Should I start my own car audio business

Home / the12volt's Install Bay / Car Audio / Should I start my own car audio business (

Topic Closed)

Welcome Guest :)

Members

< Prev Topic Next Topic >

Deez_Nutz

Copper - Posts: 59

Joined: October 04, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: October 04, 2003 at 5:37 PM / IP Logged

I am 18 and looking into starting my own car audio business so tell me what you think of my install thanks

http://members.cardomain.com/kwickymart

Velocity Motors

Moderator - Posts: 12,488

This member has made a donation to the12volt.com. Click here for more info.

This member has been recognized as an authority in Electrical Theory. Click here for more info.

This member has been recognized as an authority in Fabrication. Click here for more info.

This member has been recognized as an authority in Mobile Audio and Video. Click here for more info.

This member has been recognized as an authority in Mobile Security and Convenience. Click here for more info.

Joined: March 08, 2002

Location: Manitoba, Canada

Posted: October 04, 2003 at 8:00 PM / IP Logged

Make sure you do a marketing survey to see if the area that your in will support a shop like the one that you want. When you first start off your business, there's nothing glorious about it as you will do alot of crappy little jobs, basic stereo installations & quick little installs to get your name out. Try to get more experience behind your name first and then consider trying a business venture.

Jeff

Velocity Custom Home Theater

Mobile Audio/Video Specialist

Morden, Manitoba CANADA

Search for other posts by Velocity Motors

NowYaKnow

Gold - Posts: 1,217

Joined: December 18, 2002

Posted: October 04, 2003 at 9:29 PM / IP Logged

I've never owned a business so I really can't be the judge but here's a couple tips:

1. Good installers don't necessarily make good businessmen.

2. I think you should find work at an established shop first and gain some experience. In the meantime you can continue doing side jobs and getting your name out there. Then when you feel your ready do all the research and give it a go.

Your really the only one who can say whether you should start one or not..I would say if your not sure, your not ready..

Anyway the pics you posted look pretty good nice job. Most look like unfinished pics have any of the final product? Anyway best of luck!

Ixj159

Copper - Posts: 68

Joined: March 07, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: October 05, 2003 at 8:44 PM / IP Logged

If you decide to open a car audio business you better know what you are doing or pray your have veteren installers who know what they are doing. Any fool can hook up a radio or amp, anybody can make boxes. But you have to realize 95% of your business is not car audio freaks, lots of people who want a video systems. Do you feel confident on hanging a TV in a $70K lexus? or putting remote starts on cars, have you ever tempted to do any of that work? I dont know where you live regionally, but if it gets cold nov-jan is starter season and you better know what you are doing. The shop I work at does about 100-130K in sales a month, and roughly $20-25K of that is labor. I bet we only build 1 box a month, we probably install 20=30 ($39 labor) cd players in a month, the rest if from alarms, remote starts, and video systems, and other weird stuff like neons, etc. You also have to be prepared for doing weird stuff like i never thought about, if you only knew how many ppl bring woofers back, amps, etc etc we have 1 employee that just does returns and inventory, etc etc and he always puts in 40 hours a week, sending stuff out to be repaired, etc etc.. you need to get in about 3 shops over the next 5 years to see how it need to be ran and see what you are getting into. I'd think twice, not for me.

Eric

NismaX

Copper - Posts: 104

Joined: October 15, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: October 06, 2003 at 8:27 PM / IP Logged

I've been running my own shop solo now for a 8yrs. It hasn't been easy. The only downfall to the whole business is never having enough knowledge. It really is everything. At least working with other people you have a knowlege bank to draw ideas from. I turn to this forum quite frequently for ideas. And yes you can't be afraid to touch cars. You will get a brand new car that you know nothing about to work on. I just wonder what kind of future installers have. The cars are getting tougher to change. Radios are proprietary (in other words changing them will cause parts of the car to not work). The Chevy Malibu is available from GM with an autostarter. The factory is trying to give the customer all they want so that installers will be left with nothing to install.

Just my 2 cents

Jon

SnomanF150

Silver - Posts: 269

Joined: September 19, 2002

Location: United States

Posted: October 06, 2003 at 8:38 PM / IP Logged

As long as there are teenagers and twenty-somethings, we'll all have a job.. Don't see a Chevy Cavilier coming with 2 12s or 15s from the factory..

waffalobill

Member - Posts: 13

Joined: October 04, 2003

Location: United States

Posted: October 07, 2003 at 2:32 AM / IP Logged

BUT you will see Chevy Cavaliers etc. with weaker and weaker electrical systems that will not handle the load. Be prepared to start changing harnesses to accommidate these improvments.

I think I see Light!

profuse007

Gold - Posts: 2,015

Joined: October 20, 2002

Location: Texas, United States

Posted: October 07, 2003 at 2:55 AM / IP Logged

thesenuts,

it seems like youre pretty confident to come out and say you want to open a business. what make you think of this, am sure you got some reasons or background you havent told. tell us.

i think thosenutz thinking of opening a business with another installer not by himself, prolly with a veteran installer.

It seems like you work on cars and stuff and understand how the car works. since you only mention car audio and not car alarm and even if you never hook up an alarm, it will be easier for you to learn. actually nothing to learn about car alarm, just plug and chug. for most ppl to come out and say that installing this and that is hard, bullsh*t. if they can learn, anyone can learn it. it just takes time to build confident when take on a task.

Houston,TX

"The two most common elements in the universe are H+ and stupidity" (Ellison).

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.

Printable version

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot create polls in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Search the12volt.com

Follow the12volt.com

Disclaimer: *All information on this site ( the12volt.com ) is provided "as is" without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular use. Any user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy and use of this information. Please verify all wire colors and diagrams before applying any information.

Should I start my own car audio business

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.This topic is closed.

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This topic is closed.