Setting up a bike servicing business

[beatlejuice]

I when to book a bike in for a service at both of my LBS and there was an long waiting list. So I thought, there could be a business opportunity here for me. Is there professional bike maintenance course that people would recomend?

 

[marzjennings]

Youtube. Everything you ever want to repair can be found on the web.

 

[Shut Up Legs]

... especially on sites like CycleChat.

 

[Roadrider48]

You can take a "Cytech" course and become a bike mechanic. They have 3 or 4 different levels of qualification.
They are not cheap though!

 

[screenman]

Not a lot of money to be earned in it, you would struggle to maintain a decent lifestyle that is for sure.

 

[biggs682]

try Alf Webb they use to offer courses

 

[bpsmith]

Youtube. Everything you ever want to repair can be found on the web.

Not exactly professional though? Turn up for bike repair and all the guy does is copy YouTube?

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Not a lot of money to be earned in it, you would struggle to maintain a decent lifestyle that is for sure.

Oh, I don't know about that. I know a guy who has a small bike workshop locally, doesn't sell anything, just his time (and any parts he has to order).

He makes a decent living from fixing bikes, doing upgrades, servicing.

His workshop is always full of bikes that have come in, and bikes ready for collection.

I guess you just have to know what you are doing so you maximise your time.

Here's his pricing

• Stage 2 Service £100
• Stage 1 Service £50
• Basic Service £30
• Drive-train Degrease £25
• Gear Service £15
• Bottom Bracket fitting from £20
• Headset incl. head tube inspection from £20
• Fork and crown race fitting from £25
• Cable replacement from £10
• Brake pads/cable/rotor fitting from £10
• Fit new chain, cassette + gears set up from £20
• Fit new derailleur + gears set up from £20
• Fit new hydraulic brakes from £20
• Fit new tube or tyre from £10
• Fit new rear tube/tyre to hub geared bike from £15
• True wheel from £10
• Brake adjustment (not hydraulic) from £10
• Fit new wheel (front) from £10
• Fit new wheel (rear) incl. realignment of gears from £20
• Hub service from £15
• Hydraulic brake bleeding (each) from £20

Bike Fitting from £80
Custom Builds From £120

He does Saturday rides, MTB and Road for all, customers, non customers.

http://velolife.co.uk/

 

[JoeyB]

Not exactly professional though? Turn up for bike repair and all the guy does is copy YouTube?

lol... don't ever try and take Google away from the IT Support industry!

 

[Dan B]

Cytech http://www.cytech.uk.com/ is the name I hear most often for accreditation

 

[Onyer]

I when to book a bike in for a service at both of my LBS and there was an long waiting list. So I thought, there could be a business opportunity here for me. Is there professional bike maintenance course that people would recomend?

I went a course with Alf Webb some eleven years ago and very good it was too. http://www.bike-inn.co.uk/default.asp Once you have gained some skills you can always refresh your memory with Ufacetubebook. Cytech is very good and looked upon as a professional course and you can always take those as and when finances permit. We have a guy in our village who does what you are aiming to do and he makes a living from it. http://www.thecyclesmith.co.uk/Index.htm

I used to run my own business and it is a lot of hard work. So if you are minded to do it and can work hard for a year without a lot of income go for it. Remember though that you will have to earn your reputation, which your lbs already has.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Not a lot of money to be earned in it, you would struggle to maintain a decent lifestyle that is for sure.

Not true.

 

[Tom B]

I look after a set of bikes as part of my job. H&S tell us they must be serviced 6 monthly.

I put 12-15 bikes through servicing at £25 per bike + vat. Any minor repairs, brake pads, chains, cassettes, bearings, pedals, cables, innertubes, tyre etc are charged at the trade cost of the part no further labour is charged for fitting.
The only thing they charged labour for was a wheelbuild when a hub needed replacing. The servicing usually involves checking all safety critical bits, and torque/tightness of crank, pedals, bearings, measuring brake pads and rotors cleaning and lubing of cables (but not chain set). Sadly we usually find that replacing things like Hubs (Shimano 475 ) is cheaper than servicing.
They usually collect and return our bikes at no extra charge.

Added to that, if I end up dead due to a bike defect, they are the ones in the coroners court.

Our organisation has looked at putting our own staff through the Cytech course, but decided the cost outweighs the benefit of outsourcing the risk nevermind the cost of the course/maintaining competencies.

Not sure it pays.

 

[Onyer]

As you have seen a lot of advice, but at the end of the day it is your decision. Here are a few more thoughts I had over morning tea.

You will need some capital - to buy tools, stand, maybe a van and the cost of a course. You will also need cash to help you live over the initial period while you are building up the business. If you are married make sure your wife is fully behind you with the project. Write up a business case, with objectives, cash flow, timetable, short term aims, medium term aims and long term aims. Sounds complicated but it's not and well worth doing to give you an idea of the route you want to take.

In Surrey the Business Link used to run various courses. I went on one for marketing, which was OK. The best thing I learnt from that was to have stamina. There will be times when you will doubt whether the business will be a success. Others will tell you it's not worth it and you cannot make a living from it (already happened on this forum). Other skills you may need are finance/accounting to keep your books.

Have a look at the competition. You mention two lbs, but are there others in your area that are doing what you want to do. Consider what your USP (Unique Selling Point) is. It may be initially price and undercutting the local opposition until you build up a reputation. Look at opening accounts with wholesalers, e.g Madison, Fisher, etc. to obtain parts at wholesale price.

If you want to ask any questions or need help with anything else PM me.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Have a good and positive mental outlook, and a friendly personality. This is necessary in business. One of the more successful cyclerys in our town has rides, several teams, and a staff which takes cycling very seriously. Another has a pleasant fellow who knows all the ins and outs of repair and wheelbuilding. A third has good prices and service. Any of these appears to be a good business model. Finance and accounting are great skills for anyone involved in business, as are contacts in the industry and a keen interest in the cycling industry especially with regard to products and useful, practical innovations that will be of a service and benefit to your customers. Where you saw friends, neighbors, and acquaintances before, you now see potential customers. Realize that much of the winter, beyond Christmas, will be a slow time for you and your books. Realize that in the spring, you will be busier than a buck rabbit. You'll have to get out and participate in things, so you can promote your business.1 in 3 businesses in the UK fail within the first 3 years.
http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/business-theory/strategy/business-failure.html