legality of opening a bike repair shop at home. Norfolk.

[spannermonkey...]

Hi all

I'm thinking of using my services to repair other peoples motorcycles at near cost price in my local area based from my garage in Norfolk. We have a dealership in town (Triumph). I want to use the knowledge I have and expand. I've built a few machines and rebuilt others so thought I'd give it a go.

I was thinking is it a good idea? and besides public liability insurance what else should I have?

Only doing little things like, clutches, brakes, servicing's, bearings and a bit of fault diagnosis. Not tyres though.

Anybody else had any issues and I know you will always get the person who wants the moon on a stick and the person who bike goes wrong when it is nothing to do with what has been touched.

I already service friends/families cars and bikes but on a mates rate which is what I'd charge, the owner to supply parts, I also like to show people how to do it, no good as a business idea but I think it makes them happier and more confident in understanding a motorcycle.

I live in Norfolk and any ideas thoughts or experience would be good.

Thanks all.

[bikertomm]

Sounds like a great idea to me.

You're doing the right thing to do some research on it, as said, fiddling with people brakes and that you will want to be sure you have the right cover just incase

I'm sure there's a few people on here that do similar so hopefully they might be able to offer some more insight!

I assume you mean doing this as an 'extra' or are you talking about doing this full time / solely as your income?
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[spannermonkey...]

Doing this on the side in the evenings and weekends.

[John933]

Where about's in Norfolk are you going to do this. A town or a village name would be help full. Because I live in Norfolk.
John933
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My trip

[Wonko The Sane]

I'd be wary of noise coming and going on behalf of your neighbours due to your expected working times being evenings - some bikes are quite loud, especially the street tripple that lives down the road from me.

you might need to register change of use for the garage as it's being used for commercial purposes and so may incur business rates

security in case customer's bikes are to be stored overnight
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[Doomsnite]

Check your land registry or service management company conditions as i noticed when i bought my house, no one on the estate is allowed to do anything other than minor repairs on their property. Plus no unsightly caravans allowed anywhere

If you have a garage, dont suppose it matters.
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Triumph Street Triple-R
Sold: Honda Hornet CB600F-Y / Yamaha YBR125

[zark]

depending on what your neighbours are like... change of use is the biggie.

i just renewed my home insurance and ticked the box that says 'no business use'. you might wanna check in case someone nicks a bike from your garage while it's in your care?

public liability in case someone blames you for shoddy work

tax liability for additonal income.

there's dozens of hoops to jump through if you want to do it all above board and legit, likes... which is probably why so many don't bother...!

i expect if i lived next door to you and there was revving motorbikes echoing round your garage all evening, i'd be complaining pretty soon...

good luck though!

[ScaredyCat]

Is it Watton?

I'm also kind of interested.. but from a slightly different angle.. would like to learn how to do stuff.
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[davebike]

Panning permission / change of use to Business
Was what I was told when local autherty got strop about working in my garage I was a mobile mechanic just did odd bits at home still got threatened with court action

If your neighbours don't fuss you will be fine one not happy you will get grief
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
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[The Wobbly Orange]

I would assume Watton. You would need permission to open a business of that type owing to noise etc. I really don't know the specifics. Have you considered renting a unit on an industrial estate and making a proper go of it. Dereham would be a good place.
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[Taught2BCauti...]

Uncanny! I am currently thinking of doing something very similar near to where I live in the West Midlands.

I would be looking for at least one other person to get the business started, and would specialise in low-cost, fast-turnaround jobs, as well as running DIY Servicing courses and buying and selling the odd bike or car.

I have found a few small industrial units that would be suitable, but they all specifically exclude any kind of motor trade use

A lot of motorcycle dealers have shut down around here, and the few that are left, charge extortionate fees, so there's definitely a gap in the market for small independent workshops.
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[LustyLew]

There used to be a chap near me who worked from his garage.

Wasn't VAT registered, so he always preferred customers to provide parts and he just charged labour.

I've always thought these types of places would make a reasonable amount of money running 'workshop classes'. How to change oil, rebuild brakes/replace brake pads etc. That stuff that looks very simple but becasue it's a bike, you become a little more wary.
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[Taught2BCauti...]

I used to do similar classes when I worked as a car mechanic many years ago, just covering routine servicing (never brakes though!) and they were quite popular and very good for business.

People still came back to me to have the work done, but at least they knew exactly what they were getting for their money, and knew enough to not get ripped-off by the big boys.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[zark]

slightly different as a business plan...

have you thought about using a van and doing mobile stuff?

if my bike needs a mechanic - it's likely not able to move, so would need a way to get it to your garage? i'd be much more interested if i could ring someone who would pop round and do whatever it was that i couldn't

you could carry the basics (cables, chains, spark plugs etc) and get an account with a decent parts supplier for customers that need something different.

you can then make a couple of quid on the parts as well as undercutting garages for labour?

you wouldn't need to annoy the neighbours that way too

[Taught2BCauti...]

You would need to stock a hell of a lot of 'Basics' to be able to cover all bikes.

I would prefer to stick to routine servicing that was booked in advance to get started, and perhaps offer a recovery service at a later stage - but definitely not road-side repairs!
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www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[orac]

[evoboy]

I've been trading for nearly 2 years now.

It's hard work and takes up most of your spare time. If you get stressed about money easily then it will break you very quickly due to the 'seasonal' work. We do ALOT of engine builds so that covers us for the winter months.

I found it almost impossible to get a decent unit from the council that suited my needs without it being a ridiculous price for the rent, or, having some stupid rule that would restrict me. (Washing bikes was an example that I wasnt able to do. Due to the risk of ice.....)

I managed to get a unit on a farm estate in the countryside with loads of good biking roads around us. No noise issue, no restrictions and far more reasonable rent.

Getting a traders insurance policy was a task in itself due to age restrictions as I'm 24 ( Some wont even quote untill your 25). All other insurances were not a problem.
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[talkToTheHat]

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[growler]

[spannermonkey...]

Noise not a problem I only run engines from lunch to 7pm and that's it. Because I have a small race bike along with others, I stick to that rule and run for minimum time only or take it into the countryside and make a racket. Been in this place for 5 years and no complaints from any neighbour or council busy body. My neighbour owns a bandit with nice cans on it and comes and goes at all hours, probably helps.

Yep Watton it is.

I'd plan to survey the bike first give a quote and what parts are needed and then arrange a time to do it. I know you cant plan for the unforeseen. I can get the use of a trailer so no problem with that.

The Van idea is good. keeping it mobile but then the costs start to mount and what started out as a simple fun thing becomes a lot more serious. I like the idea of teaching but only up to a group of two due to space.

The unit idea is good but again with a full time job I need to charge more.

Well lots to think about, thanks for your replies.

I might just do it on the side for a few quid an hour. As it is seasonal.

Who would be interested?

[Rogerborg]

Only thing I'd suggest is fucking off any pedbois saying "Make it faster, mister." There's no winning move in that game.
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[spannermonkey...]

Not a fan of the instant speed lot. You cant just bolt something on for more power or speed. It might breathe better feel better but what is actually happening? Running hot and lean - expensive later on. but you have to change a lot just to get it to run sweet and that costs money and understanding.

[talkToTheHat]

Somewhere on a bus route is kind of helpful.

If I'm lucky I can get mine picked up by my local independant on one of the mechanics way to work and won't get charged, but while they're moving bikes, that's time they're not pulling in £30/hour labour for fixing bikes. Half hour pickup, an hour's labour and half hour dropoff and it costs you twice the time to do a small job. Not a problem if you're pulling in big jobs, but hideous penalty on short jobs.

Also consider ride-ins, can you turn stuff around quckly with the rider present every time? How much ballache is it for a rider to get home from a remote location it just became a long job?
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Bandit. does. everything.

[dolly3900]

One thing to look at (think it has been touched upon briefly) is parts supply.

Many motor factors do not stock and are not registered to supply MC parts?

Odd situation I know, but when I was after some simple break pads for the CBF, I went to 3 separate motor factors in the area, each one gave me good advice, one found the part numbers I needed, one even went online to get a price from one of their suppliers, but none of them were allowed to supply me as they were not on the list as recognised motorcycle parts dealers.

My lad is in the trade and apparently there are different rules for car and MC garages, so don't assume they are interchangable and get caught out.

All that said, good luck if you go ahead, could do with more of your kind around for those of us who are mechanically ok, space/time limited or in the case of some, really CBA to DIY
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2002 Rieju RS2-50 (Sold, spares or repair), 2010 Suzuki DR-125SM (Traded for ->), 2007 Honda CBF 600 (Sold), 2010 Suzuki V-Strom 1000 (Briefly, now returned), 2007 Suzuki Intruder 1800m (Even More Briefly, traded in for ->), 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650

[spannermonkey...]

I have a bus stop at the end of my road one towards Norwich direction and the other towards, Swaffham, thetford and dereham.

I'd probably go for the turn around with the owner present as then they can witness and inspect work as it's carried out and learn something along the way.

All good points so far loads for the mind to think about.