View Full Version : Been offered an MOT station - BUT !
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 21:35
I have been offered a fully operational MOT station (up for sale due to current owner "playing away" from home and getting caught !) that has, as well as the MOT area, a 4 poster and 2 poster ramp.
The cost will be apprx £30k to buy all equipment and also be able to run on the existing MOT licence until I obtain an MOT licence in my own right.
The unit will also be subject to rent and rates slightly higher to what I am currently paying.
The BUT, is to afford to enter into the deal SKC would have to go
My plan would be to employ a semi-skilled service mechanic and take advantage of MOT repairs and of course any service and repairs as needed etc
I already own a welder, tyre changer and balancer, tracking equipment so most "in and out" jobs would not be a problem
I have contacted my bank but they do not want to know because I do not have in excess of £40k in the bank (this boils my pi** as if I had £40k why would I be going to the bank ?)
Your thoughts please
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 21:42
btw:- I am not saying SKC is anywhere near worth £30k but I would hope it will go a good way onto affording any possible deal.
lee bishop
12-04-2009, 21:45
i'd say if you can put food on the table right now and aint struggling then stay as is and keep SKC, its not the right economic climate to be breaking into new premises and ventures as it could all so easily go wrong and you will be left with nuffink. only my opinion tho brother :)
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 21:50
i'd say if you can put food on the table right now and aint struggling then stay as is and keep SKC, its not the right economic climate to be breaking into new premises and ventures as it could all so easily go wrong and you will be left with nuffink. only my opinion tho brother :)
Excellent points but also because the seller is strapped due to his behaviour maybe now is a good time
Also even RATTY would pass an MOT at RSE Autos - lol
i am an mot tester in a very busy test station... dont know what your local area VOSA inspector is like but ours is a bloody nightmare mate..
nothing is ever good enough and change the goal post on every visit..
can quickly lead to extra expense you never budget for....
reckon they should be stumping up for some "just for men" with the amount of grey hairs they giving me............:D
steven f
12-04-2009, 21:55
whats skc ???
mot buisness is good buisness as customers come to you but i do know they keep introducing new equipment all the time but i would go for it
got a m8 whos in my local garage does mot and repairs and hes never been as busy in his life hes even thinking of takeing on another mechanic
no saying go for it but if hes selling get a wee look at his books and then decide
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 22:00
nothing is ever good enough and change the goal post on every visit..
Hence the reason I will operate on the existing licence until my own is in place
wetandwindy2
12-04-2009, 22:01
agree with ordav on that one
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 22:05
no saying go for it but if hes selling get a wee look at his books and then decide
The station in question is next door to my current unit (same landlord) and has only been open for apprx 6 months
Lets just say he is swamped with friends and family who drive taxis and do not want to pay him anyhwere near a decent rate for repairing their wonderful low mileage private hire cars :rolleyes:
There is no customer goodwill with the deal as his current customer base is not worth a penny.
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 22:07
whats skc ???
http://www.rallyesportescorts.co.uk/pictures/croft.jpg
escort new boy
12-04-2009, 22:08
even if you sell skc youll still have to find 25g :p LOL
Get the nacker sold but keep thy sell a spare logbook in the sideboard ...:D
Northern Bloke
12-04-2009, 22:34
Seems a shame to sell the car Dave, have you got no other options for finance, different bank, small business grants etc?
paul mann
12-04-2009, 22:36
its a big move, but i know a guy who has taken over an mot station while he was running his business round the corner ,since taking over the mot station he has seen his work load double but more importantly his takings, as mot repair's are a lucrative business,dont take this the wrong way but could you break skc but keep the shell & rebuild at a later date that way you could generate some cash but keep skc, well in shell form :D in this current climate it may pay to play safe,but you may also get a bargin,people are keeping there cars longer & repairing them rather than sell them so the prospect could be very lucrative(cha ching):D
hotrs2000
12-04-2009, 22:36
Dave
Take away the mini cab trade and what else does he have, does your site do as well or is it the MOT side that is the real deal breaker here?
As the site is next door does that mean VOSA won't issue you with an MOT cert on your site? or can you not wait to have that issued?
Has your bank just said no or have they offered advise on what you need to do for them to take another look?
Have you tried other banks?
At the end of the day only you know the value of SKC and how much you need to find after. SKC is a car at the end of the day (a bloody good one at that) and if you sell it to help fund this it won't take you long to buy another RS.
PS
Can I be the 1st in the Q for an MOT by post:)
Dave1800BDA
12-04-2009, 22:44
its a shame the car has to get involved, but if needs must then youre the only one who knows the answer. if its the units where ive seen they seem pretty good. apart from the bogs:rolleyes:
good luck in what ever you decide
the guy in question is playing away:eek: surely the 4 poster must go then
A registrar not owning an RS :adminfinger:
Is this allowed:rolleyes:
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 22:47
people are keeping there cars longer & repairing them rather than sell them so the prospect could be very lucrative(cha ching):D
People are having their cars serviced less and less but they still need to have an MOT !
My thoughts on having my own station
Dave
Take away the mini cab trade and what else does he have, does your site do as well or is it the MOT side that is the real deal breaker here?
As the site is next door does that mean VOSA won't issue you with an MOT cert on your site? or can you not wait to have that issued?
His only trade is "something for nothing merchants and I am only looking at the MOT potential with his current business
My unit has been inspected but it is 3 metres too short otherwise I was going to aim for MOT status 2 years ago.
Dave1800BDA
12-04-2009, 22:48
A registrar not owning an RS :adminfinger:
Is this allowed:rolleyes:
pmsl:D
top drawer answer gary
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 22:49
A registrar not owning an RS :adminfinger:
Is this allowed:rolleyes:
I got 6 months to get another :toma:
RS2000CUSTOM
12-04-2009, 22:50
the guy in question is playing away:eek: surely the 4 poster must go then
Not on about his 4 poster bed :rolleyes:
who dare's rodney, who dare's !
Its only a car at the end of the day, could soon build another one,
our local garage is unindated with mot's and sounds like he's raking it in, go for it m8 ;)
richard wilson
12-04-2009, 23:08
dave if you can get the money together even it means sell,n the car go for it cause it will be a great investment in the long run and there is and allways be plently of RS,s out there to buy,i have my own garage and to be truthfull the work has been good lately and in your situation having your own m,o,t station you cant go wrong cause you will have plenty of work. so dave i hope it all works out for you and good luck:D
yellowcustom
13-04-2009, 05:41
if you dont give it a try you will always regret it+have it niggling away at the back of your mind+especially when someone else buys it+makes all the mot money+each morn u open up nextdoor saying to yourself-i should have gone for it+bought the place,snooze+ u lose as they say
Dave
skc is a top motor but it is only a car and if it as to go so that you can progress then so be it. I know what you are thinkihg its easy for me to say as i aint got to make that desision. what do the books say is there plenty of money in it. whats the difference in what you are doing now, do you need the blood sweat and tears just to keep your head above water. I would love to beable to have the chance but there would have to be so many right answers 1st. At the end of the day mate its your choice and youll know if its right for you good luck with what ever way you choose to go;)
steven f
13-04-2009, 06:52
whats so special about SKC ???
sell it and give the new owner a special deal his next 5 MOT'S for free then next year condem the car as an unroadworthy piece of crap and give him scrap value for it then its all sorted
on a serious note i have been in the motortrade for 25years and its getting harder and harder every year to make money and you are fighting to please customers as you need them but the difference is with a mot station customers need you and find you as everybody needs a mot once a year never seen a mot station go bust to be honest
The banks may be more supportive if you can obtain a long term lease agreement on the premises. From my experience they still know a good deal when it comes along, they're not all ****ers, and if they don't want to entertain, what is for them a small loan of £30K, either they're not fully aware of the returns or you're not?
If the banks aren't willing to part with their cash after looking over the business plan then I would ask why, in detail, before parting with my own.
Dyson couldn't get a backer when he started out either.
Looking forward to seeing you on Dragon's Den. :)
Good luck in whatever you decide Dave, but I know that the local garages near me are always busy doing MOT's and if you can get some advertising done to look after the Old Skool Cars (not just Ford) I reckon there will be plenty of people in your area happy to have you look after them.
On a Business Level you could also sell shares in the new venture....
£30,000 divided by 700 RSE regular forum users = £42.86 per person :rolleyes:
RS2000CUSTOM
13-04-2009, 10:07
£30,000 divided by 700 RSE regular forum users = £42.86 per person :rolleyes:
Good idea Martin
Each contributor gets 1 MOT with their divi
As an MOT retails at £54 methinks a bargain for any RSE contributor @ £42.86 per share
intersting thread and awful situation but if it can make money go for it. have you considered equity release / further advance on your house on a flexible mortgage. once the pounds roll in, charge the business interest for the money the same as the bank does and this will pay your additional mortgage payments. 100% legal and the interest is written off against your profits. What a way to get your mortgage paid, BY THE TAXMAN.
I've had a lot of customers do this and enjoy the low interest charges but love taking it off the revenue.
best of luck whatever you decide.
Frosticles
13-04-2009, 10:53
whats so special about SKC ???
Wake up at the back............................:sleepy1:
graham John
13-04-2009, 11:14
surely this thread needs deleting as SKC needs to have a price attatched
you know the rules Dave................;)
cheeRS
graham John
13-04-2009, 11:16
on a serious note i have been in the motortrade for 25years
thought you were in the police force...............:scratch:
cheeRS
Dave1800BDA
13-04-2009, 11:17
surely this thread needs deleting as SKC needs to have a price attatched
you know the rules Dave................;)
cheeRS
:D good point :rolleyes:
mot trade seems to be a good buisness to be in to me.
more people keeping older cars on the road at the minute.
mot is not something you can put off either, like a service, you must have an mot.
my local test station has 2 full time testers on the go, and are always very busy. over £50 a shot each to the general public too.
how is the local area for test stations? could you take some of their trade off them ?
i say go for it. :coffee:
steven f
13-04-2009, 14:02
thought you were in the police force...............:scratch:
cheeRS
dont believe everthing you read :p:p:p:p:p
Kevrs2000
13-04-2009, 15:45
Good idea Martin
Each contributor gets 1 MOT with their divi
As an MOT retails at £54 methinks a bargain for any RSE contributor @ £42.86 per share
I,ll have 2 shares
My local MOT station is so busy he is recruiting 2 new mechanics at the moment it's a big decision Dave but try another bank for the money
driverace
13-04-2009, 17:28
My opinion is that if this was a really good business then he would find another way to pay off his ex,and keep the MOT station going.I can still get MOT,s done for £44 even after last Mondays price rise at my local station as a trader ,and thats with a free retest .I agree with the other guy about VOSA inspectors being bastards.If YOU are not registered as an MOT tester are you sure you can get qualified and approved cos I know more than 1 or 2 that havent been able to .
paul andrews
13-04-2009, 18:34
if its a decent sound business and you think you can make it work,sell the car.as said its only a car at the end of the day.my opinon only tho
steven f
13-04-2009, 18:45
My opinion is that if this was a really good business then he would find another way to pay off his ex,and keep the MOT station going.I can still get MOT,s done for £44 even after last Mondays price rise at my local station as a trader ,and thats with a free retest .I agree with the other guy about VOSA inspectors being bastards.If YOU are not registered as an MOT tester are you sure you can get qualified and approved cos I know more than 1 or 2 that havent been able to .
i pay £30
RS2000CUSTOM
13-04-2009, 19:34
surely this thread needs deleting as SKC needs to have a price attatched
you know the rules Dave................;)
cheeRS
:D good point :rolleyes:
SKC for sale £35k (well I will need £5k for sundries) :rolleyes:
tony-mac
13-04-2009, 21:34
If it`s a `going concern` and making money, after seeing the books and possible end of year accounts, I`d be tempted to offer half (£15K), and the other half 12 months down the line if the place is actually doing the business he says.
I looked at another catering business recently which I guessed I would pay £15k for - and have recently seen it advertised elsewhere for £49k, so it`s hard to value business` without being hands on it for a while.
Dont listen to the `doom & gloom` merchants Dave, theres still money to be made even in our current climate, and especially with your contacts I`m sure it`d be a go-er.
cheers;)
Tony
as you know Dave, i set up just over a year ago in the stone trade - i waited a long time for the "right situation" to come along - then and only then did i go for it and to be honest it was the best thing ive done
a year on and ive never been happier - ok the first year has been a bit of a struggle on a budget (not many shows etc, and this year the X is staying put on stands) but the short term negatives will hopefully soon be out weighed by the long term positives)
have a clear idea of what you want to do and look after the customers you get - even in my trade you'd be amazed on how much "word of mouth" trade we get with renovation jobs etc. by recommendations of previous customers :cool:
good luck, G
as you know Dave, i set up just over a year ago in the stone trade - i waited a long time for the "right situation" to come along - then and only then did i go for it and to be honest it was the best thing ive done
a year on and ive never been happier - ok the first year has been a bit of a struggle on a budget (not many shows etc, and this year the X is staying put on stands) but the short term negatives will hopefully soon be out weighed by the long term positives)
have a clear idea of what you want to do and look after the customers you get - even in my trade you'd be amazed on how much "word of mouth" trade we get with renovation jobs etc. by recommendations of previous customers :cool:
good luck, G
So your doing OK then G ?? And yours is a dying trade at that :D
(I bet you get ****ed off with that one...lol;))
Dave if things are ok the way they are and you are having a life, using your car, getting out and about, no overdraft etc etc, then stick with what you have. Look at the bigger picture, if taking the station on is not going to improve your lifestyle dramatically my opinion is dont do it ! Thats the one and only reason you should take it on IF it is going to benefit you personally.
sutty234
15-04-2009, 15:51
good luck and go for it! can you keep the car and use it as collateral? chances dont come up very often but when they do you have to grab em or else its what if and if only.if it doesn`t work out just dust yourself down and start again.
RS2000CUSTOM
15-04-2009, 17:02
UPDATE
Have decided to go at this another way
Equipment costs are too high off the existing "owner"
Have told him I not interested in his equipment
Today he has had the equipment moved and is emptying the unit for the end of this month
I am now in negotiation with equipment suppliers for quotes to have my own equipment installed and "passed off" by VOSA in my own right as an MOT station
As I am with the same landlord anyway he is amicable as he still gonna get rent etc
Looks like I gonna need £17k - £20k tops and doors of my own MOT are open for business
Looks promising but my bank is still being an a-hole (RBS-Natwest) as they obviously have some ex-employee's pension to pay :rolleyes:
try a different bank Dave if the books are ok from the garage they should be fine or remorgage the house:)
Looking better all the Dave.
If you're buying new equipment your equipment suppliers should be fit to sort you out finance or put you in touch with a 3rd party finance house.
Quite often at a lower rate than the banks!
RS2000CUSTOM
15-04-2009, 18:50
try a different bank Dave if the books are ok from the garage they should be fine or remorgage the house:)
Books ?
C'mon Andy the locals by me dont have books - lol
Looking better all the Dave.
If you're buying new equipment your equipment suppliers should be fit to sort you out finance or put you in touch with a 3rd party finance house.
Quite often at a lower rate than the banks!
Equipment would be refurbed not new
But still accepted by VOSA
So can I have 400 pre-paid MOT's @ £50 each please and I am ready to go - lol lol lol
dave get friendly with your local rac man(a few round your way :D) and see if you can go on the rac garage network of preferred garages, that way the local patrols will bring any thing that cant be fixed at the roadside to you so should generate a few jobs a week easily.
Books ?
C'mon Andy the locals by me dont have books - lol
Equipment would be refurbed not new
But still accepted by VOSA
So can I have 400 pre-paid MOT's @ £50 each please and I am ready to go - lol lol lol
£50 :eek::eek:
£25 down here son ;)
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