Shop Owners Advice Wanted...

[EETStudent]

Hello all. My name is Danny Morris, 24 yr old graduating EET student and aspiring amp tech/shop owner. I would really like to get some advice from some experienced shop owners and builders on how you got started. Feel free to cover all bases from learning and experience, to finances, marketing, and any other tidbits of information that apply.

Of course, my main challenge right now is getting off the ground. I am confident in my skill set, knowledge, and passion for tube amps, specifically vintage models and their history. I am not confident that I am even remotely close to being prepared to market myself. I've done projects for myself and close acquaintances out of my apartment, but thats not something I want to advertise.

Any advice and experiences that are sharable would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks

[onenotetom]

Hi Danny, not a shop owner but was in business for myself until I sold it. You really need to get into the field and get some experience working for someone else. This will allow you to sharpen your skills and learn everything you can in regards to running a business before you make the move yourself.

You need to learn about overhead, operating expenses, daily accounting, budgeting, parts inventory, marketing, who is going to answer the phone, how much to charge, etc. How do they adjust to changing markets and economic conditions. Do this working for someone else and you will greatly enhance your chances for success.

The job you get can be in an amp repair field or a related field. Try to go to work for a smaller operation if you can because that is what you are looking to do. If luck goes your way, maybe you can fall into a business that the owner is looking to retire in a number of years and you can take it over from them.

Could tell you a lot of stories about people I know that started out very similiar to you. The successful ones were very passionate, persistent, willing to learn, and willing to change the focus of their business to match market conditions. I would also suggest you get Hartley Peavey's book and read it both for content and inspiration.

[celeste]

That is great advice. Running a business is different then fixing and building amps, but as a small business owner you have to be good at both to keep it all together. I gave up my massage business because the business end of it took all the fun out of it. Now I am happy to do a few times a week working for someone else.

Even if you end up apprenticing in a different but related field, you can start to build a name for your work by doing limited work at home. A number of luithiers have ask me if I will do amp work for their customers. If you could get that for a bit before going full time, then you would have word of mouth working for you. word of mouth is the most productive and least expensive form of advertising. Do good work, document eveything in writing, offer honest advice but don't try to force work on our customers and the will tell others about you.