Opening a Local Saw Shop...Thoughts

[XP_Slinger]

Howdy Fellers,

After 22 years in uniform I’m being forced to retire and I figure there’s no better time than now to work for myself doing something I enjoy.

That said, I’m gonna give a saw shop a go. My local dealer is excited for the prospect of a local mod shop, although I’m not gonna jump into mods full throttle right away. Currently lathe shopping and I need to master those tasks before selling that work.

Given the experience on here is there anything I should look out for or get done right away? I’ve already established an LLC but I will be reworking some of that since I have become more knowledgeable on the ins and outs of liability while working from home.

Any advice or criticism is welcome. Thanks

 

[Wilhelm]

I can't help, but best of luck with Your trip down the rabbit hole!

When You feel it becomes work in the literal sense, take a step back and reevaluate Your situation rather than continuing doing it in aggravation.

Cheers

 

[XP_Slinger]

I can't help, but best of luck with Your trip down the rabbit hole!

When You feel it becomes work in the literal sense, take a step back and reevaluate Your situation rather than continuing doing it in aggravation.

Cheers

I appreciate the well wishes and sound advice brother. My local dealer has already offered me 2 new saws to mod and sell on his shelf. Maybe someday I’ll get to Randy level and work on new saws only and avoid all the mess and time of dealing with whooped equipment lol. That’s the dream, but for now I gotta crawl. Hard work pays off

 

[jacob j.]

Congratulations? on your retirement - it sounds like you've got something pretty enjoyable lined up. Are you gonna just do modifications and such, or are you going to
open up to the public and do general repair work?

 

[John235]

Props for you goin out on your own man. Best of luck

 

[Xr650jkallen]

Get a BIG ultrasonic cleaner. Congratulations on settling down and working on your own terms.

 

[Redfin]

Concur. This one has been invaluable.

 

[Lightning Performance]

Concur. This one has been invaluable. View attachment 287733

Jealous

 

[Larry B]

I am an LLC and run a small engine shop in a small building on my property. When it comes to insurance things vary but if you have walk in customers that come to your place of business you need a $1,000,000 liability policy. Mine costs a little over $500 a year. If you want a policy that covers loss/theft of customer's equipment that is usually a rider on the policy. If your shop is on the property you live on your homeowner's policy will most likely cover loss of your tools or equipment up to a dollar value but not any of you customers. If your shop is not on the property you live on your homeowner's policy probably won't cover anything. I have a rider on my homeowner's policy for $20,00 worth of tools and equipment. Always check with your insurance agent as to what coverages you have or don't have.

Set up a commercial checking account and credit card with your tax ID number in your LLC name. Make all your business purchases with the business credit card and keep ALL you receipts concerning anything to do with the business for deductions. If you don't have an accountant you should get one. Mine is worth every penny.
Good luck

 

[Larry B]

Concur. This one has been invaluable. View attachment 287733

Dang. How big is that thing? Definately jealous.

 

[Lightning Performance]

See above, twice and look again. This is where you waste most of your time on ope. Fix that first.

Buy your large shop tools used if possible and save a ton.

Decide right now if you going to sharpen others chains or not.
They come in as a rocked mess most times.
When in buss I avoided it.

Free filings on one loop let's them know what it should cut like. Best way to keep a new customer. Good customer's don't bring in piles of rocked chain they ask for instructions. Or... avoid chains all together. You need 500 for a decent grinder like a new Tecomec auto chain grab and wheels.

If you do bar work never guarantee anything.
Dress them, hit it with a hammer and send it imo or sell them one. Sprocket tips are easy but take time to hand fit the rail.

General repair sucks unless you can get quality parts cheap and fast.

Keep the customers out of your work shop. They tend to get nosey and waste your time.

Word travels fast in small towns so refuse to do work for cheap bastards or the guys who will show up always looking for deal vs the quality repair.
" Can't you just make it work for today?"

 

[ZERO]

Good honest work goes a long ways these days. In the age of upselling, nothing better knowing that a $20 part fixed an issue that could have been upsold to $200.

Mentioned Randy, nothing is impossible, his saw is the oldest in my fleet, been through 6 months of production logging after someone I know was so impressed they wanted to borrow it. Knowing how to push the boundaries without sacrificing reliability. If the customer wants something outside of the reliability boundaries, explain in detail what can and will go wrong! As you can see Randy's craftsmanship and REPUTATION speak for them selves, I was not able to break his saw with everything I threw at it, long bars, aggressively filed chains, 40+ inch logs, oh yeah and that production logging journey.

Work should be chasing you, not the other way around, the dealers here will give you a more practical business advice. People should be so impressed others will be asking for your contact.

I have thus far been impressed with everyone I worked with in my signature saws. One item had a defect from the factory before even the 1st bolt got removed. Was fully warrantied before any port work began, no questions asked. It is that type of honesty, attention to detail, willingness to correct a problem that goes a long way.

COMMUNICATION is the key, whether good, bad, or ugly. Customer should not be wondering if this person is still around or if they will see their hard earned saw.

 

[Larry B]

See above, twice and look again. This is where you waste most of your time on ope. Fix that first.

Buy your large shop tools used if possible and save a ton.

Decide right now if you going to sharpen others chains or not.
They come in as a rocked mess most times.
When in buss I avoided it.

Free filings on one loop let's them know what it should cut like. Best way to keep a new customer. Good customer's don't bring in piles of rocked chain they ask for instructions. Or... avoid chains all together. You need 500 for a decent grinder like a new Tecomec auto chain grab and wheels.

If you do bar work never guarantee anything.
Dress them, hit it with a hammer and send it imo or sell them one. Sprocket tips are easy but take time to hand fit the rail.

General repair sucks unless you can get quality parts cheap and fast.

Keep the customers out of your work shop. They tend to get nosey and waste your time.

Word travels fast in small towns so refuse to do work for cheap bastards or the guys who will show up always looking for deal vs the quality repair.
" Can't you just make it work for today?"

I'm going to bring you some ragged out poulan saws and stand around asking you questions while you fix them for cheap.

 

[wcorey]

For your own sanity... Implement a 100% satisfaction guarantee...

If you're not 100% satisfied with a customer, tell them to eff off and hit the road...

 

[Lightning Performance]

I'm going to bring you some ragged out poulan saws and stand around asking you questions while you fix them for cheap.

Cool.
I'll be here... bring good steak and quality drink. Maybe some something for desert ;-) then we start the bonfire

Edit
Marked for best answer

 

[Lightning Performance]

For your own sanity... Implement a 100% satisfaction guarantee...

If you're not 100% satisfied with a customer, tell them to eff off and hit the road...

Bill is makin friends not customers lol

 

[Larry B]

If you are going to do chains better get two.

 

[Lightning Performance]

If you are going to do chains better get two.View attachment 287762

I got three.
Still sucks

 

[Redfin]

Dang. How big is that thing? Definately jealous.

39L. I have stuffed all kinds of stuff in it. Works very well for loosening rusted parts.

 

[XP_Slinger]

Congratulations? on your retirement - it sounds like you've got something pretty enjoyable lined up. Are you gonna just do modifications and such, or are you going to
open up to the public and do general repair work?

Thinking of doing both mods and repair. But I want to stay with reputable brands. I’m open to whatever work is needed, have a good in with a big tree company up here that has a steady need for repair service.