1265 Lombardi

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/269462-california-bike-shop-sale.html

Would'nt it be cool to own a SoCal forums bike shop?!!. Maybe business savvy people like Fixer can help us run it! I'll put up first 20Gs.

merider1

I don't have any money. Will you just hire me to work the cash register for my share in the business?

1265 Lombardi

In a heartbeat! We'll double the business in no time with you in front!

roadfix

I'll be in charge of the barber's chair, the expresso machine/juice bar, and the fixed gear department at the back of the shop.

merider1

How sweet are you. Okay, sign me up.

Cassave

I'll build custom lugged frames in a small rathole of a shop in the back.
It'll always smell of brazing flux, paint, cheap chianti and linguini sauce.

merider1

Hmmm...maybe I'll work in the back, sweeping the floors and such. I love cheap Chianti!

Cassave

I'll teach you to file lugs. Brazing is reserved for Il Maestro.

magicant

hmmm... I can handle the finances and marketing...

Sci-Fi

It would be cool, but a lot of work to keep the business profitable. If the shop is big enough, it might be better to split it in half and sell golf equipment. That's where the money is at. Bicycles is pretty much a small niche business...plus you have the chain stores as competition for the bread-and-butter entry bikes. Don't forget you have to pay rent/lease plus all the various business and tax licences. Overhead is something you have to keep a tight financial grip on...otherwise you would be better off selling stuff/services from your garage or on eBay. Good customer service, knowing your product lines, willingness to special order bikes or parts the customer wants, and individual attention to prospective customers is where the small business excells over the chain stores.

No mention if any of the stock is on assignment or how old the items are. Excessive or slow moving stock is a killer to your bottom line. Usually there is a co-op, in this case, between bike shops to place a combined order large enough to realise enough savings to stay competitive. And you only order enough for the current demand...with new stuff coming out all the time, you don't want to get stuck with yesterday's fad. Know more than a few that buy items on sale from the larger chains because it's cheaper than what their wholesale prices are. Bartering between shops is fairly common IF you establish a good working relationship...just don't forget any favors you owe if you didn't make any equivelent exchange.

What about keeping the existing employees? Or would you have to cut back/layoff in order to pay the monthly loan note and rent?

Lot of things you have to consider before going into business. One of the worst is if there are several partners and sooner or later there might be an argument how the business should be run. Everybody has to be on the same page with a solid long term business plan...otherwise you'll end up losing your partners (which may be your friends) or having to sell out. There are more than a few that never see or take a vacation...so that's something else you need to take into account.

magicant

Way to spoil a dream with all that silly "reality" and "profit" talk...

merider1

+1 Party Pooper!

nygirl777

Does that mean no hamburger stands inside ?

Surferbruce

i'm sure you've heard the old saying, "if you want to make a million dollars selling bicycles, start with 10 million, in no time you'll have a million".

ronjon10

Step 1, acquire bicycle shop
Step 3, Profit

Luwin1026

I'll install the pole and the lights and we can transform it into a "club" at night . . .

herbm

The check is in the mail

nygirl777

A pole ??? hmmmmmmm ( extra money )

urbanknight

I call dibs on the store manager position. Nobody else called it yet

herbm

dibs on new bike tester!!

maximan1

Can I work too?

urbanknight

What position would you like?

Big Cheese (doesn't make any money because it's reinvested in inventory, but he gets to act important)
Minimum wage shop kid who does nothing but sweep and clean the toilet
Head Mechanic (makes a little more than minimum wage)
Head Salesperson (makes a little more than minimum wage, plus commission)
Bike Salesperson (minimum wage plus commission)
Minimum wage shop kid with seniority who changes tubes and goes for food runs
Accountant (Calculates how much money the shop is losing)
Groupie racer who doesn't really work there but helps out hoping to get discounts
Apprentice Mechanic (changes tubes when shop kid is gone, real repairs when Head Mechanic is gone)

maximan1

Head Mechanic or Big Cheese

Chuck5.2_in_CA

Plus one to RonJon10. Now if somehow we could put an end to this internet buying thing AND close down all the Performance shops ( admit it...you've bought SOMETHING there). WE might with hard work and by paying no wages be able to break even. Unless by some chance we get the Lance phenomena times 10 the LBS is an anachronism.

Indolent58

I want to be in charge of installing dork disks on all the carbon wheelsets.