need car audioshop owners help

[HotRodHam]

ok so im going to college atm to get my business degree (for 2 yeears). and im going to take the MECP tests here in the summer. and i was wondering how you guys(car audioshop owners) started up. how did u get money to start and so on. just looking for some good answers that'll help me out in the long run i got some things in my head but not much

and what kind of ownership do u have? partner, sole proprietor ship (alone) or what

[Skullz]

Your best bet is to start at a place and see how everything is run and learn the in's and out's and i would stay away from any kind of partners unless your %110 sure of the person your partnering with cause you can have quite a few legal issues if things go badly between parties.

[HotRodHam]

Your best bet is to start at a place and see how everything is run and learn the in's and out's and i would stay away from any kind of partners unless your %110 sure of the person your partnering with cause you can have quite a few legal issues if things go badly between parties.

learned about this in my business class today

and im planning on working at a local audio shop for a few years to get more knowledge about it n such cu god knows i dont know everything but i know alot more then the average person about wiring systems the proper way. and ohm levels n such

the biggest question i need answered is... $$$$

[IBleedMusick]

My dad saved his ass off and started renting a garage space from a warehouse owner. Then he got his business license and leased an old gas station that had a mechanic shop connected to it. The place made for a great install spot but noise complaints forced us to move. He ended up moving to a plaza where he had 6 install bays but during the downturn of the economy and bad business practice from an ex business partner he ended up selling the shop and moving to a shop with a friend. The shop is on the side of one of Miami's more popular Flea Markets. I do work here from time to time but the clientele isn't where it could be or what I am used to seeing. I am trying to talk him into taking my investment and reopening again but he feels like car audio in Miami is dying and isn't worth because everyone wants bs systems in cheap cars and not willing to pay the money for a truly custom install.

As far as contacts goes he went to shows met vendors and made friends, I have kept up those contacts and friendships plus made some new ones here and there. You have to be able to keep vendors happy and let them know you can sell their products well and you have to make people want to come to you for a build no matter what. We do a lot of work on the side for people I meet and anyone I can convince to spend some real money and get a system that turns heads so far I have only had one customer not like the end result and to be completely honest he had big eyes, small pockets and was the hugest pain in my ass. Plus he had too many "You know when I had my system" people around him. With any other business you will have those who are happy with your work and those who just refuse to ever be satisfied. Have to take the good with the bad.

I also noticed that we were able to keep customers happy because we had a waiting room worth waiting in. The hardest part about this business for me is making sure you keep a good blend of products for every budget. You don't want cheap equipment that will break in a few months but you don't want to keep all high end because then you don't cater to the clients who don't have much to spend but want to get loud. You also have to manage to make a revolving door out of your clients because recurring business is what keeps you in business that and client referrals.

Good luck in school