Looking for advice on Moto Business Venture.

[kbroderick]

A few guys I knew in the local VW club did something similar for a while; I think they've all now moved on. One of them leased a shop space and then sublet out to other folks who were in a similar situation with regard to lack of space at home. It did become something of a slightly more shared space, e.g. we had a dyno day there at least once. I don't think there was any legal protection for anyone involved, no actual LLC or LLP and no liability insurance (I have no idea about theft/fire insurance, but I kinda doubt anything beyond regular car insurance).

It worked pretty well as long as (a) all the folks involved could afford to make their rent and utility payments on time (that got messy at least once or twice, I think), (b) they kept all the spaces full (I think things got a bit stressed when they spent a few months down a partner after one guy got his own garage and declined to renew), and (c) everyone had just one or two cars there (and no unregistered / undriveable stuff outside). It was an industrial area, so there weren't too many concerns about noise from maintenance or testing (within reason).

Edit: and I just spent a little time on the Dubsnorth forum, looks like they've still got it going...or at least they did as of last fall, when one of the guys involved was looking for someone to take over as he was not re-upping his space due to having leased a house with a garage. Their cost is $250 plus utilities a month ($20-$50 depending on season and use) and $350 deposit, but they were talking car-sized spaces, too. Not sure how many more bikes you could fit into the same kind of space.

[Doc]

If you need accounting help (dues/taxes/billing) I'd be more than happy to help out.

Thanks man. PM me your rates.

[kb1]

Thanks man. PM me your rates.

I'd help you out for free, no biggie, especially if it's something for the motorcycle community. Sometimes it's nice to actually do a job you're good at for something you like.

[Doc]

Their cost is $250 plus utilities a month ($20-$50 depending on season and use) and $350 deposit, but they were talking car-sized spaces, too. Not sure how many more bikes you could fit into the same kind of space.

Thanks for the info KB. This would be considerably cheaper depending on the number of people. I would like 4 or 5 "long term" people and then use the other spots as long term storage or short term work space rental. The long term people would have the premo spots.

[highsider]

Thanks Chris. You and I should talk a little about this.

Give me a call.

When I bought my house, what is now the horse barn was a giant, beautiful, well lit shop. At the time I was very in to racing cars, so I had my track cars in there.

After a while, some friends said, "Hey, would be it be cool if I used your shop to keep my tools and work on my cars/bikes/whathaveyou every once in a while?"

I figured, sure, they're friends, what the hell.

And for a while, it was good times. Then I put a fridge out there and everyone drank my beer. When I complained, I was called a scrooge.

Then people starting staying late and doing burnouts all fucking hours of the night.

Then various expensive tools came up missing.

Finally, when I came home from a track day to work on my car and there was a junk Chevy S-10 (its gonna be a sweet low rider dude!) on one side of the garage and a Honda Prelude with rust up to its door handles on the other, and neither were operable, and I was "being a dick" for asking people to get their shit our of my way.....


Well, you get the idea. It ended with me actually having to send registered letters to people threatening to sue them if they didn't get their junk out of my shop. I actually lost some friends I had known since grade school.

[Doc]

Give me a call.

When I bought my house, what is now the horse barn was a giant, beautiful, well lit shop. At the time I was very in to racing cars, so I had my track cars in there.

After a while, some friends said, "Hey, would be it be cool if I used your shop to keep my tools and work on my cars/bikes/whathaveyou every once in a while?"

I figured, sure, they're friends, what the hell.

And for a while, it was good times. Then I put a fridge out there and everyone drank my beer. When I complained, I was called a scrooge.

Then people starting staying late and doing burnouts all fucking hours of the night.

Then various expensive tools came up missing.

Finally, when I came home from a track day to work on my car and there was a junk Chevy S-10 (its gonna be a sweet low rider dude!) on one side of the garage and a Honda Prelude with rust up to its door handles on the other, and neither were operable, and I was "being a dick" for asking people to get their shit our of my way.....


Well, you get the idea. It ended with me actually having to send registered letters to people threatening to sue them if they didn't get their junk out of my shop. I actually lost some friends I had known since grade school.

Definately something I don't want to happen. I am hoping to start slow and gradually add to it IF it gets feasible. IF I get enough interest.

[FTMS]

I think the first thing you need to do is buy some more bikes so that your show romm will be full on opening day.

[Doc]

Wanna donate a Pitster?

[FTMS]

I think the first thing you need to do is buy

Wanna donate a Pitster?

"Buy" is the key word

[SVRACER01]

i thought of something similar when the big rig junkyard went OOB down the street. wouldve made an awesome dirtbike track and there could have been stalls to work on bikes(all types). membership fees, tool box rental, tire changing, lifts, specialty tool rental, track time, bike storage, one day passes, tire and parts sales etc. woulda been perfect. so much acreage that you couldve put a restaurant or something overlooking the track somewhere on property.

http://maps.google.com/

put in this addy to see sat view 3151 Lafayette Rd, Portsmouth, NH 03801

[Doc]

There is a medium sized parking lot out back..

[number9]

highsider: That sucks that you lost friends that way, but anyone that thinks you were being a dick for saying "Get your rusty shit off my property" doesn't deserve your friendship anyway.

To the original poster, the absolute first thing I would do is find out what insurance is going to cost. I've seen other guys (admittedly not in New England) do this and the insurance costs of non-storage workshops is astronomical -- it will probably make or break your idea.

I do think it's a great idea, though!

[catamount]

I think it's an excellent idea in theory but probably really hard to keep going over the years as people come and go, get jobs and lose jobs, get bikes and lose bikes, etc.

Just the month-to-month bill collecting, bill paying (rent, heat, power, water) seems like it would be a part-time job.

[Kitt]

I think it'd be cool Doc whatever it is you decide to do - I think it will remain fun as long as you're not depending on income from it (but hoping for it rather).

[richw]

When we were young and into enduros my friend owned White Plains Ford

Some of the friends kept their bike there inside power washer etc.

One decided to join the military, John tells him you can't leave a bike here for years I won't be responsible (he wasn't part of the core group anyway)

The guy spends years bad mouthing him instead of recognizing John had done him a favor for free storage for 2 years

I am sorry but unless you get front money and others names on rental agreements you will be on Judge Judy

[Doc]

I think it's an excellent idea in theory but probably really hard to keep going over the years as people come and go, get jobs and lose jobs, get bikes and lose bikes, etc.

Just the month-to-month bill collecting, bill paying (rent, heat, power, water) seems like it would be a part-time job.

I am trying to get ideas on how to make it more... feasible. Storage would be the main idea. Payment up front. The other stuff would be extra for the "Premium" members who would pay a little more and have an equal stake in the "Club". (That is as simple as I can make it).

I am sorry but unless you get front money and others names on rental agreements you will be on Judge Judy

See above, definately would do up the front money payments and I am really leaning toward creating an LLC... not sure how that would work ideally.

I envision a Storage facility with limited ability to work on bikes (If you pay the premium). Having a small retail space with consignment moto clothes and possibly a couple used bikes for sale.
Also possibly having a classroom/meeting room and having guest speakers come to do seminars. (small additional fee)

So how does this sound? Four tiers of membership?

1 time membership fee for each tier?

*Associate* Lease space hourly to work on bike.

*Storage* Paid up front. Just store your bike, drop it off in the fall pick it up in the spring. 25% OFF Seminars.

*Member* Storage with limited ability to work on bikes. Paid monthly. 50% off seminars.

*Partner* Premium member. Unlimited use. Large area for bike and tools. Would help in the running of the Club.

[Doc]

I REALLY appreciate everyones input. Thank you!

I brought a number of the bike night crew by to see it tonight. Thoughts were positive. It is in a wait and see pattern right now.

[NobodySpecific]

Since I probably won't be able to get any sort of garage with an apartment, I'm keeping a close eye on this. I would love to have a place to work on the bike, and store 1 all the time. That way I could get the Daytona that I want, and I wouldn't have to get rid of the SV

[Doc]

Since I probably won't be able to get any sort of garage with an apartment, I'm keeping a close eye on this. I would love to have a place to work on the bike, and store 1 all the time. That way I could get the Daytona that I want, and I wouldn't have to get rid of the SV

SWEET!

[Honclfibr]

The cake is a lie.

[rg500]

http://www.privateersgarage.com/

There is an article about The Privateer Garage in the new Roadracingworld.

[Doc]

I saw that.

[toocrazy2yoo]

Hey, as long as I can meet whoever's gonna service my chain, tune my bike and change my tires for $100.00/hr plus parts at yer place I'll buy in. No penny pincher on this end, Doc!..

Sheeit, bruthah! I'll bring lobstahs if Chris'll bring the steamer up!!!

Lobstahs are fun for the whole family! 5-15 days and counting..

[Doc]

More like $20 an hour.

[toocrazy2yoo]

Edited to add cause I was too beat last night:

20/hour? Man, Doc, that ain't enough. Even down here in redneckville they get $82m plus I tip em. I gotta shop down here that's excellent, MHKS, they give me little breaks on the stuff I've been adding onto this Bandit1200S. I've spent a lot of money on it since I got it and I've made a couple of awful decisions on a couple of things, but they never give me the bike back without the chain is cleaned and lubed and the whole bike detailed and washed all over again. After all the stories about Cycles 128 which is only 4 miles from where I'll be living up there, I'm a little paranoid I ain't gonna have a good shop to take the thing to. So if I find a good bike mechanic, knowledgeable, concientious, all that, man, that's peace of mind. Stuff like chains, brakes, the various alignments, those are the critical things that get ya kilt when things go bad and while it costs to have it done, at least I KNOW it's right. To my mind, given I'm not much of a wrencher anymore and don't know shit about the systems on these bikes anymore, having a good bike-tech is priceless. And winter storage with trickle-charger access and shot at taking the bike out on the occasional warm day that pops up even in the late fall/early spring? Damn right I'll buy into that and I'd bet lots of others would too. But you ARE gonna have to be a little hard-hearted to keep it going. Guys gotta pay up when it's time cause it ain't gonna work if you let it turn into charity.