Originally Posted by Grease Monkey

I think the biggest problem with most of the shops in the area is that they do not have a good full time secretary.

If you don't have someone who is clean, well dressed, polite, mildly knowledgeable, and there all day to answer the phones/run the front desk than it comes off as being very unprofessional. I work on cars for a living, and have been doing it for 8 years, and I hate being called away when I am in the middle of a job, and thats when things get over looked/forgotten about. But not answering the phones is far worse because 9 times out of 10 it means lost business.

I think there could be a good market for a local shop on the penn. There are a few of them on the southside already and they do a pretty good job for the most part. I agree with Fran 110% on keeping parts in stock. Basic parts, upgrade parts etc. I'm talking ignitions, BOV's, wastegates, head gaskets, injectors, etc. etc. Not terribly expensive parts but something that someone with a few extra bucks could buy on a whim. Not to mention if your offering dyno/tuning services having things like ignitons and injectors could open the door for immediate upgrades on a car thats just in the shop for tuning etc.

I personally (for the most part) do all my own work. I built my hatch in my single car garage at home, and between my garage and the shop I work at, I have most of the tools/equipment to do whatever I need done. I think another good idea would be to offer like a "Hobby Shop" type of thing where someone could pay to rent a lift/tools to do their own work, but to be able to have access to a lift, press, tire machine, etc. But I don't know how that whole liability thing comes into play on that.