What Every Shop NEEDS | How To Start A Mechanic Business (Part 1)

This series will cover everything you need to know about the business of starting up an automotive mechanic shop.

From what tools to buy first, to how to build your shop, to getting your first customers, we'll cover it all. Stay tuned!

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From American Muscle to Classics to Diesels, DG will show you how to build, swap, and repair anything with a throttle.

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NO WARRANTIES: All of the information provided in this video is provided "AS-IS" and with NO WARRANTIES. No express or implied warranties of any type, including for example implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, are made with respect to the information, or any use of the information, in this video. DEBOSS GARAGE ("DG") makes no representations and extends no warranties of any type as to the accuracy or completeness of any information or content of this video.

DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY: DG specifically DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES and assumes no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of the use or misuse of any of the information or content in this video. DG recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. DG assumes or undertakes NO LIABILITY for any loss or damage suffered as a result of the use, misuse or reliance on the information and content of this video.

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK: This video is for informational purposes only. It is your responsibility to evaluate your own safety and physical condition, or that of your clients, and to independently determine whether to perform, use or adapt any of the information or content in this video. Any automotive repair and/or modification may result in injury. By voluntarily undertaking any task displayed in this video, you assume the risk of any resulting injury; your safety is the sole responsibility of the user and not DG.

[SouthMainAuto]

Lots of good advice Rich. One thing a lot of guys forget about is the insurance costs here in the states to operate a legal shop. We have to pay a garage keepers insurance, liability insurance, building and grounds insurance, corporation tax or self employment tax if you are operating under a DBA blah, blah, blah. Heck being self employed costs me over $35, 000 a year just for health insurance alone. A lot of guys going out to rent a shop or start there own end up learning this lesson the hard way and get side tracked by thinking they only need a box, tools, a shop to work out of and the money in their pocket. It is tough to get started if you don't have your head screwed on straight. There is little time off, low return on investment, not to mention the personal risks involved. Not trying to discourage anyone from following their dream but the fact is, do your research, talk to shop owners running legitimate business's and be willing to make sacrifices.
-Eric O.

[johnvandenakker]

Hello. I have a very close friend who is a mechanic. Has his own shop, small, but very functional. Has been there for 40 years.
Unfortunenatly, for the general public, mechanics like you and my friend are a dying breed. The honesty, integrity and sometimes compassion shown by independant mechnics is very lacking in the world of dealerships and chain service centers today. Keep your personality, it is a sheer pleasure to watch and follow along with your dream.

[MyNameNotRickB]

My dad always said, if you borrow it 3 times buy one ... lol

[joshbaker]

Just got my first box recently for my 13th birthday
-it's a husky and have no complaints so far

[flagovhate]

I was able to purchase 2 tool boxes, full of tools from two gentleman who had passed away. Some of my tools are decades old, with decades of use. Even though i didn't know the gentleman, there is history in these tools and I'm truely greatful to be able to use them.

[SquirrelsForAustralia]

You know you've made it when Turbo Yoda gives you a shout out in the Skid Factory.

[mechanickb]

The d ring and plate in the floor is genius!! I work in a shop that maintains a fleet of cranes and something like that would have been super handy. Thanks man. You are a very practical and resourceful guy, that's why I enjoy your channel.

[everydayfleettech]

With tools I couldn’t agree more. If I had to do it all over again I’d buy used tools and Gearwrench. Getting into major debt with tool companies is a bad idea

[wyattoneable]

You were smart going with the floor heat and installing an eyelet or two. I enjoyed the tour, thanks.

[terryeffinp]

100% agree, if you are just starting out you don't need to spend thousands on a box. I am trying to convince our new guy not to finance a box. I keep telling him goto the homeless deathspot and pick up a cheap box. Or if you want a really nice one on the cheap shop craigslist. I started out with a tiny shitbox from husky. Now I have a Snap-on KRL1033 with a stainless top and hutch with about 50k worth of tools. Lots of guys get in the business and find out they hate it or they end up getting let go because it isn't working out. You don't wanna owe the snap on man money if you get canned.

[prancstaman]

I'm a field mechanic, my best toolbox is a bucket. :)

[bobbob-fgwy]

If you’re on a budget, used steel office furniture is handy in the shed/garage/workshop.
3 drawer file cabinets. You can get card file and map type ones in similar dimensions if you look hard. The trick is all the brands are slightly different dimensions, shim the cabinets level with steel offcuts and you can lay on a bench top.
I’ve a row of 4 drawer files with stationary cabinets on top. If you get a same brand 2 drawer, strip it down, measure, cut, weld runner frames and fold the drawer faces you can make a 6 drawer cabinet, dividers in the drawers, I’ve got 2 I made, one for metric bolts, the other for imperial.
I made a rolling work table (I fix mowers) out of bench frame I found, in it I have a 2 drawer lateral file cabinet that I converted to 4 drawers for tools and parts.
My actual tool box is a 1.2m high map cabinet I found on the side of the road. Roller bearing drawers about 80mm deep that will take any amount of weight. It sits on an upside down angle iron frame with casters and shimmed at the front to stop drawers rolling out. Was chipboard top, is now stainless steel on a metal frame.
My work benches are made from a lot of 50x50 & 50x25 trusses from a shop front awning that I picked up. One is 32mm chipboard with woodgrain laminex the other is steel top with an old trailer floor upside down.
I’ve a whole small engine workshop entirely furnished with stuff I’ve found or picked up cheap. No need to spend $3000 if you’ve got a bit of time.

[oby-]

I am always checking Craigslist and others for used tools. Its amazing what you can find if you wait. As we all know, you can NEVER have enough tools. There is always room for one more.

[bahama_thomas]

The intro to this video speaks to me on so many levels!

[ronpearson]

I got a costco box for 350 with wheels and it was nice. I bought snap on tools but one at a time as I needed them, over the course of several years. I started off doing mechanicing on the side while working as an engineer. The most expensive hardest part of being a mechanic is building the metal frame building with radient in floor heat. I have found that I can work on my plane with a hand held tool box for most things.

[bigal]

Hey Rich I live in Hawaii, and 10 years ago I built what I thought at that time was my dream shop, I don;t wrench for a living i'm retired and I mess around with old car;s, I have quickly found out the the 30 deep by 50 long shop was too small. I do have a 2 post lift, but I now realize I should have bought a 4 post, like you said in your video about getting older well im' 62 and my joints seem like 70 any way I enjoy wrenching and I love your show's, Aloha

[fowletm]

Couldn't agree more
I'm that guy 3 big work benches
1 is accessible lol, being a farmer i farm as long as the sun allows unless somthing breaks
I work till its fixed at what ever hour at night
Then I drop everything and go to bed wake up next day and back to work leaving the shed and leave the mess
Then once a month I crack the shits and have a big clean out
Rinse and repeat

[thordehr]

Go ahead and label the boxes.... But put the labels on magnetic tape, then when you move things around, you can move the labels just as easily...

[randalbloomquist]

I found that steel file cabinets are great for storing sandpaper and abrasive belts etc. Also worked real good for storing hand power tools all in a common area. I painted them to match everything else and was quite surprised at how many drills, grinders, saws that could be stored in one four drawer file cabinet. I had three and they looked and worked great.

[jakegingrich]

I used to work in a shop that when they poured the floor, they put in huge 2 in thick by 12x12 plates of steel with a 2" rod about 5 feet long into the ground, so whenever we needed it we just welded anchors to the ground and then cut them off when done