Anyone run a business from their garage?

[Throwawrench]

Thinking of starting a small buisness or maybee evenjust a side gig of plastic welding. Was wondering what people thought about that as a buisness? Also does anyone do that as a sorce of income and what things or tools should i look into. Or in general what advice does anyone have in running a small opperation of any kind out of their garage. Thankyou.

 

[Strouty]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

What types of things do you envision repairing?

 

[Ohio Auto]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

I was doing side stuff in my shop out back ... I stopped.

Reason? Liability and insurance. If you don't have an LLC and proper insurance you could be risking everything you have.

 

[Jazz1]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

SIL is making cement furniture...fire tables etc in his garage. $4500 for a fire table but he is located in the right area to pedal those

 

[jimindm]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

Side work or full time, treat it the same.

Many do not realize the tax saving potential for doing it. You can do it even if the municipality in the area does not allow it.

Speaking of the municipality, are you legal to do it. If not, can you get legal. many times it is as easy as going to an adjustment meeting, to get a variance or something.

Treat it as a business and you be OK.

I have done auto repair from mine for twenty plus years. I have what is called a home occupation permit. It come with its own rules that I need to follow, but mostly it is designed as to keep the neighborhood looking like a neighborhood.

Along with that permit, my garage changed uses of residential vehicle storage, to commercial auto repair. I had to get it some what up to commercial code. I would say they were a little lax what I needed to do, mostly because part of the home occupation permit is only good as long as I live here. When I move it reverts back to residential status.

While lax in some aspects, safety was not one. I had to put in 36 in walk door, make sure any aprons were ADA accessible, exhaust vents, footings and fire wall were the biggest.

All in all, I would do it again. I would say the one thing is that you will have a hard time of ever actually getting away from work. It is always there, in front of you all of the time.

 

[driftpin]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

Better check w/your local government. Home-based businesses often do not allow anyone besides the resident to work there, and are restricted to business use, not retail walk-in sales, warehouse, repair, storage, or other uses, including customer traffic. The zoning department and clerk's office often issues business permits, zoning permits, and what is now called in Florida, a "business tax receipt." The business license or business permit name was changed statewide because a legislator had passed a regulation because when he/she was told they needed a business license, they replied, "why, this is nothing more-than a business tax!" And so it was passed.

By all means, get insurance, form a corporation or 'sole proprietor.' Limit your liability. Say you repair a plastic vessel holding hot water, it breaks, and the person using it gets 2nd/3rd degree burns. You need protection.

Do a search of the area to see if anyone else is doing what you want to do, you could pretend to be a customer to see what they charge, because if it's not worth it, the best time investment may be that this business plan isn't going to be worth your time and money to operate.

Home-based businesses are also limited as to how-much space in the dwelling they can use. There are write-offs for taxes, but don't expect to be able to write-off your mortgage or utilities, usually it's just a small %. I used to do the inspections for home-based businesses in the county where I was employed, so I am very familiar with the requirements and inspection procedures.

 

[T_R]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

Yes, I'm opening a used car dealer, repair shop and state inspection station from my home garage. It's allowed under our zoning as a home occupation. There are restrictions like limited number of customers per day, limited number of cars for sale and no employees that don't live on the property. I'm just waiting for my sales tax paperwork and I'll be in business.

 

[BADSIX]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

yes I run a auto restoration business in one end of my shop were I have a prep room and a paint booth. I live in rural America and have all my county tax codes and permits very easy to get. I think i'm labeled as a cottage industry. tax deductions are great, go for it !

 

[ez-duzit]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

Businesses that started in a garage:

Amazon.
Apple.
Disney.
Google.
Harley Davidson.
Hewlett-Packard.

 

[Throwawrench]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

How to answer your question of What kinds of things will I be working on, I would like to start out working on Automotive plastic pieces like bumpers. This might this is something I've been thinking about but I might not be doing it soon depending on all the hoops and different things that I have to jump through to get going with it. Thank you all so much for your detailed responses it takes time to respond to somebody's question and I appreciate you giving me so much of your time.

 

[Throwawrench]

The reason why so many great businesses started in a garage is because there's a lot of peace and quiet inside a garage or at least the ability to think. And if you're lucky enough to have a bunch of spiders in there your wife and kids might not go in it. when my son gets bigger and he starts jacking my tools then I might have issues but until then there's peace and quiet in there. Btw hes only 2 but hes got a brother comming next month.

 

[6768rogues]

Our local government has a process for home occupation. There are limitations such as no more than one employee from outside the family, no outward appearances of a business except a 2 square foot or less sign, no noise, etc. The main concern is keeping the residential character of the neighborhood. However, there are a bunch of dicks in office now who think that no one should make any money in their home. I went to a meeting and reminded them that Microsoft, Paychex and others started on residential property.

 

[PWC Repair]

Start here....http://business.ohio.gov/starting/
Read everything to see what is involved. Dont quit your dayjob until you build a good customer base. Be prepared for LOTS of extra hours. Make sure you have the support of your woman.

That being said, I've been working very hard running my own business (while still working a dayjob) for a while. I fix personal watercraft, which is a specialized niche. Which is exactly what you are considering, a niche. I say go for it, youll know within 12 months if its something that will earn a paycheck, or just eat up your spare time.I'd bet there's not many people around that weld plastic. First thing that comes to mind is kayaks and plastic canoes.

 

[ard]

Re: Anyone run a buisness from their garage?

Businesses that started in a garage:

Amazon.
Apple.
Disney.
Google.
Harley Davidson.
Hewlett-Packard.

All likely NOT in compliance with the local Palo Alto/Santa Clara/Whatever local ordinances.

Go figure....

 

[ez-duzit]

It is an American tradition.

 

[yeldogt]

Thinking of starting a small buisness or maybee evenjust a side gig of plastic welding. Was wondering what people thought about that as a buisness? Also does anyone do that as a sorce of income and what things or tools should i look into. Or in general what advice does anyone have in running a small opperation of any kind out of their garage. Thankyou.

Starting a business is always a good idea ... make it legal for taxes and get insurance. Both are easy and cheap .. I have started many. Insurance can be expensive once you get vehicles ... employees etc.

 

[brycez28]

I had started a landscaping business a couple years ago. I inquired with my city on working out of my garage....can't do it. All I could do was apply (and pay) for a conditional use permit which would allow me to have a home office. Outside of that, no business equipment was supposed to be on my property and no clients coming to the property (which wasn't an issue for me either way). Ended up moving so that I could continue and grow my business elsewhere.

 

[kbs2244]

One way around zoning problems is to keep all your tools, equipment, etc. in a purpose built trailer.
That way you are only "storing" them in the garage.
It also gives you the option of going on site for a large job if needed.

 

[yeldogt]

I had started a landscaping business a couple years ago. I inquired with my city on working out of my garage....can't do it. All I could do was apply (and pay) for a conditional use permit which would allow me to have a home office. Outside of that, no business equipment was supposed to be on my property and no clients coming to the property (which wasn't an issue for me either way). Ended up moving so that I could continue and grow my business elsewhere.

With the number of people who work at home for large companies -- these laws are becoming obsolete and often not enforced.

Set the company up .. get proper insurance ... and forget about the rest.

all the towns around me gave up the fight... Storing large equipment or piles of dirt is another matter .. but being home all day and have a small number of people coming and going can't be stopped.

 

[bullnerd]

Yes.

 

[j3rf]

Wonder how it's going... nine years later.

 

[rsanter]

I used to use the services of a plastic welder when we had large tanks that needed repaired.
to me that seems like it would be a good buisness to run out of the house as you will really be a mobile buisness most the time

 

[Stuart in MN]

The original poster hasn't been here since 2020 so he probably won't provide an update, but.. as far as home businesses go, plastic welding is pretty low impact. Not a lot of heavy machinery or loud noises to bother the neighbors.

I had some fairing parts for a motorcycle repaired years ago by a guy working out of his home garage, they came out great.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Funny. I actually came across this thread a few weeks ago from a Google search lol. I know someone that runs a shop from their home garage. They have a business license and their property is registered as commercial.