Interesting Idea: Hands-On Garage

[Gunnar]

I saw an article in the paper this morning about a new business that opened in the Milwaukee area. It looks like they rent out garage space (including a lift if you want it) and tools by the minute. Sounds like it would be a great opportunity for someone who knows what he's doing around the garage but doesn't currently have the space/tools.

The website is www.handsongarage.com

The article I'm talking about is here: http://www.jsonline.com/business/93353319.html

I'm interested in your thoughts on this business idea. Maybe they exist in other areas of the country as well. I could see some issues when it comes to liability, but I'm not really sure how all of that works. I don't think I'll be needing it as I am lucky enough to have the space, but still an interesting idea.

 

[srmofo]

Wright -Patt air force base has something similar to that. Or so Ive been told, I never served so its a big mystery to me. I've seen business models like it though. If you do an internet search, they're out there. Most even have ovens and spray booths for painting as well as the guns. I cant even imagine the liability insurance you would have to carry though, especially for lift rental.

 

[KCarGuy]

My Brother-in-law had that very idea, years ago.
But with a trained Mechanic on duty to help or guide customers along.
They rent space, lift, tools, clean-up and disposal.

Sounds good, especially people who rent apartments, or lack of tools, or winter time.
But the Liability issue is really whats frightens me, too many ways for someone to get hurt.

 

[AgentZ]

I had this idea ages ago as well. Insurance on this scares me, and I live in a country where sueing is not a hobby.

 

[tcianci]

Yeah, I had heard of that too. I guess thankfully someone has the balls to run it as a business and has addressed the liability issues. Sounds like a fun place to wrench on your wheels.

 

[NJ Diver]

Sounds just like the shop in the movie "Christine". Awesome idea, but as the others have said, I would think it would be a liability nightmare. ***** that we live in the litigious society that we do.

 

[Gunnar]

Yeah, I hope they have addressed the liability issues properly and can succeed.

I'm also curious how they keep tools from walking off. I'd like to think that everyone is honest, but unfortunately that's just not how it works. I'm guessing they require a credit card and have a check-in/check-out procedure to inventory everything.

 

[6768rogues]

Click and Clack tried it years ago.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

They had these at military bases in Germany. Everything you could want....tools, lifts, etc. If you got hurt they'd cart you over to the base hospital. I imagine there would be huge liability issues with that stateside. I was just discussing the idea with a buddy the other day. The litigious nature of our society precludes anything hands-on with the possibility of getting hurt and getting a big payday in court.........They also had a complete woodshop; all the big pro power tools a guy could want. I think the Recreation unit ran all this.

 

[e-tek]

There's one in Saskatoon - at an Autobody shop. You can rent the mechanics area or the paint booth! I wish I had known about it when I needed space (and tools!!). Imagine how easily we could have gotten things done - instead of pulling ******'s out on the gravel drive!! lol!!

 

[t100]

at my school, we have to go through a whole array of safety trainings before we can operate the lifts. I don't care what kind of liability weavers the customers have to sign off, just wait till some gets hurt, then all kinds of lawyers will just show up.

I'd bet the cost of insurance will be sky high.

 

[method]

There is a place in NH that does that. They charge per hour. Something like $30/hr if you want a bay with a lift, $15/hr if you don't.

They have nearly anything you could need for tools/power tools/shop equipment etc.

 

[D Force]

Sounds like they're trying to put this forum out of business and take away all of our fun. Where will I go when the wife is fed up with me?

 

[tonydanzah]

They had a similar thing to those in Michigan. You got the space and lift but no tools.

 

[lawfarm]

Notwithstanding all of the naysayers above, I think it would be possible to do this in such a fashion as to have minimal concerns about potential liabilities. A good agreement + good insurance and a reasonable agent cures a lot of evils.

 

[rylon]

The TechShop has a similar idea, only with more tech tools. The first location is in Menlo Park Ca, and there are others springing up all over the place. I was a part of the Portland location, which unfortunately went out of business. It was amazing, we had a CNC router, laser cutter, full wood/pattern making shop, sewing area with upholstery capabilities, lathes, mills, grinding room, welders, and two guys that did urban logging and reclaimed wood and sold it on site. But like I said it just didn't take off. There was some mild support, and some investors but it just seemed like the business plan wasn't too well planned out. We ran on a volunteer staff, and a majority if not all the tools were privately owned but donated/loaned in exchange for membership. I would love for something like this to really take hold, both with an automotive or tech flavor. I had a lot of fun working with the tools and learning from the people that frequented the shop. Really too bad.

Rylon

 

[WSMC633]

There is a motorcycle shop in San Diego that is the same idea.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/02/11/privateers-garage-diy-motorcycle-workspace/

 

[alberto]

There is a motorcycle shop in San Diego that is the same idea.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/02/11/privateers-garage-diy-motorcycle-workspace/

I don't have a motor bike, but I might have to check this out. I wish there was one in San Diego for cars.

 

[LoneGunman]

I thought the liability would be way too great for this to work but out resident attorney/farmer/garagenut says it's not. I was always lead to believe that liability releases aren't worth the paper they are printed on. There WAS a track down here that you could ride your quad or dirt bike on. A 13 year old kid died after a bad landing, even though the dad signed a liability release, bought him the bike and was there with him the track still closed after all of the attorney fees and the town trying to drive them out because they were also sued.

 

[Ruddy]

I can't find a link now, but I remember reading about some housing development in the heart of NASCAR country that had a shared auto shop.

 

[Hawk]

There was one in Charlotte NC, it did not make enough capitol to cover the liability insurance. The owners struggled for over a year before throwing in the grease rag.

 

[sberry]

I had a bud that did one, was a pain in the rear although it had some issues that others might not start out with.

 

[milkovich]

I wonder if this model would work with autobody.

You proved a booth and unlimited dry clean compressed air and its' up to the customer to paint "no more than two cars per year" getting you around all the super expensive EPA rules.

I have a huge garage and a lift... and I'd pay to use a spray booth rather than spray a car in my garage or driveway.

As for all the "nay-sayers"... no one ever started a successful business by being cautious and scared of "liability". That's why you incorporate and pay yourself a salary.

 

[spongerich]

Some of the car clubs have 'shop days' at local dealerships. (Or at least, they did about 10 years ago)

They'd open the shop on a Sunday and one or two of the mechanics would come in and help out. I never had the opportunity to attend one, but it's an awesome idea. Spend the day wrenching with a bunch of other enthusiasts and have access to dealer techs... how can you go wrong?

 

[Flathead Red]

Most all military bases have one stateside or overseas. They are called auto hobby shops. And they are just that, rentable space with tools to work on your car. Prices are very reasonable and they have a mechanic on hand to give advise or help. The one at Nellis can order parts just like a regular shop. It's a good deal for those that live in base housing or in the barracks and don't have a place to work. I have used them many times.

Red

 

[ears]

The community college around here has a car club. If you are or were in an automotive class you are eligible. Friday and Saturday you have full access to a very well equipped shop, full machine shop, welding, special tools etc. It is run by a few of the instructors, pretty casual I have seen guys from the club in the shop outside club hours as long as the instructor is there. It is a pretty sweet deal, free to join, and help from some very knowledgable guys who love what they are doing.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, the idea of an auto/woodworking hobby shop has been around forever.

No, they mostly haven't been profitable or practical. The two with which I had first-hand experience were respectively a large and a small disaster. One was literally taken over by a gang for a hang-out. The owner couldn't control it, cops wouldn't do anything, the gangs drove off legitimate customers, did drug deals, stole tools; the owner closed at a huge loss.

The other example was killed of because too many guys would get a car apart, often to the point it couldn't roll off the hoist, couldn't fix it or couldn't afford the parts, couldn't get it back together. Then, they couldn't pay the hourly charges they'd run up. The owner tried holding the cars with a mechanic's lien, but the hassle was more than he could deal with.

Maybe, those of us old enough to remember, back in the '50s-'60s, several hot rod clubs tried having a club garage. Didn't work then or now. A few ruin it for the many and the co-op garage broke or broke up some of the clubs.

thnx, jack vines

 

[WSMC633]

As for all the "nay-sayers"... no one ever started a successful business by being cautious and scared of "liability". That's why you incorporate and pay yourself a salary.

I was seeing the liability issue more from the insurance standpoint. It's really f'n expensive. Especially in CA. It's still a fact that you have to make enough $$ to cover the lease or (mortgage), utilities, pay the loan for all of the tools and equipment you just bought, pay any staff, pay that insurance, and still turn a profit so you can afford dinner at night.

It seems like a good idea on the surface, but there is a lot of overhead and it's a niche market for sure.