Owning a PWC shop

[Cheflen]

I've always thought about opening a pwc shop and I know some members here own shops and I was wondering what it was like to own one. Does it ever get old working on these skis every day? Is it hard to get business these days? Make a living owning the shop full time? What kind of work is typically done? I've always wanted to open a "dealer" that restores old pwc's and make them run and look brand new and sell them.

I hope this is an "okay" post to have in this forum.

 

[Dr Honda]

Well.....

I owned a motorcycle custom shop. But I made more money fixing PWC that the local dealers didn't want to touch. I like working on PWC... but sometimes the owners are a pain in the butt. They want things fixed cheap, and fast. They would also get mad if I got into a job, and found real problems. Also... the vast majority of people don't do any maintenance, and the engine bay will be crusty, rusty oily, and moldy. When I got really bad ones in... I would tell them I was going to charge them to clean it first, and they would get upset. (but I told them how to clean it, and said they could do it and bring it back)

I was one of the few 100% honest shops. I wouldn't change anything if things were very bad, and was more $$$$ than they wanted to spend. (Like if I found a melted piston) And, I would give free advice for customers who wanted to try to fix it themselves. Heck... I would let members here, come to my shop... and I would do things like let them use my alignmet tools for free.


Basically... like any job... eventually you will burn out if you are trying to do it all yourself. AND... you may find yourself not even using your PWC because the last thing you want to do, after working on them all day, is working on your own.

If you have the cash to open a big service shop, with other people to physically turn the wrench... it may be different. But being the boss isn't easy either.

 

[Cheflen]

Well.....

I owned a motorcycle custom shop. But I made more money fixing PWC that the local dealers didn't want to touch. I like working on PWC... but sometimes the owners are a pain in the butt. They want things fixed cheap, and fast. They would also get mad if I got into a job, and found real problems. Also... the vast majority of people don't do any maintenance, and the engine bay will be crusty, rusty oily, and moldy. When I got really bad ones in... I would tell them I was going to charge them to clean it first, and they would get upset. (but I told them how to clean it, and said they could do it and bring it back)

I was one of the few 100% honest shops. I wouldn't change anything if things were very bad, and was more $$$$ than they wanted to spend. (Like if I found a melted piston) And, I would give free advice for customers who wanted to try to fix it themselves. Heck... I would let members here, come to my shop... and I would do things like let them use my alignmet tools for free.


Basically... like any job... eventually you will burn out if you are trying to do it all yourself. AND... you may find yourself not even using your PWC because the last thing you want to do, after working on them all day, is working on your own.

If you have the cash to open a big service shop, with other people to physically turn the wrench... it may be different. But being the boss isn't easy either.

Yep I can definitely relate to that. I've been a mechanic and after working all day for so many days in a row I don't even want to touch my car anymore. I enjoy working on my seadoos but after I had to rebuild both the motors on mine I just want to be able to ride them without having to always fix things. It's a shame that it makes it unenjoyable after being stuck doing the same thing all day

 

[Matt Braley]

Smart of you to reach out. The short answer is no don't do it. But as with anything there is a right way to go about it. There are a lot of positive's to be had but 1st let's go over some negatives of having "a shop".
1) Paying Rent. 30 days goes by fast and I hate the thought of having to do "X" amount each 30 day cycle before you are in the clear. If you buy a location reasonably or work from your own, family, or close friends place then you can get around paying for someone else's place.

2) Business Hours. I grew up in a small engine shop and you are married to that place 8-5. There are really no exceptions because I can't get the thought of a guy coming from a long way away who gets there at 4:59 and finds a closed door out of my head.

3) Paperwork. When you open a business that repairs things(at least in this state) you must collect sales tax on the parts and labor. If it's all labor then that is not taxable but once you include the sale of a part in it then the whole thing is taxable. That gives you a lot of paperwork, an extra "rent check" at the end of the month, and legal responsibility. I'm the last of an earlier era when we used to write that stuff all out so I realize it would easily be kept on a program but you still have the laws and the job of collecting for your state. This comes with audits and visits from government men, not my kind of thing.

4) Responsibility. The "general public" sucks. If you replace the wear ring on they're ski the your the "A-hole" when it blows up a month later because they had clogged carbs, fuel valve sucking air, a mix of crappy gas station 2-cycle TCW-3 oils gelling the filter closed, etc. Some folks get it and are reasonable but there are always a few who don't understand and worse yet, people who do understand but just work the fact that they can leverage you for something because you touched their ski. There will be unhappy people because these things do need to be understood and maintained.

Still here? Ok well I understand the urge to save these old wonderful toys. I'm always bent over one myself. I have saved tons and in the process turned a lot of people on to the sport. Since I have been playing the same game for years I've learned what to do and not to do. At this point I've found the "closest ball to the closest pocket". By that I mean I know what effort to put where on a ski to get the best return in the least amount of time. I do have a long season in an area surrounded by water with a great economy though. Even with that skis ready to go are not worth crap in the winter. Most folks don't plan too far ahead either when it comes to getting a ski tuned up so there are lean times to endure.

Me I buy them when I can buy them right and then I make them good running, decent looking skis to resell on Craigslist. Honestly most folks are buying because they are the least expensive ski on there that actually works but I do see and even create some fellow Seadoo enthusiasts. Being honest with them and explaining the repairs and maintenance I've performed lets me off the hook when something happens down the road. If I were "they're "mechanic" then I would be getting hit up more then I do for every little thing. I guess if I were a shop I'd call that "business" but as an individual it can be an hassle. Don't get me wrong I can't help but help a nice person in need but each instance is a decision I get to make.

So if you love to save these great machines and want to turn a dollar at it then you have to strip your costs to the bone in my opinion and do all the work yourself. A SBT dealership will give you cheap access to most parts. I just grab the best deals on ebay normally.

 

[Cheflen]

Smart of you to reach out. The short answer is no don't do it. But as with anything there is a right way to go about it. There are a lot of positive's to be had but 1st let's go over some negatives of having "a shop".
1) Paying Rent. 30 days goes by fast and I hate the thought of having to do "X" amount each 30 day cycle before you are in the clear. If you buy a location reasonably or work from your own, family, or close friends place then you can get around paying for someone else's place.

2) Business Hours. I grew up in a small engine shop and you are married to that place 8-5. There are really no exceptions because I can't get the thought of a guy coming from a long way away who gets there at 4:59 and finds a closed door out of my head.

3) Paperwork. When you open a business that repairs things(at least in this state) you must collect sales tax on the parts and labor. If it's all labor then that is not taxable but once you include the sale of a part in it then the whole thing is taxable. That gives you a lot of paperwork, an extra "rent check" at the end of the month, and legal responsibility. I'm the last of an earlier era when we used to write that stuff all out so I realize it would easily be kept on a program but you still have the laws and the job of collecting for your state. This comes with audits and visits from government men, not my kind of thing.

4) Responsibility. The "general public" sucks. If you replace the wear ring on they're ski the your the "A-hole" when it blows up a month later because they had clogged carbs, fuel valve sucking air, a mix of crappy gas station 2-cycle TCW-3 oils gelling the filter closed, etc. Some folks get it and are reasonable but there are always a few who don't understand and worse yet, people who do understand but just work the fact that they can leverage you for something because you touched their ski. There will be unhappy people because these things do need to be understood and maintained.

Still here? Ok well I understand the urge to save these old wonderful toys. I'm always bent over one myself. I have saved tons and in the process turned a lot of people on to the sport. Since I have been playing the same game for years I've learned what to do and not to do. At this point I've found the "closest ball to the closest pocket". By that I mean I know what effort to put where on a ski to get the best return in the least amount of time. I do have a long season in an area surrounded by water with a great economy though. Even with that skis ready to go are not worth crap in the winter. Most folks don't plan too far ahead either when it comes to getting a ski tuned up so there are lean times to endure.

Me I buy them when I can buy them right and then I make them good running, decent looking skis to resell on Craigslist. Honestly most folks are buying because they are the least expensive ski on there that actually works but I do see and even create some fellow Seadoo enthusiasts. Being honest with them and explaining the repairs and maintenance I've performed lets me off the hook when something happens down the road. If I were "they're "mechanic" then I would be getting hit up more then I do for every little thing. I guess if I were a shop I'd call that "business" but as an individual it can be an hassle. Don't get me wrong I can't help but help a nice person in need but each instance is a decision I get to make.

So if you love to save these great machines and want to turn a dollar at it then you have to strip your costs to the bone in my opinion and do all the work yourself. A SBT dealership will give you cheap access to most parts. I just grab the best deals on ebay normally.

Hearing how all this works definitely makes me appreciate how you guys (shop owners) could go through all this work and STILL have motivation to go onto the forums and give helpful advice. I definitely think it'll be best to just flip skis on the side and keep the sport as a hobby and keep it enjoyable

 

[KyleW2]

There is a guy 20 minutes from me that supposedly has a couple month turn around. He told me it would be about two months before he could get me in to do a tune up on my jet ski. If there is a market, you can do great. But like other people mentioned it is a commitment and you will deal with some pretty rude folks in the process. I buy, rebuild and sell four wheelers, and while I have met some incredible people, there are a few I'm glad I will never see again.

Edit: I guess I should add, I have been doing this for about two years and work on at least one a week and I haven't gotten burned out, I would rather be rebuilding one than riding my own - however I don't like working on my PWC's because of the confined work space in the hull. If you find something you are passionate about, run with it. You will never work another day in your life if you love what you do.

 

[Dr Honda]

With KyeW2's post... it made me think. All winter long... you won't make enough to keep the lights on. But as soon as weather warms up... people want it NOW !! AND, you won't have any time to enjoy your own summer. Then... you will get people who will say.... "But it only needs.....XYZ" and you will say... sorry... I have 10 other PWC in front of yours. Then you will get bad word of mouth because you couldn't help.

 

[Cheflen]

With KyeW2's post... it made me think. All winter long... you won't make enough to keep the lights on. But as soon as weather warms up... people want it NOW !! AND, you won't have any time to enjoy your own summer. Then... you will get people who will say.... "But it only needs.....XYZ" and you will say... sorry... I have 10 other PWC in front of yours. Then you will get bad word of mouth because you couldn't help.

Yep that's anothe good point. When your business is "in season" so is your hobby, and you will not be able to enjoy a summer until you retire

 

[Matt Braley]

That's why it's better to not be paying rent and be tried to the hours of a store in my opinion. When you make appointments to look at or show a ski you can screen the people a little bit to make sure they are not wasting your time. As a "hobby" you are not limited either. I do so much work on the side that it has become an income flow that I don't want to live without. As you say it's important to make time to ride yourself for piece of mind. When you look at or think of a Seadoo it should be a happy feeling.

 

[etemplet]

Never turn a hobby into a business. You'll lose the Hobby. I am doing what Matt describes. I love working on skis and mechanical things and I also love helping people but my skis come first. One has to be greedy with their time ..... being retired certainly helps with that. LOL Good Luck !!

 

[dgoodwin10]

Great thread topic and a good read thus far. Given the amount of older machines I still see on the water around here and how few mechanics are in my area I've always thought someone could stay busy working on older skis (really any recreational toy). Our dealership is a lost cause when it comes to anything remotely considered 'old'.