Starting up a VW CV specialist advice needed

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   Hi All,
As the title says i am looking at setting up a VW CV specialist business part time to begin with and am after any advice from anyone that has taken the plunge and also from drivers about the type of services required.

About me i have been a VW CV Master Technician now for six years and have been in the trade 20 years most of this has been on VW and BMW, I have always worked for main dealers and recently have become more and more frustrated by the way staff and customers have been affected by tightened service times, rushed work to hit targets, and the political "red tape" that ties hands for customer service. 

For some time now i have wanted to try it for myself and offer my skills and knowledge, I have posted on a few topics here to try and help out van owners and would welcome any input good or bad from guys that have set up on their own and what drivers expect or would like to see from an independent.

The points I can see and would like feedback on are

Due to financial commitments i would start initially mobile without premises around my current job although not ideal as this would limit the type of job i could take on I think it is the safer way to play it and build it slowly, thinking this may also work well with drivers as it would be around when the vehicle is earning their money!

What sort of set up costs would i be looking at my thinking is traders policy for customers vehicles, liability insurance, I already have a full tool kit ( if there is such a thing!) laptop with ELSA, VAS PC, VAG COM and will be installing the new software ODIS to cover newer vehicles.

I live in the Bedfordshire area and have an idea on a labour cost but what would you guys pay for a good independent? I feel that a fixed price for repairs would be clearer for customers with a hourly rate charged for diag work ? Bearing in mind that i will need to factor in fuel costs with repairs.

Being mobile would customers be happy with someone working on their driveway?

Finally how are any independent guys out there finding it? am i going to jump into a market that is saturated with independents already? 

As previously said I feel that this forum seems to have a good mix of experience and alot of drivers of these vans and welcome any advise that is offered. Thanks 

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VW master-tech Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Yardie Joined: 28 Aug 09 Location: bedfordshire Status: Offline Points: 407	Post Options Post Reply Quote VW master-tech Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Starting up a VW CV specialist advice needed Posted: 26 Mar 14 at 14:40
	Hi All, As the title says i am looking at setting up a VW CV specialist business part time to begin with and am after any advice from anyone that has taken the plunge and also from drivers about the type of services required. About me i have been a VW CV Master Technician now for six years and have been in the trade 20 years most of this has been on VW and BMW, I have always worked for main dealers and recently have become more and more frustrated by the way staff and customers have been affected by tightened service times, rushed work to hit targets, and the political "red tape" that ties hands for customer service. For some time now i have wanted to try it for myself and offer my skills and knowledge, I have posted on a few topics here to try and help out van owners and would welcome any input good or bad from guys that have set up on their own and what drivers expect or would like to see from an independent. The points I can see and would like feedback on are Due to financial commitments i would start initially mobile without premises around my current job although not ideal as this would limit the type of job i could take on I think it is the safer way to play it and build it slowly, thinking this may also work well with drivers as it would be around when the vehicle is earning their money! What sort of set up costs would i be looking at my thinking is traders policy for customers vehicles, liability insurance, I already have a full tool kit ( if there is such a thing!) laptop with ELSA, VAS PC, VAG COM and will be installing the new software ODIS to cover newer vehicles. I live in the Bedfordshire area and have an idea on a labour cost but what would you guys pay for a good independent? I feel that a fixed price for repairs would be clearer for customers with a hourly rate charged for diag work ? Bearing in mind that i will need to factor in fuel costs with repairs. Being mobile would customers be happy with someone working on their driveway? Finally how are any independent guys out there finding it? am i going to jump into a market that is saturated with independents already? As previously said I feel that this forum seems to have a good mix of experience and alot of drivers of these vans and welcome any advise that is offered. Thanks

ELVIS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group Silence is golden, gaffa tape is silver Joined: 04 Nov 06 Location: Promised Land Status: Offline Points: 9982	Post Options Post Reply Quote ELVIS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 14 at 15:00
	Can't help you chap but sincerely wish you all the best in your new venture. Best of luck chap
	Www.justgiving.com/ELVIS-SUMMERS

booted Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vanorak Joined: 13 May 07 Location: Luton Status: Offline Points: 2671	Post Options Post Reply Quote booted Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 14 at 15:07
	Driveway??? Must be near me on the posh bit of beds Same as Elvis cant offer advice but good luck with it

VW master-tech Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Yardie Joined: 28 Aug 09 Location: bedfordshire Status: Offline Points: 407	Post Options Post Reply Quote VW master-tech Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 14 at 15:31
	Thanks for the good lucks, kinda figured if you boys can afford to own and run a VW then you must have a driveway

covdubber Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Vanorak Joined: 16 Nov 08 Status: Offline Points: 1089	Post Options Post Reply Quote covdubber Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 14 at 16:37
	ello, watch some vids by eric the car guy on youtube, ya'll find loads of good info about starting up on ya own after working for a dealership etc etc, some great info on there, he has two channels, check it out ya wont be disappointed! best of luck, there are more folk paying for jobs being done than "tight-arse" car/van DIY'ers sods like me these days, I have done most jobs on a fair few cars because I enjoy it, partly as my job is mundane so working on cars as my hobby keeps my brain working, well the little of my brain that works lol I would say fixed price repairs are defo the way to go, for instance rebuilt driveshafts with new cv joints would be one cost, new wheel bearings etc etc I'd have done this ages ago but you cant get a unit at a fair price where I live so I stick with the mundane job & work on my own vehicles at weekends when the weather permits Edited by covdubber - 26 Mar 14 at 16:39
	i laugh at my own jokes cause there funny to me! i dont give a fck if you dont think they are if your in the redline lol ya having a good time! lol ;P

StvC Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Yardie Joined: 21 Feb 10 Location: Wolverhampton Status: Offline Points: 587	Post Options Post Reply Quote StvC Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 Mar 14 at 21:53
	No practical advice chap but as a potential customer.... It's always tough with forums. I'm probably in the minority as I want to be part of things but can't do time and find it better to use my time earning money using my skillset than spending hours fathoming out something that is not natural to me. Kind of like, it would take a competent person an hour to change an ALternator but would probably take me 3 hours to do it and I might break something in the process. Better for me to sped an hour doing what I do, thus earning what I could pay someone like you. So I'd say yes go for it, I've put a few posts up about needing someone to do this and that and I either get people offering to help for free or virtually nothing which I feel bad about or nobody seems interested unless it's a big job worth a wedge! I would love it if someone could come to my drive so no problem here....especially if I can watch and learn at the same time. Often I know the theory and like being part of the process but can't actually do much. Go for it.
	Die Deutsche Doppelkabine ist sehr gut. 150bhp planned

danozeman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Yardie Joined: 16 Feb 11 Location: Stowmarket Status: Offline Points: 548	Post Options Post Reply Quote danozeman Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Apr 14 at 20:43
	I would be ringing round a few independents asking what theyr rate it. Fixed price is a good thing. Theres a chap round my way started up as mobile mechanic and he seems to be doing well. Youd need to limit you jobs if your on your back as you wouldn't want to be doing a T5 clutch on your back. A bloke I know ex vw and audi master tech has set up with another ex audi master tech a year or 2 ago and theyr doing really well. http://www.amve.co.uk/ Im a vw cv tech btw