Starting a Small Engine Repair Shop

Starting a small engine repair shop is actually a very lucrative business. People are constantly in need of someone who can do repairs on some of the tools they have at home. If you are planning on starting this kind of business, you should remember that small engine repair shops need not be created on such a large scale.

The starting business bid for such an enterprise sometimes only need one experienced mechanic, and you can either establish yourself as a someone who repairs a wide range of engines or motors or more of a specialist. You might be surprised to know that starting a small engine repair shop is actually a very lucrative business.

You do not really need a small engine repair service manual and what not to tell you that people are constantly in need of someone who can do repairs on some of the tools they have at home. Our lawnmowers are always out of commission, our outdoor generators are always cranky, and that water pump we have regurgitates more air than actual water. How many people have you actually seen trying to do lawn mower repair with a nose firmly attached to a small engine repair book or small engine repair guide, trying in vain to make sense of the diagrams and the instructions within, but achieving very little success?

If you are planning on starting this kind of business, you should remember that small engine repair shops need not be created on such a large scale. The starting business bid for such an enterprise sometimes only needs one experienced mechanic. There are, of course, small engine repair courses that you can attend if you are not so well versed in this kind of thing, but experienced mechanics are more in demand and they are really hard to come by. If you are not that a great mechanic, but still would like to pursue a small engine service business, you may want to hire an expert mechanic or two to perform the services for you.

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And there is also a wide range of products that you, as an entrepreneur can engage in – ATV engines, chainsaws, dirt bike engines, go-cart engines, jet ski motors, lawnmowers, leaf blowers, marine vessel engines (i.e. small boats,) minibike engines, motorcycle engines, outdoor generators, portable heaters, pressure washers, snowmobile engines, snow throwers, tillers, trimmers water pumps, and a host of others.

You can also look at this profession somewhat similar to a doctor’s. You can either establish yourself as a general practitioner or a specialist.

As a general practitioner, you get to treat a lot of ills. This means that you have a wide range of products to service. Probably you get to do a lot of minor repairs, and if you can do home services as well, you can even garner more customers. This also means that your mechanics should have exposure to a wide range of small motors, engines, makes and models – and the most important element of all, your mechanics should be prepared for all the possible repair scenarios. They can perform the most mundane repairs like a lawnmower that obviously has no fuel – to the most bizarre like a portable heater with a plastic dinosaur toy melted into its main mechanism.

When you specialize in one or more engine repairs, you can also charge clients higher fees, but this also means you need more specialized mechanics, you have more specialized tools, and you have suppliers of very specific engine parts and components.

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63 Comments

  • RICHARD MCCLOUD said on May 10, 2009
    HOW TO GET PART TO REPAIR SMALL ENG. FROM FACTOR THAT MADE THE MACHINE.
  • Donny D Hudson Jr said on May 31, 2009
    I'm starting a small engine repair shop. I have a wide range of experience on all kind of engine's. All the help you can give me is very appreciated... Thanks Don
  • bill williams said on July 20, 2009
    I'm wanting to start a mobile small engine repair. you have any ideas?
  • Mindy said on August 18, 2009
    I've been doing the bookkeeping for a small engine repair shop for six years, it's owned by my father-in-law. Recently me and my husband have discussed purchasing the business. It's a very scary thing though.. every winter we have the same problem. It slows down quite a bit, we cut hours and sometimes lay people off, but still struggle. Any suggestions?
  • Charles said on November 1, 2009
    Mindy, You can sell & trade pre-owned snow-blowers & lawnmowers. When customer come with their lawnmowers for repair, tell them that they can return home right away with a pre-owned lawnmower instead of waiting for the repair time. You can find lots of lawnmowers in good shape at the city public dump for 5$-10$ the unit. I found a 6.5 hp, 5 speeds last month for 5$ and sold it after 1 hour labor for 100$. "One man's 5$ junk can be a one man's 100$ richer"
  • William said on November 24, 2009
    Raleigh Jet Ski, 2210 Trailwood Drive, Raleigh, N.C. 27603
  • mike said on November 28, 2009
    Mindy, we started offering spring service over the winter months several years ago with great success. We send out coupons for 10% off parts around 1st of Jan to help keep that spring surge down. It lets us collect revenue for Jan, Feb, and March that otherwise would be very slow. It takes a little time for people to catch on to it but the winter business has almost doubled for us every year we have done this. Selling the used mowers that people trade in and sometimes will give you also helps. Hope this helps.
  • Chad said on January 2, 2010
    North, FL. Mike & Mindy - I'm somewhat in the same boat but having to start a shop out of NEED. We have a property maint business with around 15 machines. When one goes down, we wait a min of 2 to 3 weeks. We would like to start with one mechanic for our machines then offer our services to others. Could someone please give me an idea of what could be charged per hour (labor) and what percentage is fair to "mark up" on parts? Also, do all of you stock your own parts? Please help! Chad
  • Jason said on January 13, 2010
    Montana. Chad the best thing to do is call around to shops in your area and ask for posted shop labor rates. as for mark up on parts depends on several things: If you are the only one in town you can get more the average mark up in my shop is 30-40% but that being said we have a lot of parts that fall under $20.00 cost i also buy in bulk. I order RJ19LM plugs by the 1000 on spring orders to get a better price the mark up on those is over 200% I belive the avarage is like 25% for most parts untill you get into the expensive parts.
  • Brian said on April 4, 2010
    Hi I started a mobile small engine repair business last month in Massachusetts and I was wondering what parts should I stock? I have figured out spark plugs but unsure what air, oil, misc filter I should stock any help would greatly be appreciated. THANKS.
  • david armstrong said on April 4, 2010
    i'm starting my own small eng. business and want to know what laws and regulations they have in new york. and how much are permits
  • JEFF said on June 10, 2010
    I am the sole owner of a Mobile small engine repair shop. i work from my farm as well. i service poulan, poulan pro, troybilt, mtd, husqvarna, southland, honda, pretty much anything you can throw at me. i do a lot of work for several big box stores in my area as there service center. i work on auto and farm equipment as well.
  • paul said on June 20, 2010
    What is needed to start a small engine repair shop? Licenses, manuals?
  • Concerned said on June 20, 2010
    I am very worried about 90% of the posts here, if you are here asking questions, then you should not be starting your own business. You know why most struggle? Improper management, business mind, marketing, advertising. You will not succeed simply being able to do repairs, you will at best break even.
  • Don said on July 26, 2010
    Brian, I manage a small engine repair shop in Raytown, MO. I can tell you if you are going to work on Briggs and Techumseh engines that at very minimum I would stock the 491588s air filters for briggs, The 36905 air filters for Tech. The Briggs 498260 carb kits for briggs and the 632760 carb kits for Tech. I would also stock heavily on Champion j19lm as this fits the most engines and the rc12yc as it fits the overhead valve briggs. Hope this helps a little.
  • craig jones said on May 5, 2011
    My husband and I have a small engine repair business for sale in Collier County, South West Florida. We are asking $185k for the business. The business was established about 20 years ago, it is no longer seasonal and has loyal customers that are repeat business.The business fixes, lawn equipment, and scooters as well as motor bikes,and assorted other small engines,boats and jet ski's. It is a good growing business that is well established. We are selling the business to retire and live on our boat. It would suit a husband and wife, or father and son,. There are three staff in place. Very few accounts to deal with as business is pick up and pay.
  • Al said on June 11, 2011
    I have to agree with concerned. If you are on here asking these kind of questions you probably shouldnt be starting a small engine business. He is correct in saying there is a lot more to it than fixing engines. Please be careful folks and realize that there is a ton of factors in running your own business. Be prepared to weather losing or break even years for a while. Most businesses do not realize a decent profit for the first three years. If you get your business up and running I wish you the best.
  • Mobile Engine DR LLC said on June 25, 2011
    Yes i agree with concerned there is a lot more then fixing i started 3 years ago I started it as a 2nd job so i could put money back into it and not try to live off it till you get it rolling AL IS A 100% right and dont try to live off it .Take some kind of business class it will help i was lucky my wife had that part there we so much on that part i didnt know thank god she went to school for that years back there are a lot of people here that go to sears get a tool set and put it in the trunk of there car and run around giving us a bad name lol dont do that I put a lot of time and money into what i do we have 3 16ft trailers now set up with air power lift tables ac and heat we are covering 4 citys here in NE wi follow the laws get bonded pay taxes you are running a shop
  • tendai makubazat said on October 20, 2011
    i am motor mechanic class one with 14 years experience i want to start a workshop fixing light and commercial vehicles i am seeking for international funding its a lucrative business i did electronic fuel injection systems
  • robin said on October 23, 2011
    Hi, My father is selling a huge inventory of parts from his small engine repair shop located in Arkansa. All offers considered. All parts are in the original boxes unused. If interested please e-mail me thank you : robinsalon10@msn.com
  • Lewis said on December 8, 2011
    I just got out of the army and have been do a lot of work on Cars and small engines. But really dont have any idea what to charge people per hour for the work I am doing. Now things are really picking up and dont want to loose money by not charging the right price for the jobs. Does anyone have any idea what a good hourly rate is for the middle Georgia area?
  • scotty said on December 22, 2011
    Eden NC. For all the peeps that want to start up a shop, It takes a lot more to fixing a mower than just getting the engine running. You also must know how to mork on the chassi of the mower, like changing out belts, bearings, pulleys, solving electric problems, steering and trans repairs.
  • Abraham Thomas said on December 28, 2011
    I have plan to start A/c and kitchen equipment repairing and Maintenance work shop in Bahrain. and I have plan to take the Amc also please give your grate idea.
  • Mister Mobile Mechanic beginner adviser said on January 11, 2012
    If you want to start a mobile repair business, charge what other shops charge in your area...typically $65-75/hr for small engine work, $70-$80/hr for cars/trucks, over $100/hr for equipment & big rig repair. Also do your projections above.. a mobile service will cost almost as much as a small shop in overhead with fuel cost, employees, insurances, etc. and your billable hours may be less depending on the situation.
  • Mike said on March 5, 2012
    I opened a small engine and motorcycle repair shop last year in New York. Being a motorcycle and small engine mechanic for over 10 years helped a lot. The business end of things is a lot harder than the wrench time needed. I am just now starting to get things running smoothly. I almost gave up on it but stuck through and hope that this year will be a lot better. If anybody knows of good parts distributors in the north east, I dont think im using the correct distributors to get the best bang for my buck as far as profit from parts. This is all a huge learning experience for me but im hoping will end up on a positive note.
  • Jerry beginner adviser said on March 21, 2012
    It really concerns me to read all these posts about how much experience everyone has turning wrenches and NO understanding of the business itself.. If you are going to open a shop you should do some checking into things first, its not as simple as having a few wrenches and sockets and BOOM you are in business. I have had my shop opened for almost 5 years and am just now at a point I can honestly say I make a good living.. Things you should look into, INS, city, county, state licenses, Tax ID #s, both TIN and resale, what suppliers you want to use, if you are using just one you are screwing yourself, substantial inventory... Good god I could go on.. The real shops can attest to this,a fair, not even good, just fair shop software is going to cost you a min of $2500.00- $7500.00... Inventory to just open the doors to have a decent turn around time and not waste all your profit in shipping charges is going to cost you $2000.00 - $10,000.00 easy. I have over $17,000.00 in inventory ( including some new equipment) and dont even have a drop in the bucket to what is really needed, we are placing orders everyday.. Ordering everyday is not a bad thing if you are ordering you min requirements to avoid the shipping charges... lol, I was in business just under 3 years before I got the dreaded EPA inspection, found out the hard way you better have proof of what you do with your used oil and filters, you cant just throw the filters in the trash no matter how long you let them drain... I read in here somewhere that its people like this that give the reputable shops a bad name, no truer words have ever been spoken... IN A NUTSHELL, DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU START THINKING "QUICK EASY MONEY" This industry will eat your lunch and wind your watch if you dont know what you are doing.....
  • Glenn said on March 26, 2012
    Hiram, GA. I am unemployed at present. I am planning on working on small engines out of my garage. Is there a pricing guide for performing maintenance and repair online. I can't seem to locate one. Thank you for your help.
  • David Pack said on April 6, 2012
    I used to work for Sears for a couple of years back in 90-91 and you couldn't pay me to start my own business. Also used to work for Suzuki cycle shop here in E. TN for about a year. Business closed and I never looked further into it. I'm 60,retired now and only work on what I want to, when I want to, mostly for cut rates for friends and neighbors. A lot of it is freebie work. I have noticed that all the shops here are covered up with business. It's not the mechanic end of things that's difficult, although one should try and be certified in order to do "warranty work/ factory work" etc., it's the business/legal end that is inhibitive to me. Insurance, should you incorporate(LLC),inventory(and tax on it as well as pulling inventory records for taxes etc.) What about theft if someone loses their $4,000 riding mower at your shop? Are you going to eat it? Lawsuits? What about hiring a dependable mechanic that won't leapfrog from one shop to another for a 50cent raise? And on and on. Good luck to all you enterprising entrepreneurs! You can do basic tuneups, blade sharpening, and minor things out of your garage. Advertise and the local tax man cometh! Word of mouth and you might get under the city/county/state radar! Then there's state taxes to collect, or not. The state WANTS THEIR CUT!! You get a city business license and they report to the STATE that Mr.Dave has a shop and is charging for repairs. Then I'd have to send in tax money to the state. STAY AWAY from overhauls, valve jobs, and tear downs! You'll tie up a lot of time and $$$$ and the customer may not pickup and pay for the unit! It's just not my cup of tea folks.
  • cody schlichting said on April 18, 2012
    hey i'm starting my small engine repair shop and i hope it goes well i charge people $40 for changing a carburetor and tire i charge $30 i will be the best there is in small engine repair because i repair things like they should be and not like other people who do a crappy job
  • Colby Dixon said on April 23, 2012
    Hi i am from Louisiana and me and my friend (who are 15) are wanting to start a business and we were wondering what we had to do to be able to work on some small engines and not get into law suits? Help would be greatly appreciated.
  • Mabear said on April 24, 2012
    I am from Louisiana and am trying to find licensing for small engine repair and how to dispose of hazard fluids such as oils and filters.
  • J. Goolsby said on April 28, 2012
    I have just finished my business plan to get funding for a small engine repair shop and can tell you that the lowest possible start-up cost I could figure was $170k and I own the building I will operate out of. This figure is to open a professional shop with all the necessary equipment, inventory, and overhead. A business plan is a must if you are serious about making this a profitable venture. It's a pain to write (over 400 hours invested) but it will give you the data you need to make good decisions and determine if it is even feasible. The SBA can assist with writing your plan but you must put in the work because every business is different and you don't want to use someone else figures. Do your research and it will pay off!!
  • Matthew Smith said on May 25, 2012
    Hello my name is Matthew, and I am wanting to actually open up a small engine repair shop. I have been working on friends and families small engines, and have always been wondering what the best pricing is for labor, and to figure out how much to put down for parts cost. I want to out do the completion in my area of Mount Morris NY,14510, but don't want to short myself. I want some opinions on this, as it is the last piece of my puzzle. I am very smart, and have been doing engine overhauls, to simple lube jobs for 11 years. Thank you for any help, information that I hope to receive. I normally go to parts direct for my needs, they have seemed to be cheaper.
  • Jerry beginner adviser said on May 26, 2012
    You have to find out what others in your area are charging for labor, you don't want to cut them by much or you will cut your own throat.. If you are buying your parts off the internet you are again cutting your own throat.. You need all your licenses and tax certs so you can buy your parts wholesale.. If your shop runs like it should, you should be able to cover most of your expenses from parts markup and the majority of your labor should be pure profit..For those of you that think you have a few wrenches and have been lucky enough to fix the minor things you have come across and now you want to start a business, I wish you all the best but I will about bet you will not make it. Tax man, state, city, county, feds, epa, fire marshal, these entities will clean your clock and in some cases take everything you own if you are not careful.. I watched a guy 2 years ago loose everything he owned after they got done with him... DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!! Don't just think its easy and all you see is easy money, its nothing like it use to be and its harder to get away with not being completely legal...
  • Jerry beginner adviser said on May 26, 2012

    @cody schlichting, I wish you the best... Just a suggestion, you might want to change your " I am better than everyone" attitude, it will cause your demise, trust me.... Its one thing to think it, its another to say it or advertise it....  It is much easier to listen to others put other shops down and for you to tell them you are sorry they had a bad experience with them and that you will do everything in your power to make their experience at your shop a pleasant one. When you say " I am the best" and you have something go wrong, and you will, then people are going to talk about how arrogant you are and that you are just as bad as the others... If you leave the door open that you will do everything in your power to make their experience at your shop a good one and that dreaded mistake happens and you correct it, people will respect you much more.. Just my 2 cents..

  • Doug said on June 1, 2012
    Waynesboro, PA, USA. I am baffled. sole proprietor or incorporate? What kind of insurance do I need? I don't want to lose my home by being sued. I have a certificate as a small engine repairman from vo-tech. Worked for 9 years repairing small engines, then got my CDL but don't want to do OTR. Drove propane gas truck for 6 years but now getting laid off every winter sucks. I have been doing repairs on the side and have some loyal customers. However my rates were low. So please help me with this decision. Thank you
  • Jamal said on July 24, 2012
    Im trying to find out who would be the best parts suppliers for a chainsaw and brush cutter repair shop I recently opened. The location of my store is in the Caribbean, so I would need to get a lot of each individual part for the lowest price possible to offset shipping costs. Any ideas?
  • Doug said on July 24, 2012
    Virginia Beach, Va. Do warrantors have to pay my posted shop labor rate when paying warranties in Virginia?
  • wyres said on August 2, 2012
    small engine repair in walker county alabama we do great work getting there mowers weedeaters and etc etc fixed charge below price to fix them our problem is getting people to pick them up we call once sometimes twice a week we have some for more the two months what can we do ?
  • Brent said on September 23, 2012
    Trying to find out who are the main suppliers of spare parts out of Miami for chain saws, brush cutters, lawn mowers and pressure washers etc. Recommend parts listing required for the above. About to open a repairs shop in Trinidad. Good price, service and support required.
  • Alex reid jr said on January 23, 2013
    My name is Alex I like work on small engines any one need that smell engines fix I am from ny Long Island in wyandanch ny 11798 my number is 6316395175 I do good job on smell engines I start from 50 to 150 if you like that price lot me know ok
  • Johnny beginner adviser said on February 3, 2013
    ok,for those that are interested in starting a small engine repair business, first things first...Number one DO YOUR HOME WORK.Like any other business, that's what you need to do to make it work. sure, fixing them might be easy at some point but,running a "business" doing that type of work, is another task.it's not Easy trust me I've Had my business for 20yrs. For the first 2 yrs I was only fixing them and now i'm a dealer of outdoor equipment.sell and fix. when I started the business I started with 300 bucks in the pocket no loan!!!I worked hard to get my name out there and for people to trust me and till this day I have great customers that always come back..always remember the customer is the one that will keep you in business for the most part but the rest is up to you.and pay your taxes and follow all the rules and you should be fine.

    Expert

  • Ned said on May 24, 2013
    Upstate South Carolina, I have several years experience mechanical work on everything from small engines to Large diesel engines, farm tractors to semi-trucks and welding repairs and fabricating. I want to start small repair shop that also does some farm tractor repairs and welding. What do you think about doing this without stocking parts, we have found some great parts supplier online and several local part sources. Will this work?
  • Bob said on August 9, 2013
    I am looking for a small engine repair school near New York City but cannot seem to find anything. Do you know of any such schools in this or the surrounding area. Thank you.
  • Warren said on January 3, 2014
    I started a small engine repair business in my shop last year. I have a full time job so I do this on weekends and weeknights after I get home from work. It's going great. I grew up in a shop so I can repair this stuff in my sleep. lol. I really enjoy the work. It's like therapy for me. the extra money is great. I charge less than any shop around. $75.00 an hour to fix a $50.00 weed eater will run off a lot of customers. I charge by what I think the job is actually worth not what I think I can bilk my customers out of. If you're honest and do good work, word about your shop will spread like wild fire.
  • Rich said on January 8, 2014
    My wife and I are looking to buy a small engine shop(business). Please email me back anyone that has one up for sale. Thanks, Rich Richard.chaboya@gmail.com 520-301-6840
  • Steve said on January 10, 2014
    Warren. I have a shop that's doing well after 6 yrs. My biggest down fall has been pricing. A 75.00 repair on a 50.00 machine is crazy... but people authorize it. Others don't want to pay 75.00 to fix a 500.00 machine. A lot of shops do charge whatever they can get... people around here are tired of it. Yes, an honest shop will make it. You can charge less because you don't have the same expenses as a shop. In a small town you will need those other shops if you are to make it full time. Try not to burn bridges. Also watch things like sales tax. Dot I's and cross T's. More than ever state and federal tax collectors are looking for anything.
  • greg said on February 6, 2014
    Getting ready to get into this field. One thing that I see is the price of the products on the shelves are through always . If you get a leaf blower for a 100.00 on sale and a year later needs carb kit and a head gasket you could of bought a brand new one . It's hard to stay competitive in the market with low ball prices on the shelves. It's a thorough away world we live in
  • AJ said on May 12, 2014
    I learned to fix small engines when I was in prison and I have owned and operated my own small engine business for about a year now. I live on Cape Cod Massachusetts and do a great job in the spring summer and fall. I am still learning about taxes and permits and I did have to figure out where to dispose of old oil and gas. It has turned my life around and if it wasn't for learning to fix engines in prison I'd probably still hVe been a loser. Anyone struggling with this business or unsure of it, just keep pushing and the rewards will soon come.
  • Nick said on May 22, 2014
    I live near Roanoke VA and I would like to start my own small engine repair shop. I have worked at a small engine repair shop for the last two summers. My plan is to take 3 more years to get more experience working at a certified shop and get certified with Briggs and Straton. Right now I am trying to figure out a business plan. Any suggestions on how to figure out what my first year of expenses would be? I know I would have rent for a shop, some more tools, insurance, and inventory. My biggest question is, how do I figure out how much I can make a year? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
  • Ray said on August 5, 2014
    I live I Northern Ontario. I run my small manufacturing and repair business part time. We make parts that are impossible to find. This is very lucrative but not steady. The repair end is very steady. Winter is always slow so shift to manufacturing parts we plan to sell the next busy season. We invested in a bench top milling machine and a drill press. We started making stable bases for bilge pumps out of aluminum. Made 20 and ran out of them in a couple of weeks. We began looking at ways of improving many of the cheap machines that come out of China and India. We discovered that replacing the fasteners with better quality Norton American nuts and bolts would greatly extend the working life. So I guess what I am saying is there are many ways a small shop can adapt to the changing trends. But generally we stay away from cheap Chinese products.

    Waste oil is something you should look into very carefully. Here it costs $1000.00 per 45 gallon drum to dispose. Minimum four per pick up. So we had to build a dam that could contain 180 gallons. We give a discount if the customers takes care of the used oil. I have to giggle at the posts that tell you it is not that easy to run a small shop. Sure going out and getting a job is easier. Since the advent of personal computers and bookkeeping software. This part is very easy. Customer database,invoicing,accounts all in one easy to find place. Revenue Canada will come to your place of business and set up the software for you at no charge. Insurance is important. But you can start small and increase as you grow. I stated with a $100,000.00 for a $175.00 a year and increased as my volume. As far as incorporating as a limited liability business. My insurance broker suggested that you should incorporate when you start doing business with other business or professionals. His experience taught him that these are the groups that are most likely to sue you. I hope this helps someone out there.
  • Joe Ap said on October 19, 2014
    Hello fellow mechanics--- I live in Wall, NJ. I retired 3 years ago working for Public Works after 30 years. I attended courses for sm. engine mechanics while employed there. I currently do repairs when asked by friends and my volunteer FD. Was thinking of opening a biz doing it myself. Also, if there is someone reading this in the Monmouth County NJ area that's already in biz and needs help, I'm ready to work! I have a pension and benefits to offset expenses but anyone that lives in NJ knows it's so expensive to live here. Was thinking of relocating. Any suggestions as to my next move is appreciated. Thanks!
  • Michael said on April 21, 2015
    I have searched every area I can think of and cannot find any information on what the average annual gross income for a small engine repair shop is. I know this is a very large question to ask but surely there is some way to get an average annual gross income for such an adventure.
  • Howard N Addington said on May 18, 2015
    I would like to start a small engine repair shop. I have 20 years experience managing and running large maintenance repair shop around the world. I also have 4 years as a senior instructor at the US ARMY ENGINER SCHOOL FORT BELIVOR, VA. I would like to open a professional repair shop not a grease garage looking shop. A clean shop with clean looking pro. clean cut mech. Open business in a new building made for repair shop.
  • Tommy Hardin Jr. said on May 20, 2015
    I'm retired military and I'm looking at opening a small engine shop in Montgomery Alabama. Looking for anyone that might have a business plan that I can use for a reference? Also, Is there a computer repair program for small engine repair similar to Mitchell on Demand for car? Thanks in Advance, Tommy
  • Jacinto landeros said on May 23, 2015
    Well i live in a small town in west Texas named winters tx and for it being so small a pop of over 2000+ it's not so bad when it comes to small engine there is always work here in that department am really confident on what I do I just started I don't really say I own a business cause I work out of my grandma car port which it's not all that big but she ok with it but how do I know for sure if I am taking in to much work.? and how much do I really charge for certain jobs.???? Thank u
  • Chris Suser beginner adviser said on June 12, 2015
    I live in Maryland and have ran a Mobile small Engine Repair co for 25 years called The Mowerman (At Your Home) Services. Very hard business. Super busy in the spring then gets slow in Summer. You have to be able to fix things right and take care of your customers, and they will take care of you. Sell winter service contracts, we run 6 mobile trucks in winter. You have to market yourself and be cheap with your money. Have 1000s of customers who use us every year, so I got a Home Improvement license and sell Roof, Gutters, Siding, etc and make good money just pulling measurements and using local contractors to do the work. What do I charge for mobile service here in Maryland $109 for mower service and $250!! for working on Lawn Tractors.

    seabee1123@gmail.com || Consultant

  • Chris Suser beginner adviser said on June 12, 2015
    Live in Maryland, You should give great service and charge for it. Like I said I charge $250 minimum on consumer Lawn Tractors. And if they took to a shop around here it's more. Use your great Customer skills to sell them other items, use your Imagination. I would be happy to help any Retired Military or anyone with questions.

    seabee1123@gmail.com || Consultant

  • Carrie said on August 19, 2015
    Hello sir, I want to provide you some cellphone gadgets, I can give you the most preferential piece if you need. Please feel free to contact me
  • Chuck said on August 27, 2015
    20 yrs experience small engine mechanic in the business of tune ups and sharpening. When business is busy and repairs and sales are coming in, the income is great. In San Diego most large shops only employ 2 mechanics. Epa, taxes, inspectors and customers are always looking so have a plan to keep them happy. Best hard work always paid off. I'm actually looking for a tech so if interested and have experience I might have a job for you while I handle the biz. Thx Chuck
  • caleb said on September 1, 2015
    i live in michigan i am gonna be starting a small engine repair shop but need to know if i have to be mechanic licensed
  • Scott said on October 15, 2015
    Looking to start a small engine repair shop in Omaha. 54 yrs old. Know I can do it I've Ben a parts store manager for a number of yrs and work on small engines at home. Wife tired of the mess and noise. Any advice. Have a car shop willing to rent me a portion of his shop for $300 a month. Please give me some advice.
  • Jeff payne said on July 29, 2016
    Hello, I am 52 years old, I've done farm later since I was 16 full-time. But now I must retire from the one thing I love but over this summer I've noticed people really dont know much about combustible engines, that I find very simple. I have everything I need to get started like nice shop plenty of tools and the commonsense and the know how to fix things right my question is how do I go about getting the parts I need without having to pay full retail at another shop?

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