Tony Lewis Skypilot Guitar Repair
Forum Replies Created
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Also a new member just starting out. I decided not to sell strings as a retailer because of tax headaches ( have to deal with CA tax stuff is daunting!) I do carry replacements in case I break them during repair. Most customers have personal preferences and will bring their own or I’ll buy them and charge the exact amount I pay to avoid tax mess.
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Forgot to mention……you can test the piezo by wiring directly to the jack, bypassing the pre amp. Hot to hot on jack and ground to ground. The piezo signal should be strong enough for amplifier to pick up. The pre amp and controls are mainly to filter (control) sound to amp. This way, you can isolate problem to piezo or pre amp.
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Hi Jacob,
Ditto on the scratched lead and yes an ISYS. You can also try splitting ground from piezo directly to the jack bypassing the pre amp if it is a ground problem.
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There is a one hour over the phone introduction to Xero when/if you become a member. I did the trial and then there was a three month membership for .75 cents a month. The support is good when you find out how to use. The best help believe it or not is to ask google AI questions. I tried many other programs. I’m not computer savvy at all. For me the easiest to figure out.
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Hi Corey,
I used Northwest Registered Agents. A lot to know from state to state. These people are great. Different pricing for differing services but reasonable price and excellent support. They had me registered the same day. This is great! We can follow each other around and help each other on the new journey! Hope your opening goes great!
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Hi Corey! I too am just starting out! My shop has been open for about month. Yes, anxiety was high in anticipating whether or not I would get any business at all! Many sceptics (“good side gig but not real money” etc.)! I opened on November 7th and so far so good! I am the only repair shop within a four hour drive. The question I and others asked was “would there be enough guitars around to support a business? I live in Bishop, CA, a small town in California. So far so good. I think customers coming in from the start has been good (I wondered how long it would take for someone to walk in the door which was the first day). So go for it!
Some keys so far for me have been the business side of things. As others have said, book keeping etc. are often overlooked and are maybe the most important aspects of operating a small business. I had a small business in the past and overlooking the business side of things is usually the main determining factor to the success of the business. Here’s what I did in tandem to getting the physical aspects of the shop up and running:
Like you, I remodeled the garage and stocked it with ONLY THE TOOLS I THOUGHT I WOULD NEED TO GET STARTED. Very important so as not to cut into initial startup capitol. I thought, and this has been true, that I could buy more tools on an as needed basis. Amazon can get you tools in a matter of days. It’s easy to spend money (profit) on more tools and drain the bank account of necessary operating capitol. It is amazing how much work you can accomplish with basic hand tools.
This ran parallel to the business aspects:
1) I instantly opened a business checking and savings account to SEPERATE business from personal. Yes, you need to put in personal money into business but you can track what you put in this way. Very hard to track mixed expenses and where money is going.
2) I got an online book keeping program. I use XERO for my book keeping. For me it is the easiest program I have found. Very important to business so you can track what and how your business is doing. You can invoice and take payments with the program and input bank accounts. I think this is the most important aspect of the business.
3) I became an LLC. I’m married and we have property together. This shields our personal properties form lawsuits, etc. Your situation may be different as to how you want to handle this.
4) Aquired local business license and fictitious business statement.
5) Got a EIN (employment identification number) necessary for tax purposes. It’s free to sign up for. Taxes are super important to deal with. Many small businesses overlook the importance of dealing with their tax situations and how to handle. I have a CPA to deal with this end as figuring the tax codes and how they apply IS rocket science!
6) I aquired insurance for the business. It costs me 95. a month from Hartford Insurance Co. This covers liability in case someone slips in the garage, covers instruments to the tune of 10,000. and the usual fire, earthquake etc. This is seperate from the homeowners insurance we carry.
Advertising:
Amazingly enough, the most important form of advertising has been the sandwich board out on the street! Almost every shop day, someone has walked in! This coupled with flyers at all the best bulletin boards in town, google, online etc. Word of mouth has been important as well. I’ve handed out business cards at all the open mics and music events in the area.
There is a great discussion here on The Looth Group about the business side of things. I’m not up to speed on how to find and import it here while typing.
Good Luck! I hope this helps!
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Ian,
Thank you so much for the input! The customer and I are on a plan. We will replace originals for functionality. And I am going to get the tuners you recommend. Thanks for the great advice and knowledge and getting to me so quickly! Yay!
Tony
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Thank you so much for the advice Gerry! Your and Ian’s input helped a lot. I was able to communicate options to the client and we are on a course of repair to change out original items for practicality. And I have your book which I use all the time. It’s wonderful!
Sincerely, Tony
