20 - 25 cars can it be done on your own

[david gott 58]

Just has the valet/car picker up/odd job/mechanic ring up to say he’s had enough of working in the motor trade and is off to work an office job, my wife isn’t too happy she’s just about to give birth next week and we were counting on this young chap to look after things whilst up to our necks in nappy’s. Just wondered if anybody out there is comfortably running a car business with 20 – 25 cars on their own and their wife/partner hasn’t left them?

[betginge 73]

Completely Feel for you here, I have ran business with limited staff and about to do the same again, we me and my wife running a new lot, wile I also try keep the garage running with the skeleton staff we now have.

Yes it can be done, but only short term if you have a lot going on. You need to get things moving quickly and be able to afford more help (staff) when possible.  I think it is a lot easier to run 1 business on your own if you have good people offering services. Valet company, Mechanic, Paint Main etc.

Sometimes in business you can get that key staff member who can take so much crap of your hands and free you up to do the things you should be doing, Managing your business.

My wife had our baby Daughter  on the Sunday and was back in work Tuesday night running the office for a big sale we had on when we ran a auction business. That's how bad it got a one point.

 

[grant8064 219]

It'd be hard work.

If you have a warehouse based site indoors then it'd be quite simple I think because you can just lock the door when you're out doing stuff. On an open forecourt it's harder because you need to be present.

I did three weeks on my own whilst the other director was on holiday and skipped going to the block because I couldn't leave the site unattended, cars didn't get run down to the valeters because I had no way of getting back and the general workload was a bit too high. That's based on a 40 car forecourt though.

I know when we both leave the site we almost always get back just in time to see a potential customer walking/driving off that we've missed by not being about.

One person sites are easy to sell from but imagine how many punters you'll miss while running a car somewhere or going on test drive? How do you get to a daytime auction? And biggest of all...what do you do when something goes wrong and you have to drop everything?

For me, the site costs A LOT so we have to maximise it's value and that simply means always having someone there selling while the other buys, drives and does all the other silly jobs.

 

[Scooby who 40]

 

I'm a one man show

I'm doing 30-35 cars most of the time. Have 2 other online ecommerce businesses and no girlfriend

Reason for lack of girlfriend/wife? You guessed it! No time.

 

I do everything from:

 Sourcing stock

Organising payments online.

Organising collection

Washing/Valeting.

Mechanics.

Photo-shoots/Advertising

Answering calls/dealing with warranty issues

Driving to MOT centre

Dropping off cars/picking up from train/bus

Popping to the bank

Meeting customers

 

It's a stressful, stressful life, with virtually no down time and my health is being affected

Need a second guy badly, only I cannot find anyone trustworthy enough at the minute.

 

I feel your pain

 

Edited January 17, 2017 by Scooby who

[david gott 58]

Tbh I don't want to get another person, the last 2 people who have worked with me just havent got the drive or desire that's required, everything seems a chore and they never really do it like you would yourself, it's just the running about that's going to be a pain! 

[umesh 336]

Can be done - I don't sell anything like 30/35 cars a month but do everthing ( A bit like scooby )  but I don't get stressed - since 2006 done it all myself , I do 6 days a week and do have a life away from the business its a balance , it's all down what you want from it , but fully understand about staff issues as 6 months ago took on a workshop /tyre site and overnight gained 5 staff .. sorry now 4 as one is leaving at of the month !  

Finding the right person /people we all struggle with but you need to give support to the Mrs G and the little un , last thing is to miss out on the baby growing up ! Good Luck mate.

[M.J 35]

I'm in the same boat as Scooby, i stock 25 and do everything myself. I wouldn't recommend it longterm as it does take its toll and the main problem is the time that you have to be away from your premises, auction days, collecting a vehicle, going to get tyres/mot's etc. Also when you are away from the business for extended periods of time that's another issue, for example i just got back last night from a 4day trip to Spain, i switched on my phone this morning and i had 20 voicemails, 1 car coming back for a warranty claim, people that wanted to view cars over the weekend that i missed, etc, etc. Imagine i had gone away for 10 days  Now i've got a day or 2 of trying to catch up and get everything back in order, with a member of staff in place most of it would of been taken care of whilst i was away.

[justina3 518]

Been there done that, quality of life is now what i aim for, seen a few friends of similar age sadly go to the big maker in the sky with stress far to much drinking ect 

Not for me i even pass on the rancid burgers they offer you in the auction houses these days

[Mat C 77]

I have a 15 car unit that i work out of, I open when I want and work on an appointment only basis. However i base myself at the unit 6 days a week so catch the odd walk in and the rest of the time work from home

I do all my own cleaning/fetching/carrying/buying/website etc... but i'm struggling to keep up, to keep it flowing and iron out the peaks and troughs.

I sold 125 cars last year on my own, but I missed probably 25/30 as I wasn't there/couldn't make it in time/car not clean clean/car not photo'd etc.. So i reckon i've lost approx £125,000 worth or turnover because i'm on my tod. even with small margins thats ££££ down the toilet.

My Mrs starts with me on Monday - quit her job and we are going it as a twosome ( we've worked together for 6 years prior so I don't worry about the whole working/living together bit!! ) I can't wait. Someone else ( other than the dog ) to speak to, motivate me tell me to get off my ass but more so another pair of hands, someone else to speak to the billys as they always seem to rock up at the same time. I'm budgeting for 175 sales this year because I know we can turn stuff quicker when its in, clean, photo'd, website etc... basics that seem to take a back seat whilst I sit here drinking coffee looking on the internet.... oh wait - Better get of my backside!

Good luck to you all. Sometimes we need it, but I always say, if you acknowledge how luckyu you are, you get luckier - Im the luckiest guy in the world! 

[TDB 31]

Great analogy Matt and fair play to you. All the very best luck in the World mate.

[andymc1973 199]

carry 15 cars at any one time, its a juggle but I manage it, if it gets too much I just switch the phone off, do 4-5 sales a week

[SC Derby 259]

I hold 30-40 on my own

Do between 20-35 a month.

My weekly tasks

Buying

Paying for vehicles 

Arranging delivery (be it myself it within an hour or sorting delivery company)

Advertising

Answering emails & phone calls

Warranty Claims

Selling cars to customers and valuing part exhanges

Preparing Cars once sold or for sale, logistics of MOT's servicing and repairs

Ordering stock for valeting bits and bobs for cars.

Keeping basic accounts to present to accountant

Work out vat every quarter and pay it *sob*

Maintaining stock book daily

Post on car dealer forum 

think thats about it - quite a  lot when you look at it lol

I have one staff member here in the week 9.30-5.30 and someone to help with Saturdays for collections and sales, so 2 technically. I now only open Sunday by appointment but for the first 14 months I worked 7 days but it was getting too much. Try to buy all cars online or via public where possible.

We've been doing a bit of valeting this year and Ive bought 3-4 cars this way actually.

 

[CJ Underhill 34]

Its tough, but do able. I think the main thing is managing your time and good planning.

Like others i do pretty much everything

Sourcing, Buying, Collecting, Advertising, Valeting, Paperwork, Handovers, Accounts etc

I try when possible to stick to routines, Saturday is usually the best day for people collect so do my handovers on Saturday

Monday is valeting day & checking auctions

 

I find little and often is the best for time management, not getting behind on anything e.g accounts. 10minutes a day is better then 2 solid weeks at the end

i also find Redbull or the Yellow Valentino Rossi Monster, 20 John Players, a bottemless cup of Yorkshires finest tea and a couple of Garibaldi's are much needed to get it all done

[MattGM 12]

I have 8 currently in stock, and I do everything myself including repairs and mechanical prep, and I'm stretched at times, I don't know how some of you guys manage.

Saturdays are the busiest days of the week for me too, people want to view and handover on Saturdays, and sellers (I source a lot privately) want you to come and buy on Saturdays too. There's not enough hours in the day on Saturdays for me.

[Arfur Dealy 823]

Hi Matt

13 minutes ago, MattGM said:

I have 8 currently in stock, and I do everything myself including repairs and mechanical prep, and I'm stretched at times, I don't know how some of you guys manage.

Saturdays are the busiest days of the week for me too, people want to view and handover on Saturdays, and sellers (I source a lot privately) want you to come and buy on Saturdays too. There's not enough hours in the day on Saturdays for me.

I'm around 25, the more cars you have the more you sell, the more money you make, the more you manage your time to make more money.. Example, get all cars delivered, get your workshops, paint & valeters to collect and deliver. Logistics will envelope your time, delegate it out and develop your brand  

[metcars 394]

Just out of interest how much time do you guys dedicate to hunting down stock. Am I the only one going through auction lists at 2.30am?

[Max Branning 149]

31 minutes ago, metcars said:

Just out of interest how much time do you guys dedicate to hunting down stock. Am I the only one going through auction lists at 2.30am?

Hunting stock is the killer for me, selling really is a piece of piss if you have the stock at decent money.

Would be nice if there was a used car cash n carry you could just pop to once a month and buy 20 units!

[MattGM 12]

59 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

Hi Matt

I'm around 25, the more cars you have the more you sell, the more money you make, the more you manage your time to make more money.. Example, get all cars delivered, get your workshops, paint & valeters to collect and deliver. Logistics will envelope your time, delegate it out and develop your brand  

The problem I have is I buy my stock privately, from ebay, gumtree, and sometimes AT. I need to be viewing my purchases, as roughly every 1 in 6 is a non starter as it's not as advertised, or there are other issues meaning I don't come back with the car.

I take a trailer with me every time I view to buy, if it's not a go-er, I get home without relying on public transport.

55 minutes ago, metcars said:

Just out of interest how much time do you guys dedicate to hunting down stock. Am I the only one going through auction lists at 2.30am?

Dunno about 2:30 in the morning, I need my 8 hours

I'd say roughly 2 hours every evening in bed for me trawling through the classifieds and ebay, then a further hour or so every day following up the previous night's shortlist.

[Arfur Dealy 823]

1 hour ago, MattGM said:

The problem I have is I buy my stock privately, from ebay, gumtree, and sometimes AT. I need to be viewing my purchases, as roughly every 1 in 6 is a non starter as it's not as advertised, or there are other issues meaning I don't come back with the car.

I take a trailer with me every time I view to buy, if it's not a go-er, I get home without relying on public transport.

Dunno about 2:30 in the morning, I need my 8 hours

I'd say roughly 2 hours every evening in bed for me trawling through the classifieds and ebay, then a further hour or so every day following up the previous night's shortlist.

You can't grow a business buying local and privately, far too time consuming. 

[MattGM 12]

1 minute ago, Arfur Dealy said:

You can't grow a business buying local and privately, far too time consuming. 

When you specialise in a certain product, as I do, you have to buy from wherever you can. What that means going forward I'll have to see, but my market vehicles are rarely found at your regular auctions.

[Arfur Dealy 823]

Hi Matt, what do you specialise in ?

[MattGM 12]

7 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

Hi Matt, what do you specialise in ?

Hi buddy.

Just started out full scale, I specialise in Land Rovers, specifically Defenders and utility models. Purely because I know them, have worked on them for years, and have good contacts for parts needed for partial restorations, allowing me to buy lower priced 'projects', fix them up, and sell them on with higher margins. So I'm probably more hands on with the mechanical side than most on here I'd guess.

[BHM 994]

I'm on 15-20. To be honest if you want a little spare time I think once you're over 20 you'll struggle but it all depends on HOW you're buying & WHAT you're buying.

HOW. Time is all of our biggest enemy. Personally I sacked-off buying from private punters years ago. I know it works for some but I got sick of getting my time wasted by lying bastard private sellers misdescribing cars. 

WHAT. If you're sourcing stock that just needs a wash, the camera pointing at it & advertising you could probably manage 40. However, a handful of cars that need repairs/MOT/valet/servicing/paint etc. soon slows the job down.

I run by appointment only so at least I don't have a full time job sat in a unit/showroom waiting to pounce on customers. One quiet week (and there's plenty of those at the moment!) sat dossing about waiting would send me mental & if the first punter was a tyre kicker I'd probably strangle them!

[It's me 609]

11 minutes ago, BHM said:

I'm on 15-20. To be honest if you want a little spare time I think once you're over 20 you'll struggle but it all depends on HOW you're buying & WHAT you're buying.

HOW. Time is all of our biggest enemy. Personally I sacked-off buying from private punters years ago. I know it works for some but I got sick of getting my time wasted by lying bastard private sellers misdescribing cars. 

WHAT. If you're sourcing stock that just needs a wash, the camera pointing at it & advertising you could probably manage 40. However, a handful of cars that need repairs/MOT/valet/servicing/paint etc. soon slows the job down.

I run by appointment only so at least I don't have a full time job sat in a unit/showroom waiting to pounce on customers. One quiet week (and there's plenty of those at the moment!) sat dossing about waiting would send me mental & if the first punter was a tyre kicker I'd probably strangle them!

ive  been quite good this week as ive not wanted to strangle anyone

 

[NoMargin 11]

7 hours ago, metcars said:

Just out of interest how much time do you guys dedicate to hunting down stock. Am I the only one going through auction lists at 2.30am?

I was up 2 am last night browsing the auction lists so your not the only one mate, so time consuming and stressful looking at a repetitive computer screen. Regular thing for me.