My job was in yesterdays paper.

[nemocb]

So in yesterdays paper I saw that harley had put my job that i was laid off from due to it being "slow" was in the help wanteds. WTF!!

I really dont even know if I could of went back to be honest. It just pisses me off that the new manager wants to do half assed work and I refuse to do it I more or less got fired. I had worked for them going on 8 years. The guy who just started kept his job. But if you want to fire me just do it dont be a pussy about it.

So now I need to figure out what the hell im gonna do. I had an offer in Tuson at a Harley dealer but I could not pay to move their. So I had to pass on the job. Im willing to relocate for the right job but they would have to pay. We have one other HD dealer thats kind of close thats not owned by the place I worked at. But its like 30 miles away Vs the 6 I was driving. What to do.....I have been kcking around the idea of doing my own thing here at home but I would still need to get some kind of job so im sure to have somekind of income. I have done a hand full of jobs here all ready but its word of mouth I cant let my old job im working on bikes yet. So I cant advertise at all.

Im looking for some input from you guys. Im posting more pictures of my shop. I know you have all seen some pictures but im gonna post some of the stuff you dont ever see along with some other pix. Let me know what you like, dont like or ideas you have. Right now the shop has no name (On my tank my brother had painted "shop dog" and I kinda like that for a shop name) and im charging $45hr thats half of the dealer and I can offer a discount on parts. Just from looking at the pictures if we had never met would you feel ok about leaving your bike with me? oh and my house has privicy fence all around it and I have a gate that blocks the drive way.

Now here is a pile of tools that are not mine. The land lady has this stuff in here and I cant get rid of it. Their is also a car.

 

[Aetsh]

I'm not understanding why you can't work on bikes again and " advertise" your resume.. they let you go, there for you are free to do whatever..

I'd say go to the dealership 30mi away

 

[Rocan]

agreed with aetsh.

if you can wait 10 years or so, then i will be out of college with my degree in engineering and hopefully have enough saved up to start up my company- DX Motor Co.

working on that name a bit... haha.

everyone from DTT is guaranteed a position... were gonna design the best motorcycles ever. and get paid big bucks doing it. ahh, to dream

 

[IndieSol]

Did you sign a non-compete agreement? My understanding is that if you're not presented with a new one at the time of your dismissal, your old one is null and void. They're used commonly to scare people these days into not leaving their job, but legally speaking, they're only valid when signed at the end of employment, and the employer usually offers a severance of some sort to compensate for the fact that you won't be able to make a living for that period. I'm not a lawyer, but that's what I've been told. In technology, everyone works on non-compete so it's something I think about.

I say get your own shop going. Consult an attorney about any non-compete agreements before doing so, but it's incredibly easy to get a business started. Register your business with the secretary of state where you live as a sole proprietorship or, ideally, an LLC. Once you have legal business name, you can get a business checking account. Keep every single receipt and every single invoice as you can be audited for up to seven years after the fact. If you're on unemployment, look into the self-employment assistance program. If you're accepted, you can start your own business, earn unemployment and not have to look for a job.

There are A LOT of advantages to owning your own business. Some things you can write off:

Computer equipment
Tools
A portion of your mortgage or rent for office/shop space
Mileage
Events

Years ago I started a legit business with under $200 and supported myself for five years with it. Worst parts are the medical insurance and the uncertainty, but in your position, you get to deal with those anyways.

I'd be more than happy to help you in any way I can, including showing you some really cheap web hosting options. Craigslist is free advertising, I suggest Google Adwords highly, and you can also usually get cheap ads in your local papers classifieds. Even after I started getting a good client base, I never spent more than $175 a month on marketing.

 

[biker_reject]

All I can offer is moral support, Bro! You have the skills and equipment (Nice garage, BTW), I took my Buell to a guy who doesn't even advertise and he has more work than he can handle. Shit, even his shop has a no-name quality, Newburgh Cycle Service. How boring is that?!? Ha! Anyway, even in this po-dunk area, bike shops are busy even during cold weather months. I think you'd do great.

 

[66replica]

I'd say go ahead and apply at the dealer that is 30 mi away and in the meantime start working on your business. As a small business owner, most of your time will initially be spent marketing your business and making people aware of what you do. You will not only have to be a good mechanic but be diligent in your book keeping, a good marketer and personable. I'd really recommend reading this book for extremely cheap but effective marketing ideas.


http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-4th-Inexpensive-Strategies/dp/0618785914/ref=dp_ob_title_bk


Even if you get the job, continue developing your business plan and start saving enough money to market and fund yourself/eat for the first 6 months. Owning your own business is more work but you'll get more satisfaction and money in the end if you do your homework and run it correctly. Who doesn't want to work for themselves?

 

[nemocb]

I dont have a non compeat form or anything. Im getting unemployment and dont want to get busted working. I know if they found out they would try to stop it. I can afford to loose it.

I have some ideas about getting customers, I have seen over the years where my dealer went wrong. Along with knowing lots of people that ride. My dad has had his own business that he started in 79 so im sure he can let know the ins and outs of the legal stuff. My biggest problem is that i have 0 dollars to get it started. I dont really want to work at a deal, Id like work in a small shop. I ust need to get my buddy to quit his job so we can get it going.

 

[66replica]

I dont have a non compeat form or anything. Im getting unemployment and dont want to get busted working. I know if they found out they would try to stop it. I can afford to loose it.

I have some ideas about getting customers, I have seen over the years where my dealer went wrong. Along with knowing lots of people that ride. My dad has had his own business that he started in 79 so im sure he can let know the ins and outs of the legal stuff. My biggest problem is that i have 0 dollars to get it started. I dont really want to work at a deal, Id like work in a small shop. I ust need to get my buddy to quit his job so we can get it going.

Sounds like you have a few things going for you. If it was me, I'd work at a dealer long enough to get a nest egg and then quit and go at it guns blazing. Or work at the dealer and start your own shop slowly mainly on nights and weekends. Not sure if your employer would frown on that if they found out though...

Either way, best of luck!

 

[Nanahan Man]

work at the dealer and start your own shop slowly mainly on nights and weekends.

This is the plan that makes the most sense to me.