Thanks for the advice guys! I like the humvee and gun example. I am going to college now but haven't started my major. I am going to switch from auto body to welding diploma and fabrication. After that I will get my certificates in Small Business and Business Management....

No one can ever take a degree away from you. You are young and right now are good at and enjoy the autobody stuff. As you get older, you may change your mind. Might get tired of all that bending over, covering yourself with paint dust. A bad back may work its way in to your life. Not being negative but the point is you have your degree so that when you lifes passion changes, you can go manage that cathouse like martinsr suggested. Think I'll start looking on Monster.com for that one

Well i want to own my own shop. ANY suggestions of a college i should attend for business classes and a Good autobody/automotive course

Don't know a bodyrepair college anywhere near you but for good old education, take ICAR classes, you can take painting classes from most every paint company as well. Take business classes in your nearby college.

Brian

The biggest issue with owning your own shop is that the "business" gets in the way of the work that you have trained for. 30 years ago I owned a shop and found out very quickly that the work I was doing most often was not repairing cars, but rather doing paperwork (payroll, taxes, invoices, schedules, orders, etc). The fact is that when you run your own repair business, and the more success you have in that busines, there comes a time when most of your energy will be devoted to front office work which means less time in the shop doing what you trained for.

Don't get me wrong, the business was a rewarding experience, BUT after I had few full-time technicians working for me it became increasingly clear that my days in the shop were numbered. I became a business man that owned and operated a shop and was no longer a working technician.

Some guys can't handle that reality --

WOW .yeah but im not gonna be 34+ and not be in a head position.

Kinda late but...

Well, it's been nearly 2 years owning my own bodyshop with very little
prior experience in this field. I am literally learning everything as i go;
painting, paper work, body, estimating, etc. it is (was) OVERWHELMING.

My background is in art (many fields) and mechanical repair so
this business isn't entirely new. Still, it isn't an easy endeavor
and as an "artist" becoming a "business man" wasn't/isn't so much
of a stretch (for me anyway).

It is a business, as many have said. But when i'm in the booth, repairing
a panel, or preping a car, i AM an artist. And when i'm dealing with
customers, adjusters, suppliers, paperwork, etc., i AM a businessman
(and still an artist here too ).
And many times, i maybe doing several of these things at the same time,
(except when i'm spraying). Talk about multitasking...

Put your heart and soul into it. Focus on the "end game" (long term goals)
and be prepaired to work 8 days a week. Don't be discouraged,
listen to old timers, dismiss all bitterness and pettyness in others and in
yourself. To hell with all the nay sayers regardless of their expertise
and decades of experience in this field. Realize that experience
doesn't equate to wisdom.

For those wanting to start their own shop. Do the research
and when ready, jump in with both feet.

couple questions for you han.

What did it take for you to open up your own establishment: money,links,etc...
How old were you when you opened it. Money is something I really have
to EARN so how did you afford the materials.

"couple questions for you han.

What did it take for you to open up your own establishment: money,links,etc...
How old were you when you opened it. Money is something I really have
to EARN so how did you afford the materials."

I didn't open one but bought an established business; basically a one man
shop that's been around for nearly 60 years. The owner of the business
used to work for the previous owner (this is very common place).
I originally planned to open a Smog Check Only station, but the opportunity
arose and timing was perfect.

I was 32 when i started (i'll be 34 next month). As for money, i worked
my butt off, did ok as a project manager for a small studio, saved a little
while building up my credit (this is VERY important). Still, it wasn't enough
and i borrowed money from my father;his credit line (10g's).
Ofcourse, i have my line of credit which i use for various expenses.
Now i'm doing well enough to pay the mortgage of my parents house,
which i'm very proud of. This is a part of my long term goals; to see
to it that my parents arecomfortable is their golden years.

I don't come from "money," and what i've learned about money
was/is from my parents. There is no substitute for hard work and
dedication; trite but true. And in all labor there is profit.

And the necessary information for running & maintaining
this endeavor is from asking LOTS of questions (like what you're
doing now).

Don't worry about materials, tools, and equipment. FOCUS on your
goals. "See" the necessary steps for you to get there. And work
like no tomorrow. I'm nowhere near "there" but i am on my way.

Han.

I applaud for your accomplishment in those two years. Wow what a sudden change in carreer...yes i know that smog and auto body have car things related but they are totally different in many aspects how did you come to adapt yourself to the changing carreers did you just pick up a hammer and started working or did u have employees that were already there at the present shop to help guide u in the field? oh yeah back to the question asked previously how big was ur shop and can u provide a little bit more technical info about ur business size, employess, numbers of paint booth and such thanks.