Frame building as a business
10-10-12, 01:27 PM
#51
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
10-10-12, 04:54 PM
#52
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Gordon does drop in here from time to time, the site anyway. The problem with this biz is that if you are unsuccessful, well, you know. And if you are successful, the upside, even if you become Trek, is pretty much capped. There are a lot of folks that would be happy with gordon's success, but for the person living it, what could they have done in another field of endeavour. One can at least have those thoughts if one loses touch with the reasons one was initially taken with bike building.
I was in Toronto yesterday, and I have to admit that there were a dramatic number of bikes even compared to half a year ago. Nothing like 6 buck gas. I don't know that these people who are escaping the pump are a sure bet for a custom builder, but it has to help, and help build new cyclists who will deal with custom builders.
I was in Toronto yesterday, and I have to admit that there were a dramatic number of bikes even compared to half a year ago. Nothing like 6 buck gas. I don't know that these people who are escaping the pump are a sure bet for a custom builder, but it has to help, and help build new cyclists who will deal with custom builders.
07-07-20, 05:47 PM
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Boluker: welcome to the forum, where do you live?
07-07-20, 08:44 PM
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There are people all over that can offer advise. But having done my own many years ago (LBS, not framebuilding) I found the local community's resources to be most valuable. Being able to pick up the phone and talk with a person who knows more than you do is worth a lot.
A lawyer and tax man are first. Understanding what you are required to record and report is very important not only in the avoidance of penalty but of saving much time and frustration later on as you grow and learn about running a business. To further make my point. Our society makes running a business both a right and a responsibility. Stuff like insurance, resale tax collection and it's deposit with your state, local building and health regs, are what all workers and our customers expect, rightfully so. To base a business of sliding around these obligations is just wrong and will usually result in a failed long term existence.
Contact the various suppliers that you will buy raw materials/components from and find out their requirements and how they do their business. (Billing, shipping, insurance, business, and more).
Contact your banker. You do have a relationship with a bank, don't you?
Have you looked into the location aspects yet? Many home/apartment insurance or building code restrictions prevent the joining tooling we need. Handshake deals are great till something goes wrong.
Have you considered the marketing aspects yet? In year two or three? Having a 5 year business plan is essential for both your control of growth and other's being confident in investing in you.
Note that none of this has anything to do with mitering, fitting, painting or actually making a frame. because what you are proposing is nit making a frame but a business. There's a huge difference. The frame making should be the easy and quick part of all this. Andy
A lawyer and tax man are first. Understanding what you are required to record and report is very important not only in the avoidance of penalty but of saving much time and frustration later on as you grow and learn about running a business. To further make my point. Our society makes running a business both a right and a responsibility. Stuff like insurance, resale tax collection and it's deposit with your state, local building and health regs, are what all workers and our customers expect, rightfully so. To base a business of sliding around these obligations is just wrong and will usually result in a failed long term existence.
Contact the various suppliers that you will buy raw materials/components from and find out their requirements and how they do their business. (Billing, shipping, insurance, business, and more).
Contact your banker. You do have a relationship with a bank, don't you?
Have you looked into the location aspects yet? Many home/apartment insurance or building code restrictions prevent the joining tooling we need. Handshake deals are great till something goes wrong.
Have you considered the marketing aspects yet? In year two or three? Having a 5 year business plan is essential for both your control of growth and other's being confident in investing in you.
Note that none of this has anything to do with mitering, fitting, painting or actually making a frame. because what you are proposing is nit making a frame but a business. There's a huge difference. The frame making should be the easy and quick part of all this. Andy
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