Small engine repair shops should have a number of items in place before opening for business.
Small engine repair shops are important places of business to people who have little or no experience dealing with lawn mowers and other pieces of outdoor equipment. Small engine repairmen have an expert working knowledge in diagnose and repair broken or ill-running pieces of equipment. Those individuals with a desire to open a small engine repair shop must have a number of items in place or in possession to accomplish the process of opening their business.
Business Permits and Licenses
Small engine repair shop owners should obtain the proper permits and licenses before opening their shop for business. As most of these businesses sell repair parts in addition to performing service work, the owner of such a business should obtain a vendor's license (or similar licensure), permitting them to charge, collect and remit sales taxes. In addition to vendor's licenses, owners should check to see if their community has any local rules requiring special permits or zoning requirements for their business.
Shop Space
The shop space where the business owner will conduct his business is a vital component to the small engine repair shop. The shop space should be a well-ventilated area with work benches situated at a convenient height for the shop owner to work on pieces of equipment. The shop, ideally, should have a garage-type door to easily bring in and take out pieces of equipment. In addition to a "brick and mortar" shop, small engine repair shop owners may find it profitable to have a truck equipped with tools, creating a mobile work space.
Tools
Hand tools are the primary means that a small engine repairman uses to conduct his services. In addition to the traditional, well-known tools such as pliers, screwdrivers and wrenches, small engine repairmen often use lesser-known tools such as spark plug gauges, voltmeters, and compression gauges to conduct their repair services. The tools needed to conduct these services can be quite expensive and is one of the most expensive start-up components for this type of business.
Repair Manuals
Small engine repairmen often use standard repair manuals that are provided by the manufacturers of small engines. The most popular manufacturer of small engines is Briggs & Stratton. They have an extensive array of repair manuals that are often utilized by small engine shops. These repair manuals cover all types of repairs, from spark plug removal and installation to complete engine overhauls.
Tags: engine repair, engine repair shop, repair shop, engine repairmen, pieces equipment, repair manuals
