Getting out of the garage

VALCOR

Im wondering what you guys can share with me your expiriences about moving your small business from out of your home, into an actual commercial facility.

What kind of advantages and disadvantages presented themselves after the moving?


Timing. How do you know the time is right?

Would this help build additional visibility for my business?

Lease of buy?

How much should i expect to pay for a lease or new purchase?

Ed the Roofer

I can't tell you what to pay, but I bought my own building with about 1 1/3rd acres and had it all fenced in and put in an asphalt parking lot when I purchased it for cash in 1988.

Even though I don't have to pay rent, it still winds up seeming like I do, because the Property Taxes are about $6,000.00 per year, but where could I rent a place with that much space for only $500.00 per month?

I like it, because it separates my home life from my business life and when you have the need for a secretary to be there pretty much full time, that wouldn't be very do-able in your own home.

Commercial Mortgages are harder to get, because you need more money, percentage wise, as a down-payment than a residence.

Building code inspectors and fire code inspectors and water back-up tests are a requirement in my town, so add on a few more fee's for those.

When you accumulate too much junk at your home garage, you need another space, so is it a storage yard, an empty semi-traler, a Public Storage Unit, or your own property.

My stake in this place is someday intended to be my retirement income if I sell or lease it out in the future.

Grumpy has a good article on Contractor Talk articles Section about things to consider when leasing an office and shop.

Ed

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ROOFMAX

it took me a few years to get a shop, i bought 1 arce lot took few years to pay for, then built 40x60 metal building then 30x50 in rear of it took few years to pay for. added fence asphalt pavment, over the years added 7 trucks fork lift dump trailor 3 14ft trailos. place to stor materials and epquiment. best of all a place for my roofers to meet and get ready for the job, pace your self dont over load yourself it will come to gether . it is now paying off in the long run. you gotta set short med. and long term goals . one of my main advanage is i stock my shop with all my asseres . go to my shop instead of lumber co stand in line to pay for something. but there are so many advanges it would take to long to list,

Grumpy

I am an advocate of if you are a business having a business location, but it sure does subtract from the bottom line so you better be damned sure you can afford it.

I am in a heavy urban area so real estate costs ALOT more then in the rural areas.


FYI I may be moving back into my garage at the end of this year, and if I find it necessary to move back into my garage to stay alive I will then be seeking other employment since that's not the kind of _hobby_ I want to own.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

ROOFMAX

i would not like to be starting out in business this day in time the bad ecomney has everyone or almost everyone using the lowballer here iv never seen anything like it here, i bult my busness when times were vary good , im on the tail end of roofing cerear, if i was just now starting out now i know for a fact i couldnt get where i am now, i thank the lowbalers like roches will sirive alt of the good roofers maybe wont,bottom line times are tough

aussieroofer

you said it. in my part of the world things couldnt be worse. the boys running the irish economy have a lot to answer for.

FLRoofPro

I know several Contractors that have found very affordable space in storage complexes that have offices available. One Contractor I worked for years back was in a very high end part of town near the beach and operated out of such. We did mostly reroofs on 500k+ homes. Was good to show an address right in their backyard. The only reason to have a freestanding property is if you are trying to buy the dirt as a long term part of your business plan, or if you have a business model that wants to invite customers into your facilities to view a showroom or transact business. Just don't jump into anything more that you can afford. Stay in the black and work out of your profits, not just your checkbook.