me be my own boss.:lecturef_smilie:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

The one thing she puts emphasis on each time ... 50% of all small businesses go under! I don't think she will ever let me start a full blown business on my own or let me be my own boss.:lecturef_smilie:

She's partially correct. The percentages are something on the order of 50% the first year and 90% at five years. I managed to avoid going out of business. I sold it after 4 years while it was still functioning and left town. It continued on for several years with a succession of owners and business names. Not sure how long it lasted.

Another thing I forgot to add. On a dollars per hour worked basis, small business owners on the whole are one of the lowest paid workers in the country. There is no requirement to be paid overtime, be given paid vacation, be offered medical insurance, and every customer is your boss.

All the above is why for 21 years I chose a steady paycheck that gave me a decent retirement rather than trying to be a business owner again.

 

[UtahPete]

I don't see how pick up and return could work, economically. I think you need to go to them and do the work onsite. Get the local Spyder groups to set up enough work in one location for you to justify going there for a weekend. Talk to Joe and Ann of Squared Away for the lowdown on how that works.

BTW, unless you have the ability to deal with difficult, demanding people, you're not going to enjoy or become successful as a small business person.

I hope you can figure it out and make it work for you. The Spyder community needs more independent shops!

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

Fully agree, it seems the Spyder dealers that had capability beyond just selling units has seen many of those dealers drop the Spyder line.
A person does not need to research or read much, even talk to other owners, to learn about the poor quality of service many, many dealers fall into.
Like any toy, when fun and not broken they get used and praised. When broken, they get swept aside and often gotten rid of. Without good dealers, that have good techs, and deliver quality work in a timely manner, the downward spiral has begun.

I keep seeing people refer to these as toy's , I bought mine as my daily driver.. that has some PIZAZZ! nojoke

I only drive my cage now when only weather or road conditions demand it or going somewhere with multiple people.

In the last year since I got it back from being reframed I have put over 14 k miles on it, luckily I only live about 10 miles away from work. 1964 of it was put on in just over 6 days.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I keep seeing people refer to these as toy's , I bought mine as my daily driver..

This prompts another caution for a reality check. Be very careful not to let your own subjective experience, biases, paradigms, prejudices, and preferences drive your business thinking and plans. Set aside what you like and think. You will not be providing a service to yourself, but rather for all those other customers out there, the vast majority of whom won't give a twit what you think and like.

I'm not suggesting you shouldn't set up a mobile mechanic business. What I'm saying is keep your eyes wide open and expect to encounter all kinds of tough issues, and be ready to look for ways to deal with them. Ignore reality at your own peril. Be as absolutely objective as you possibly can be about all the issues, positive and negative, that will face you. If you do that, and find a way to overcome the obstacles and capitalize on the positives, you stand a chance of succeeding.

An admonition I've given to graduates, and others, about what to expect in life is this, "There are only two people who care what happens to you in life, you, and your mother. And you can't always count on your mother."

 

[UtahPete]

This prompts another caution for a reality check. Be very careful not to let your own subjective experience, biases, paradigms, prejudices, and preferences drive your business thinking and plans. Set aside what you like and think. You will not be providing a service to yourself, but rather for all those other customers out there, the vast majority of whom won't give a twit what you think and like.

I'm not suggesting you shouldn't set up a mobile mechanic business. What I'm saying is keep your eyes wide open and expect to encounter all kinds of tough issues, and be ready to look for ways to deal with them. Ignore reality at your own peril. Be as absolutely objective as you possibly can be about all the issues, positive and negative, that will face you. If you do that, and find a way to overcome the obstacles and capitalize on the positives, you stand a chance of succeeding.

An admonition I've given to graduates, and others, about what to expect in life is this, "There are only two people who care what happens to you in life, you, and your mother. And you can't always count on your mother."

Excellent advice.

 

[Yabbadabbadoo]

Your wife sounds just like my wife. I had a few opportunities in my life to start my own business or partner with someone, but she is so risk averse that I just couldn't do it.
Well we did okay without the businesses and I'm now enjoying retirement at 63 yrs old. In the end I'm glad I don't have the headaches associated with dealing with the general public.

 

[Peacekeeper6]

I am testing the waters to start up a side business and if I can get it up and running at a good pace and eventually become my own boss until retirement.

I hear a lot of frustration from people for how long they have to wait to get an appointment for oil changes, tires, accessories or mod installs.

There are a lot of Spyder Owners in the DMV and practically zero Spyder specialty service shops.

I was thinking of offering a mobile pick up and return of your Spyder with whatever work you need done by me within 24-48 hours of the arranged time for pickup.

Also I would do Oil Changes, Tires, and some mod installs onsite with no pickup necessary.

Would there be anyone out there that would be interested in this type of service if it was available?

I would also appreciate answers from outside of the DMV just so I could get a gauge of interest in general.

If you can make this happen, more power to you.

I've found that many Spyder owners are more of the "senior" type, and cannot turn a wrench due to their physical limitations. If you are located in an area with many Spyder owners, I believe you can make a few extra dollars servicing their bikes once you have a good reputation.

Good luck !!

 

[Deon H2O]

You know we will support you all the way. DMVSR for life. DMV Spyder Ryders.

 

[JohnRuckus]

There are lots of mobile mechanics for other vehicles. Spyders/Rykers are a niche market. So, competition should be low. Without details, it sounds like a good idea. If you choose to go this route, Congrats and good luck

 

[ARtraveler]

I'm glad you have 2 nearby that can take you in when it needs to be done. There are multiple dealers in the DMV area but try calling one to get an oil change.

Better plan ahead because you are not getting it done without a 8-10 week wait time for an appointment so there are a lot of "toys" around here, also if you have ever driven around the DMV there isn't much patience.

:agree:

 

[UtahPete]

There are lots of mobile mechanics for other vehicles. Spyders/Rykers are a niche market. So, competition should be low. Without details, it sounds like a good idea. If you choose to go this route, Congrats and good luck

There are some logistical hurdles to overcome since the market is small and geographically scattered, but there is undoubtedly a need for such a service.

 

[CloverHillCrawler]

You know we will support you all the way. DMVSR for life. DMV Spyder Ryders.

Thanks so much and appreciate the support, but after crunching some numbers (the reality of math) I wouldn't be able to support it on my own full time at the current time.

It could be a good side gig to make some extra money here and there after I retire in a few years.

 

[2dogs]

When I retired I started my own business. This coming spring it will be 8 years working at it. Paid for my initial investment in the first year. I make good money and still cover my overhead costs. I owe no one except my wife. She's my bookkeeper. I hate that stuff. All of my business comes to me by word of mouth and/or by referrals. I do not advertise. I keep it small and don't allow it to get big. Big jobs bring their own problems so I choose those carefully. Customers will be your most difficult aspect to deal with, followed closely by their spyders. Learn when to refuse a job you shouldn't get into and DON'T do it. Your client will be your first clue when to refuse a job. There's a boatload of excellent advice preceding mine so pay close attention to it and good luck. Stay happy with what you choose to do. OOP's, something I forgot to tell you. Do not borrow any money to get your business going. Do it all on your own dollar.

 

[UtahPete]

When I retired I started my own business. This coming spring it will be 8 years working at it. Paid for my initial investment in the first year. I make good money and still cover my overhead costs. I owe no one except my wife. She's my bookkeeper. I hate that stuff. All of my business comes to me by word of mouth and/or by referrals. I do not advertise. I keep it small and don't allow it to get big. Big jobs bring their own problems so I choose those carefully. Customers will be your most difficult aspect to deal with, followed closely by their spyders. Learn when to refuse a job you shouldn't get into and DON'T do it. Your client will be your first clue when to refuse a job. There's a boatload of excellent advice preceding mine so pay close attention to it and good luck. Stay happy with what you choose to do. OOP's, something I forgot to tell you. Do not borrow any money to get your business going. Do it all on your own dollar.

Excellent advice.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

OOP's, something I forgot to tell you. Do not borrow any money to get your business going. Do it all on your own dollar.

Can be tough to do sometimes, but a good way to go. If my experience from 45 years ago is still valid, banks won't talk to you about a loan, even an SBA guaranteed loan, if you don't have a fair amount of your own skin, i.e., $$, in the game. To add to that a firm financial principal of a business operation is, if the business won't return you enough to cover the cost of a loan, i.e., an investment, then it won't give you the return you need from your own money if that is all that is invested. It makes no difference if it's your money or the bank's money, if you don't get a market rate of return on it, don't invest it. My veterinarian brother, who owned his own practice, drilled that into my head.

A viable business must provide a reasonable personal income plus a reasonable rate of return on the investment, otherwise it will just be an expensive hobby. Salary is not the same thing as investment return.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Thanks so much and appreciate the support, but after crunching some numbers (the reality of math) I wouldn't be able to support it on my own full time at the current time.

It could be a good side gig to make some extra money here and there after I retire in a few years.

Kudos for being objective, even if the conclusion isn't what you had hoped for.

 

[UtahPete]

Can be tough to do sometimes, but a good way to go. If my experience from 45 years ago is still valid, banks won't talk to you about a loan, even an SBA guaranteed loan, if you don't have a fair amount of your own skin, i.e., $$, in the game. To add to that a firm financial principal of a business operation is, if the business won't return you enough to cover the cost of a loan, i.e., an investment, then it won't give you the return you need from your own money if that is all that is invested. It makes no difference if it's your money or the bank's money, if you don't get a market rate of return on it, don't invest it. My veterinarian brother, who owned his own practice, drilled that into my head.

A viable business must provide a reasonable personal income plus a reasonable rate of return on the investment, otherwise it will just be an expensive hobby. Salary is not the same thing as investment return.

Agreed. Management consultants make a clear distinction between being a business owner and owning your job. Popularized by Michael Gerber as the 'E-Myth'.