Just like to introduce my self and will give you a little back ground on my dilemma and i will apologise for my bad grammar and been unable to spell for toffee hence the reason i reckon i ended up in the motor trade.
I worked in the motor trade for approx 25 years, main dealers for approx 15 years myself for approx 10 years trading from home etc for myself retailing a bit and trading a bit not making a fortune but a living and doing it at my pace and this is where the problem has begun, moved house approx 3 years ago you know the story better house nicer area and all that, got all the work out the way which took about a year and though well i will pick up where i left of and carry on doing a few from home, decent size drive, double garage and all that, can fit comfortably say 8 cars on my drive and thats when the letters from the council start turning up, not sure if any of you have been there but you know you start of by ignoring them then you get a few more, then the visits start and the bottom line is i am informed that if i do not stop the prosecution will start and i am informed i don't have a cat in hells chance of getting planing permission to operate this type of business from home where i live. I am obviously fairly certain some jobsworth of a neighbour has shopped me to the council, you know the sort of person thats all smiles to your face and is quite happy to stab you in the back.
I could understand my neighbours being upset if the front of my house looked like a scrap yard but i sub-contract all the work out and none of it takes place on my drive, no price boards etc. You know the scenario view by appointment only, i was only selling 1 or 2 a week on a good week so not many visitors virtually everyone that came brought as everything was prepped and ready to go.
I am sure they would of properly tried to dob me into the tax man etc but seeing as though i operate legitimately and pay all my dues and demands there is not a lot they can do there.I have operated from home because i have tried to keep my ex's as low as possible as everybody wants to put their hands in your pockets and help themselves so if it goes quite or i have decided to go on holiday for a few weeks its not a big deal.
Whats the smallest size unit do you think you can get away with as i like working on my own and don't want to employ anyone as i prefer just using sub contractors for the repair work, valeting etc.
I have generally sold cars ranging from £1500 unto approx £6000 and i have been looking around where i live and there and there does not seem much available within an ok commuting distance. The few units that have come up are at the lower end price wise are approx £14k a year for approx 100 share metres which i am not convinced are big enough to make it pay.
Just after your views really ideally from someone whose been there?
I will say this is my first post and i have been reading the articles for a while and have laughed my socks of about some of the postings and antics i am sure being in the motor trade for and length of time warps your sense of humour.
Sorry for the ramble but i have now got that of my chest and did n't want to jump straight to how big a unit to make it worthwhile for the extra expenses without giving you a little bit of background to how i have ended up where i am.