Myself and a good friend of mine are thinking about starting a custom bagger shop, but not limiting ourselves to just that area. We live in the San Antonio area and the custom bagger scene is just starting to get big here ( I know, its been on the east & west coast for awhile). Like most custom shops around here, it is bolt-on after-market stuff with an awesome paint job. We are hoping to do the same type of thing to start, but eventually build some true customs.

Just was wanting some advice from some guys that have shops already and how they got started. We have a good site picked out and a good HD mechanic thats on board with us. I've also contacted some distributors about becoming dealers for them to get us started.

Don't want to reinvent the wheel, and try to avoid as many bumps in the road as possible.

 

I am more familiar with aftermarket auto shops and it really helps to have some type of edge obviously. Too many generic audio/tint shops around my area but the ones who tend to stand out are the ones who have something different to offer and are using social media real well. Good luck!!

 

Hope you aren't limiting yourself to baggers. Plenty of motorcycle riders don't like baggers and still want a custom look.

 

im not an economist or anything, but now may be a difficult time to open a niche shop. in the past two years, two of the three reputable motorcycle dealerships have closed in middle georgia. not sure if san an is fairing any better, but around here the demand just doesnt exist, i guess.

regardless, i wish you the best.

 

My advise is start small. Don't go big time in the beginning. By that I mean do it part time, and don't quit your day job just yet. See if you really have enough work to keep the doors open all year. Pay the overhead, salaries, and then have profit when its all said and done.,,

 

San Antonio is a great place for a custom bike shop.... lots of bikes and with our great riding weather.... well, most of the time..... and some of the best riding in the country.... your shop should do fine.

I'd definitely help support it!

 

1) Treat your customers like you want to be treated.
2) Work on their as if it was yours.
3) Be honest.
4) Autos have drive up oil change, why not Bikes.
5) offer deatailing.
6) Allways have someone avaiable for the quick fixes.
7) if some one comes in 5 Min to closing and needs a quick fix, do it.
8) Be open when your supposed to be, nothing worse than getting to a shop during posted hrs and the place is closed.
9) offer quick and reasonable tire changes, even if they did not buy the tire from you.
10) Remember, word of mouth, can be the best advertisment and the worst....
Good Luck

 

And if you've never done retail, and that's what this is, remember, the customer is always right. Even when he's an azzhat, and wrong.

 

All great advice here. Take a good lesson from this forum on the negative exposure that can result from an unhappy (or clueless) customer. Responding favorably and swiftly to their complaint, whether valid or not is great PR for your company. Alot of people here respect integrity and it does seem to factor in the decision as to where to spend their money.

Whatever you do search your company regularly on Google to stay on top of good and bad reviews so you can handle it properly.

As previously mentioned keep your overhead low, at least in the beginning.

Good luck! There is always room for a competent and sincere upstart in many industries.

Steve

 

How does one make a small fortune in a brand-new motorcycle business?

Start w/ a large fortune.