Max Branning

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Posts posted by Max Branning

  6. Posted

    4 minutes ago, Mojo121 said:

    Thanks. I didn’t want to be doom and gloom but that’s definitely what I feel.

    As the years plunder on and setups like AD’s begin to prevail (maybe his business plan will evolve to a complete see, click, buy, deliver service? I see Main dealers going more this way) perhaps the roadside pitch will become more redundant. I wouldn’t rue less time inside a cold portakabin. 

    Look at it this way. Today I started at 9.30 and I’m finishing in about 25 minutes and i’ve not seen a soul besides a couple collecting one at 1pm. This is not uncommon. It can be a fucking dreary boring old business at times.

    Just as you're locking up to go home you can bet someone will pull up, just for a look round ! 

  8. Posted

    5 hours ago, Lucas said:

    Thank you! It's £35K annual inclusive. I think it needs 100+ cars to break even. 

    Nothing wrong with starting small. It just that I consider doing 5 cars at home is not a business. I could be most certainly wrong at some point by doing it bigger than my poor skill. But risk is every where, we have to take the risk sometimes.

    Thank you for the answer. Good points!

    A proper business is one that actually makes money. 

     

     

  9. Posted

    13 hours ago, Lucas said:

    There are two locations. Let's say the rents are almost the same. In this case, which one will you pick: 

    Location 1: A 3,500 sqft industrial unit with two parking space in front. 15 minutes drive from home.

    Location 2: A roadside site with forecourt (fit 7 to 10 cars) + small office + backyard (fit 30 cars). 50 minutes drive from home.

    Which one will you pick? Why?

    What is the cost of these premises?

    Have you calculated how many cars a year you would need to sell in order to break even after all known expenses ?

    With no experience you will burn money very quickly, do not expect to rent a flash unit stick a load of cars in and start making money.

    What is wrong with starting small and building up gradually? 

    • Like 2

  11. Posted

    I sometimes wonder how these people have the nerve to go to someones house and poke their nose in to other peoples personal lives,... so what hes on the residents association ? who cares. 

    As long as you cause no obvious disturbance to the neighbourhood and do not have a line of cars with boards in the window for sale, then the council will have little interest in you, they may pop round for a look if enough people complain but they cannot act unless there is an obvious breach.

    I personally would tell this guy to clear off and mind his own business. 

  14. Posted

    PAYG ads on AT are very basic really especially considering the price, if you want to space between paragraphs try putting some false stops after each sentence ............ it will space it out in the adverts a bit to make it less jumbled !

     

  15. Posted

    7 hours ago, david gott said:

    Bought a 2011 Vivaro van LWB in February, really clean, crew cab, but the engine was buggered, got it to the garage I use and they recommended getting another engine, sourced an engine not too far away from a van breakers, once we got the engine back to the mechanics and fitted it just wouldn’t start up, had at least 5 other mechanics look at it and couldn’t work out what was wrong, rang the breakers he said ok bring it back we’ll see what we can do, I said I understand these things happen let’s just get it sorted, that was in March, every week I’ve been calling, every time I drive past I’m popping in, I’ve heard every excuse under the sun, they’ve said all the rockers are broke and need replacing, that was a month ago, apparently the rockers need ordering from Italy, is this utter bullshit? I ordered some from euro car parts and drove down with them. The injectors are a nightmare to get off....I know that but it doesn’t take this long! Last month I rang and told them I’m having to pay storage for the van with no engine and it needs sorting asap, I rang last Monday, he say “ yea it’ll be done for Friday.......still no engine. What can I do to get this sorted? I’ve been as co operative as I can be but he’s got my bloody engine and I’m not sure what I can do to get it back in one piece 

    How much are you in for the engine ? As annoying as it is you may just have to walk away from it and either source engine from somewhere else or just sell the van on as is as a project for someone else to deal with ?

    Just tell the breakers in writing if its not sorted by end of month you want a full refund or legal action will be taken....i dont fancy your chances though so may have to just take it on the chin and move on....lot depends on what your in for money wise ?

  16. Posted

    2 minutes ago, EPV said:

    Excellent idea. Spent a couple of hours looking for commercial property to lease and didn't even think of this. What I need is a bloody big car park to rent a bit off someone...

    The problem is none of these places want their car parks turned into a car dealers forecourt even if they do require extra funds i doubt any of them would go for it.

    I wonder if anyone just uses car parks ? something where you can buy a 24hr ticket or maybe a yearly ticket per space ? if its just somewhere to park this is an option but the only problem is with your insurance, might be a job getting cover while parked up...

    • Like 1

  19. Posted

    3 hours ago, Mikey360 said:

    Spending the entire day going round farms and caravan places in the area trying to find a decent place to store the cars. Most aren't interested or are a bit too official (container storage @£120pm).

    Came across one place that's offering me indoor, secure storage at £10 per car per week with decent access times (nothing past 9pm)

    Is that a reasonable price? Or am I aiming way to high? 

    £10 per car per week, if thats correct then i think this is very reasonable.

    If you have 6 cars in stock then £60 a week, secure and dry, no need for taxing cars and worrying where there parked etc.

    Will they allow you to trade at the place ? ie customer meets you there to collect ? if so even more of a bargain for a start up..

  20. Posted

    1 hour ago, Nick M.K. said:

    Before I started my business in 2005 I was a NEBOSH Certified Health and Safety assessor, securely employed by a growing private company, earning close to £30K a year before tax. 

    I would never get back to that, if someone is doing a job they are not 100% happy with I always encourage them to jump into something else, just like I did. 

    Car dealing is actually very easy to get into. Staying in it profitably is the hard bit.

     

    Yes i agree but this is a totally different situation. Someone jacking in a job they dislike to start a business should be commended and i would fully encourage it...but someone who already has built a successful business but maybe thinks the grass is greener doing something else i do not. 

     

     

  21. Posted

    19 hours ago, Leekent said:

    Hi all, long time lurker here and decided to sign up just now. Absolute newbie here from Kent. 

    Ive been avidly reading the forum for about 7 months and think I’ve possibly read every thread from when the forum 1st started lol. I own an electrical contractors business and employ 6 so business isn’t a new thing for me but obviously this trade is...Looking for a little advice really and wether it’s worthwile having a go. I have a unit and parking that would comfortably fit 6 inside and 6 outside. I’ve found 4 traders within a 40 mile radius that advertise their stock as sold on their websites. Over the past 6 months I’ve been recording what cars sell and what seems to sit about a little longer. The stock I’ve identified seem to pretty much sell within 30-40 days If under 90k miles, no older than 2012 and priced a couple of hundred quid under the top end price given by auto trader using their valuation tool. I have a bit of money myself and a private backer and thinking of having a go. Being able to offer finance would be a must IMO for my preffered stock so would need to go down the FCA route etc. sales would be by appointment only at my unit which I’m there pretty much 8-5 Monday to sat. I have friends in the trade that run their own businesses auto electrician, mechanic, body shop etc. would you say go for it or totally sway someone like me totally away from having a go? If I kept 12 cars in stock my projections would be based on doing around 7 a month...does this seem reasonable? Thanks for your time Lee

    i am a strong believer in sticking to what you know and are good at.

    If i was a qualified electrician with my own company then why would i sacrifice my time on starting a fresh business as a car dealer with no experience ? What is your endgame ? to leave the electrical business and go in to cars full time ? I assume getting to the level your at with 6 employees must of taken a lot of hard work, just dont get why you would be looking at cars instead ?

  23. Posted

    I think video does help give buyers confidence in a way, they can actually walk round the car and listen to it something a picture will never be able to do...but...i would say a lot of dealers are not always happy to point out obvious flaws in a cars appearance and would rather a buyer finds it themselves or not as is often the case.

     

  25. Posted

    26 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

    It's Tiny Max :)

    Yeah im thinking its probably not practical really but location is really lovely, i have not operated out of an inside unit before so wasnt sure what would fit in that sort of space...