Bike shop sizes?

[dragnusa]

Im looking at a building for a for my bicycle shop and was wondering what size most peoples bike shops are. the building Im looking at is about 1700 square feet, half is store front space with nice size store front windows,which was a chiropractors office so would be doing alot of demo and the other half is second floor storage. Can I get input from bike shop owners on what size their stores are and the pros and cons of have the size of shop you do.

 

[Bendix]

I'm not an owner, but in the shops I've been in that had 2 levels, after a while the 'spare' level hasn't really been used productively.

The access gets old real fast and everything except junk eventually gets crammed in the main floor...

Are you planning a one man repair shop? A full service shop supporting a first tier bike brand?

 

[dragnusa]

Yeah to start off it would be just me and my son when he's not in school. The town Im in is small and low to middle income. I would keep doing what I am now just repairing and reselling what ever I have come in. The shop would flop if I tried just fixing and selling high end bikes

 

[Bicycle808]

I don't own a shop, but I've worked at one, and been behind-the-scenes in others. Multiple floors is a bad idea, but extra space is absolutely necessary if you intend to have a healthy repair business. Also, even if you think you have plenty of space, you NEED a policy for the timely pick-up of repairs. Otherwise, some broke and/or inconsiderate ppl will leave their junker there FOREVER. The guy who owned the shop I used to work at would call when the repair was done. There was a 7 day grace period, then the storage fee of $5/day began. After 1 month, the bike was up for sale and proceeds would go to paying off the repair. We had every customer who left their bike there sign off on this on drop-off; prior to that, some jokers left their bikes in the crowded little shop for over a year.

But, yeah, it sounds like you'll need space, but more of it for the repair shop than for retail merchandising. If you don't have competition in your town/area, prime real estate won't be necessary. If there is competition, remember: location, location, location.

 

[dragnusa]

Thanks for the info. The only licensed bike shop around me is in a little town 5 miles away that's only open if you call first. And have had customers bring me bikes that he has worked on in the past and are just as unrideable as when they took them to him.

 

[Bicycle808]

Yeah, so, I'd say that you need to keep low overhead costs as a priority, with space as a second (but still very important) priority. I don't know if you'd planned on selling any new bikes, but I'd suggest starting with a line that allows low yearly minimums and offers some cheap-msrp bikes-- Redline and Jamis come to mind. A lot of the other manufacturers want to lock you in on a massive yearly minimum---like $25k.

Finding a big space for cheap in a location that's a bit off the beaten path would do you go. With little to no competition, the folks who need you WILL find you. Keep the rent cheap, and make sure you have enough elbow room to work and store stuff, and you'll likely go far.

 

[cashman]

I've seen local codes that required 1200 + sq. ft. as a minimum for a business. Storage, especially if in the antique bike business will be a concern. Your store at the very least, needs to allow you to make a profit after you've paid all the overhead, and taxes to the locals, state and feds. That all has to be made before you can take one penney out for profit. How well you manage your finances is just as important as how good of work you do and how well you treat your customers. Stay away from consignments on new bikes from the big bike companies at all cost unless you can pay them off on delivery. Another thing is how well a relationship do you have with your parts and accessory suppliers? They can make or break you also! This sometimes requires a little negotiation on your part. Try to skip any of these steps in running any kind of business, and it will be a disaster that will take years to overcome finacially. So really it's not so much the size of the location, but how well you can make the location work for you. Another question is do you have a customer base that will sustain a bicycle business? Like population density and bicycle population? Start small on a cash basis if that works best for you. It did me. I say all this from 30+ years of running a small business. Thanks!!!

 

[mikeeebikey]

I have been in many multi level shops that worked, they shared 1 common trait, a wide stairway with a tire trough. Repairs and excess inventory was stored there.

I personally would look into a 2 story house, gutted its going to be a lot of floor space, do the upstairs in a loft fashion, make an office and repair bike storage.

Notice I never mentioned new bike storage, that's cause they aren't in boxes, they are on display for sale!

 

[cashman]

Please forgive my preaching here. I wasn't preaching to anyone here especially you dragon, I don't want anyone to make the same mistakes that I've made in the past. It's been frustrating for me trying to operate a small lawnmower business on the side during the current economic landscape. I wish anyone good luck starting their own business! Thanks!!!

 

[dragnusa]

Dont think anyones preaching, its a good thing having people share what they know, As I go forward it will all be good to know. My main thing is finding the right building. To big is better for me than to little, I never thought when I started working on bikes that my home shop space get to small but it has.

 

[dragnusa]

So I talked to the owners of the building Ive been looking at and they gave me a price for their building and its a killer deal just need to figure out the the financial side of getting the place and getting it all up and going.