Starting a storefront

[Cliff Schecht]

In the wake of not being able to find a job and finally getting settled after moving, I'm considering opening a storefront to do amp builds/repairs (as well as gen. purpose electronics repair, I don't think the diversity will hurt) as well as selling amp parts and such. There is nothing on this side of Austin that deals in such things and the nearest shops are 30-45 minutes away at minimum. I still need to work up a business plan and figure out some of the financing, but I'm liking the idea more and more as I look into it.

So does anybody here run a storefront of any type? Any words of advice or warnings to heed? Am I crazy considering starting my own storefront business?!?

[xtian]

Yea! Go, Cliff!

Have you tested the waters in the 'hood? Definitely some amp repair needed in my town, but not enough to support rent. I made friends with the luthier at the new Guitar Center and put up a flyer on their bulletin board. I've had about half a dozen referrals in 8 months from them! Also I am the go-to guy for a small guitar store. Would be tough to do this as a living, though. I hear you should do iOS repair, too. Cracked screens, etc.

[Cantplay]

I run a storefront, but not in this industry.

You may need a license in your town to open a business. Its just another way for them to collect money.

Once you sign the lease you are responsible for any tickets and violations from that point on. Even if they are pre existing conditions.

For example, outdated fire extinguisher inspections, dirty or cracked sidewalk, etc. My lease says I am not responsible for pre existing violations. This was very importand the day the fire dept walted all my sprinkler heads replaced because a few had paint spatters on them.

John

[M Fowler]

No license required for my city or state only state sales tax so check your area. I work from home but have friends that own a guitar store, they want me to work there and room rent is $100/month but so far I haven't done that yet.

My sister-in-law has a great business in car radio repair been at it since the 1980's. Remove, test and install stock car radio, it's a great business.

[ToneMerc]

I don't think it's crazy at all. However, solo standalone right the gate will be tough. My suggestion would be to partner with an existing shop. Use this as a learning opportunity to gain back office shop experience, contacts and a reputation. Obviously, you are a good tech, but that doesn't by default make you a viable businessman.

TM

[skeezbo]

If you will fix solid state amps and do general electronic repair you will be providing a much needed service wherever you wind up. A music store that does lots of trade-ins is a good place to look for work; maybe you can find a shop that will trade space for service. Good luck!

[Firestorm]

Diversify. Hire music freelance music instructors; run build-your-own-amp seminars; sell matched and burned in tubes. You can never have too many sources of income. Good luck.

[M Fowler]

I noticed on another forum that techs for fixing solid state steel guitar amps is hard to come by, that is another source for income.

Hell fixing all the solid state amps on the market now should keep someone employeed.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Location location location. Austin! That oughta do!

Why go to all the hassle of setting up in a storefront if you can work out of your house.

What gives me the willies about me setting up a storefront repair shop, is what happens there after I close up and go home. Security I'm talkin' about. What's to keep burglars & vandals out? Plus putting up with every sort of wally that drifts in off the sidewalk and wants to eat up your time.

I'd say get the business rolling at home if you can, and take your time scoping out the neighborhood for a prime location if you really want to go that way. Takes a heck of a cash flow to make it worthwhile.

[echuta13]

I'm with Leo and xtian. Start @ home, and work your way up. No reason to crank up some debt unless you really want some. Connect with as many local music shop owners as you can and leave cards/fliers with them.

I have a buddy that decided to go into the amp building business & is just starting to break even. It took him around 4 years to get to that point, but repairing amps floated him through that time and helped sustain the business. He actually has the problem of finding enough time to build vs. repair (which I guess is a good problem to have).

[Leo_Gnardo]

And a +1 for M Fowler - get a state sales tax number and stay on the square with them. Almost everything else, you can get away with. I hope, especially in the Republic of Texas. Yippee ay oh kay yay!

Hope you're not in an apartment, that would pretty well rule out testing amps at home.

[skyboltone]

Having an eye for decent equipment and being willing to turn a tiny profit on quick buys and sells is a proven strategy. Don't charge for diagnostics. Turn down work on all VHS players. Don't set up shop uptown, the kind of people we hang with do business between up and downtown. Get to know the local garbage man.

Good luck, I always wanted to do that. I used to do repair for a guy who specialized in old Dynaco, Scott, and Fisher stuff. He didn't make much but he had a quality life.

Dan

[Cliff Schecht]

I am no businessman either. That's the part that worries me the most. I don't want to learn as I go and end up getting burned from oversights or unexpected expenses. I like the idea of getting together with someone that has an established business, maybe I will look into doing that temporarily.

Also I am practically unknown in these parts. I've been here maybe a month and realized pretty quickly how many of my friends moved on or just plain moved while I was gone. I'm having to (slowly) make new connections and start getting my name out there. I have been keeping busy because I live by the local TechShop (place is fucking AMAZING!!!) and can build whatever I want there (including a 4x6V6 Rocket, shout out to Bob S for the parts donations including a blank chassis!). That's been great and I've learned a LOT, but nothing that is paying my (admittedly minimal) bills.

Working from home was great in Lubbock but I'm currently residing at my roommates...err parents house currently. I have a little lab area setup and maintain a supplemental income selling of my dads crap accumulation through eBay, but this is a very temporary situation. They don't want randoms showing up at their house and I can't really put an amp through its paces in this neighborhood.

So now I'm at the point where I need to shit or get off the pot. Whether I start my own thing (I do have an LLC and tax number already) or find a big boy job, I need to start bringing in some income. I've been looking at jobs in Austin and honestly the more I look, the more discouraged I get. There is very little out there for a purely analog IC designer. Every job I see requires some form of digital/software design or isn't a great fit for me. I know C++ decently well but not enough to do it for a living. I'm a horrible programmer and don't enjoy sitting in front of a computer for 8+ hours a day. I'm also not much of a digital designer, I'm only familiar with Verilog on a peripheral level and haven't done much digital in the past two or three years.

I have, OTOH, really enjoyed working with musicians to build, repair or modify their equipment to meet their needs. This brings me much joy. So while I know it will be no easier (or even harder) than getting a 9 to 6 and making money the traditional route, I at least can be working under my own terms and not have to deal with the inevitable Friday night email/text/call saying I need to come in for the weekend and fix something yesterday/ASAP. I've already been through enough tapeouts to know that I both lack the discipline required for IC design and really don't enjoy the work as much as I thought I would (although admittedly the electronics/fabrication process will always thoroughly interest me). My biggest apprehension is that I am essentially wasting my masters degree by not getting an engineering job, but I think my sanity is more important than making money slaving away at a job that I'm not happy with.

[MCK]

Are you close to this shop : http://www.austinguitarhouse.com/

The owner is a forumite from TGP called Oz. He started this business a while back and is doing a great job from what I hear. Why not reach out to him and see how he handles his amp repairs. As many others suggested it might be a good idea to start off in the backroom of an existing business.

Best of luck!

[overtone]

Cliff Schlecht is a name already.
Making a living from what you do best of all is very fulfilling. Go for it, but carefully.

I have a question: does store front in the USA only refer to a physical room with a shop window to the street or does this proposition also include an internet "store front"?

tony