Some of the posts have mentioned it, but I'll say it also. Starting your own place isn't as easy as buying the tools and equipment, having a roof over your head, and start fixing customer vehicles. There are mountains of paperwork to deal with, and many technicalities you'll be learning along the way. There will be red tape you won't agree with, and regulations that will be hard to meet. There is also the fact that as a small business, you will be in the spotlight when it comes to EPA spot checks and safety checks. Things that larger, established shops get away with because they are so large, you will be nailed for just to make an example of you.

Now let me tell you a little story of how I know some of this. I have been involved in Jeep repair and part's sales on the side for several years. I needed the official training and documentation to go along with what I already knew, (and learn some things i didn't already know), so I went to school and received a degree in Automotive Technology. Upon graduation I took the tests for 6 ASE certs., plus the 3 to put me at Master Engine Machinist (thanks to previous machine shop experience). I purchased the shop I planned to work in, and to save money for the opening, I got a job at a local dealership. When my hours were reduced I went to work for a great little shop that actually cared about quality and even payed more than the dealership. After saving some money and getting married, my wife and I decided it was time to open the shop. We purchased the extra equipment I didn't already have, a car carrier to haul the vehicles, and opened up our doors.

We specialized in online sales of Jeep parts, mostly Cherokees and Comanches but some Wrangler stuff as well. We even repaired and sold the occasional complete vehicle. We shipped thousands of parts, including many worldwide. Things went better than we thought they would over the first few months, and we quickly got to the point where we needed to take the next step. Our state requires a dealer's license to transfer more than 5 vehicles a year. We were going through more than that in a couple weeks. The license required me to be bonded, so I applied. As it turns out, because of a bankrupcy i went through many years ago (after a severe bicycle accident and the resulting head injury piled up medical bills), I was denied for the bond by every company we apllied to. No bond meant no license; no license means no business. Now the shop is for sale, we are in the process of purchasing a small house, and I'll be going back to a $10/hr job after spending last year earning up to a couple grand a week.

Now I'm not on here crying about it...I already did that and its over and done with. What I'm trying to do is let you know that owning your own business is a complex process, and things will come up that you don't expect. Make sure you plan very well before jumping into this, and check on every detail before you start out. Don't assume part of the process will be simple just because it sounds like it should be. I've never been bonded before, and assumed it was just a formality that I pay for and get. As it turns out, no amount of money will get me a bond.

Plan this out very well. Reality in the real world is that no matter how much you know, and how good you are at your trade, there can be things that kick you back down.

Jim

 

As far as I know, If you got terminated for what ever reason short of embezelment you are eligable for unemployment. At least thats the way it is here in California. I'm sure laws vary from state to state. Contact your local Unemployment office and see what they say. More often than not when I've had to let someone go, that person has always ran for the unemployment office whether they diserved it or not. In my state they give out unemployment benefits like its going out of style, then they send a letter to the employer to see if he/she wants to dispute it. I have disputed a few cases over the years. During that time the ex-employee would continue to get the benefits while an investigation was going on. If it was found that he did not deserve the benefits then he was forced to pay them back, usually in the form of payroll deductions when that person got there next job