How to Start Your Own Bike Repair Shop.

by jackjackboom

54K3117

Intro: How to Start Your Own Bike Repair Shop.

Hello! It's me again. For this "ible" we are going to start a bike repair shop! The following instructable is based on some of my experience starting my own bike shop. Also, if this ible is worthy, please vote for me in the Bicycle contest. Thanks!!

STEP 1: Parts and Tools.

Yes, yes, you will need parts. Mostly tools though. I started out with some basic wrenches and stuff like that. Basically all you will need are the tools that you probably have already. If you you need special bike specific tools like chain whips and trueing wheels, (Those bad boys help straighten out wheels and tighten spokes.), then go to your local bike shop and see if you can borrow one for a few hours. If you really need one then buy one. There is one tool that is super handy. The tire lever. I love mine. If you don't want to break down and spend $3 on one, then a paint can lever will work. (Though not as well.)

STEP 2: Get Familiar With Bike Repair.

Now that you have all your tools you will need a bike to practice on. I recommend working on your families bikes. Or you could get a junker bike and repair it and ride it. Watch plenty of youtube tutorials and get familiar with how bikes work. Repair as many bikes as you can before opening shop. Knowing is half the battle. It''s really a pain in the rear when you are trying to change a cassette and you don't know how.

STEP 3: Open Up Shop.

When you feel comfortable with bike repair and you feel ready to open up shop, then go to your neighborhood's facebook page and tell everyone that you repair bikes. Get your name out there. (Start with neighbors and friends.) Give people your contact information if they want to get a hold of you. When you feel like you have done everything you can, wait.

STEP 4: Your First Customer.

Congratulations!! Your first customer is finally here!! Here is list of things to do.
Step 1: Be nice.
Step 2: Tell them what you price per hour is. (Mine is minimum wage.)
Step 3: Give the bike a look over and see if you can spot any problems. (Often times, about halfway through repairs, you will notice something else that is wrong with the bike. My first bike ended up needing a new front wheel, the forks unbent, new handlebars, and shifters. It had been severely wrecked.)
Step 4:When done make up a bill that tallies hours and total replacement parts cost.
Step 5: Return bike cleaned and shiny. Give the customer your bill, collect dough, and go home.
(Have them recommend you on Facebook if you did a good job)

STEP 5: Your Shop.

Congratulations on a successful first bike repair!! Keep a tally of how many bikes you repair. Begin to offer new services a basic tune up and cleaning. Gain peoples trust and they will come back to you later when their bikes break down. Always be cheerful in front of customers, you can be as mad as you want behind the scenes. Although a cheerful attitude does reflect in your work. My shop is based in my carport. All of the bikes that I have repaired have been department store bikes. But repairing bikes is fun and you will enjoy it too. Please check out Part 2 of this ible, it's about basic bike repair know-how.
Thanks!!

14 Comments

johnvalley440 3 years ago

I am going to try this and charge client by client.
If someone is an avid rider and needs a repair or adjustment and have no payment, I will service the bike free of charge once. I want to make a niche' in the maintenance and repair business.

velojym 7 years ago

I was considering doing this as a way to get out of I.T. and into something I enjoy more. To gain experience, my thought was to load some tools and parts into my little wagon, mount my bike rack (works great as a work stand) to the back, and go to some of the cycling events, charity/century rides, etc. in the area. I'd only really charge for parts and materials at first, with maybe a tip bucket handy. I have some experience providing ride support from about a decade ago, and work on my own bikes, but would want to brush a little of the rust off before pursuing a more businesslike model.

CaptCatGaming 8 years ago

I thought about setting up a $10 fix and a $5 paint job. That is my thought for my own one though.

KevinB414 7 years ago

at those prices you wouldn't make anything. You have to also take into consideration the cost of replacement items and paint and so forth .

MauritsK 8 years ago

We have fixed amount for every repair that is done in out shop. So for example you patch a tube which will take you around 10min. We ask 10euro to patch is. Sometimes you do it in 5 or sometimes in 10 minutes. The more you do it the faster you become. Although there are always repairs that take way longer than expected.

But a fixed amount gives customers a comfertable feeling. at least the is mine opinion

Jimmyrockers19 8 years ago

I started out get my first toolbox when I was 4 and started working on cars with my parents, so I'm a lot older than what I was and I don't like working on car that much and brick better so I told my friend that me and him are opening a bike shop and I fix my sisters buck every day because she keeps braking it lolXD!!! But thanks for the help . Hope you make more tip on bikes/tools/anything that has more help. Ps: I'm brothers to stephenrocker16 on YouTube look it up and tell him I told you to bye.

chan2005 9 years ago

im totally gonna do this!!!!!!

JosephM12 9 years ago

I Might do this

ello 9 years ago

Love it

rangerweavere 11 years ago

Don't forget to charge for parts and services...... When I do repairs I charge them for parts, what I'm repairing or replacing and by the hour.
Owner: Ranger's Bike Repair

Aron313 11 years ago

I wouldnt pay by the hour but do labor charge and also if they want anything that is a hard job, done in a quick amount of time, you should have a fee for working harder to get it done. A good thing to do is a cleaning service that you can recommend. Ask the customer what the bike needs first then spin the wheels make sure the cables are moving and gears change. then check to see if anything needs to be tightened. Also make sure you get their information to make sure they get the bike back when its done. Its also good to have them pick it up instead of bringing it to them.

jackjackboom 11 years ago

Thanks for the tips!! For me cleaning a bike is mandatory and I do that for all of the bikes I get. Free of charge. I charge by the hour because often times I discover new problems with the bikes. In my bill I draw up a list of all the things I had to fix on the bike, and tell how long it took to do that particular part of the job. That gives my customer a good idea of what I had to do on the bike.