Outgrew House

[klingsdesigns]

Need some input. We have been working out of our house for 9 years and outgrew it. Debating on if we should get a bigger house and more garage space or if we should get a shop.
Either way when the wife and I start having kids we will out grow this house since it is only a 2 bedroom. We currently have a 2 stall garage heated and air.

Looking at a 4 bedroom with a 3 stall garage. Money is already tight. I feel like some people would rather go to a shop then to someones house? Maybe not.

Even if we get a bigger house and garage we will still outgrow it with the business sooner or later. Have looked into houses with 50x80 polesheds on the lot also.

Thanks!!

 

[Gino]

That's a loaded question.

To me, it would be great to work from home, but what we do, the space we need and whatnot, it's just not feasible to work from any house. If money is tight, then you will proably hafta raise your prices and decide on a shop or outta your house.

Try jotting down all the types and kinds of signs you do..... from truck lettering to 4 x 8s to digital printing, sandblasting, electric box or channels, trade-show displays, large run projects interior or exterior, wood flatbed, screen printing, garments, business cards, brochures,etc. Perhaps becoming more organized will solve your problem or if you've grown that big, you might jut need a bigger building dedicated to signs. The write-offs and business incentives are much better, when you're not working outta your house.

 

[bigben]

I'm in the same situation. We are looking for a bigger house with a barn that we can transform to a shop. We can't justify the cost of a shop and all the expense vs the extra mortgage because there is no customer coming to us and I love working from home.

 

[klingsdesigns]

That's a loaded question.

To me, it would be great to work from home, but what we do, the space we need and whatnot, it's just not feasible to work from any house. If money is tight, then you will proably hafta raise your prices and decide on a shop or outta your house.

Try jotting down all the types and kinds of signs you do..... from truck lettering to 4 x 8s to digital printing, sandblasting, electric box or channels, trade-show displays, large run projects interior or exterior, wood flatbed, screen printing, garments, business cards, brochures,etc. Perhaps becoming more organized will solve your problem or if you've grown that big, you might jut need a bigger building dedicated to signs. The write-offs and business incentives are much better, when you're not working outta your house.

Gino- are you staying to write it all down and then see what your best profit is and push that?

 

[WildWestDesigns]

Gino- are you staying to write it all down and then see what your best profit is and push that?

Cost/Benefit analysis all the way. And be honest with everything. People either tend to fore go this step or skew it to the outcome that they want.

 

[Texas_Signmaker]

When you have kids (like I do) it is SOOOOOOOOOOO nice to be at home. Maybe build a storage building in the yard? My little girl always comes and is with me while I'm working. Being at home makes me feel more connected to the family even if I'm working more.

I know the thing about having a retail location is that your missing potential customers. I found the people that are put off by me when I say "I dont have a retail location" are small crap jobs anyway.

 

[Gino]

Before I say something else, let me ask those who have answered so far a few things.

Does your home owners insurance adequately cover you ??
What utilities, if any, are you writing off ??
Do any of you have part-timers or employees ??
Do you have proper licensing for your residence ??
Do you have ample parking, pick up and drop off facilities for customers, UPS FedEx, tractor trailers, etc ??

 

[Bradley Signs]

MHO, get a small shop space that you can possibly add on to as you go.... keep the family at home, where kids belong, great for concentration during work and phone calls too.... like above, keep the business separate. Bills, insurance, phone, everything... it will make a big difference in the end. If you do like to work from home, get a separate space. I bought a rent to own storage building, 40' by 16'w..... plenty of room as we grow.... somewhere down the road, I will get another and put them together.... We don't do trucks or anything anymore.... there are many options, and you have to think them all through. Just don't over think.
Remember, electric if you add on, entrances, overhead doors if need be, where will you store things, supplies and such.
Good luck!

 

[klingsdesigns]

Before I say something else, let me ask those who have answered so far a few things.

Does your home owners insurance adequately cover you ??
What utilities, if any, are you writing off ??
Do any of you have part-timers or employees ??
Do you have proper licensing for your residence ??
Do you have ample parking, pick up and drop off facilities for customers, UPS FedEx, tractor trailers, etc ??

We have homeowners and also business insurance seperate with garage keepers added.
We write off cellphones and utilities are divided up by the sq ft we use.
It is just the wife and I and two labs.
We have a conditional use permit to run the business out of our house.
Parking is ok. The driveway sucks. Its long and has a slope and the end. Only wide enough for one vehicle. We do have a neighbor who lets us use his vacant lot for when we letter buses and what not. We have a corner lot so that helps.

Our lot is very small. Right now the garage is 26x26. Was thinking of tearing it down and building a huge garage connected to the house and tall enough for sprinter vans.

 

[klingsdesigns]

I just dont want to jump in too big and not be able to afford it.

 

[WildWestDesigns]

I just dont want to jump in too big and not be able to afford it.

This is why it's best to do a cost/benefit analysis of it all.

There are some that firmly believe that the only way to be "legit" is to have a store front and that gives you the best leverage. That's it, without equivocations. It really does depend on your situation.

I'm not saying that have a off site shop isn't the best way for you, just make sure that you accurate weigh everything out. That even includes assigning values to concerns that aren't exactly as easy as profit/loss.

This is not something that I would just do on a whim. Make sure to be able to do as much research as you can. While the research itself won't promise success, it does provide a road map to help and that (at least for me) alleviates some of the concerns that an entrepreneur has (and some would say that's part of the juice of being one I'm sure) in these situations.

 

[rossmosh]

Economically speaking: You haven't outgrown your home if you can't afford to move.

The only way I could even think it would make sense is if you're outsourcing jobs simply because you don't have space despite having the ability and time. Other than that, you're basically banking on the idea if you have more capacity you'll have more business and that simply isn't the way it works.

 

[WrapYourCar]

Location is quite important.. depends what area you're in.. I've been running my business for about 12 years now and have experienced both home and offices.. although home is comfy and easy.. it isn't very professional and it does bring customers into your personal life which is not good considering you really don't know them that well. I would be pushing for a factory somewhere amongst other businesses/trades with a lot of passing traffic.

 

[klingsdesigns]

I did find a 3000 sq ft shop over the weekend. One side is offices and the other side is a 14overhead door and you could put some offices in. Was thinking about renting out the one side and keeping the otherside for us. Right now it is split up for all utilities for two tenants. Bank took over property. In a business condominium and worth about $350,000 and could get it for $225,000. Our house now has very low payments so i feel like i could make it. I know i would if we had a renter.

 

[Gino]

Careful.

According to who would move in, you might create what is considered smelly, noisy or just unfit to run another business out of the same building. Zoning would play a big part in that. If some sorta medical facility moved in, the slightest smell or odor from anything will be a deal breaker. Ample parking for certain businesses plays a part, also. You need the right fit.

How long has the place been vacant on both sides ?? Evidently, if the bank took it back, the last people couldn't find a renter, either.

 

[klingsdesigns]

I think the guy who owned it tried to sell it for too much and he ended up losing it. Their is about 4 of these shops same design in a business park. Then a strip mall type commercial building in front of them. Every other place has a company in it. The parking is a little small. Think 4 on a side.