So, my brother wants to eventually own his own business...

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  • iBanker
    Confirmed User
    • Dec 2004
    • 2758

    #1

    So, my brother wants to eventually own his own business...

    He wants to do a restaurant or a deli, etc. Anyway, it sparked a conversation between he, I and about 6 other people through-out the day on the golf course, mainly talking about which businesses were the easiest to start, easiest to run, least amount of liability.

    Oddly enough, we kept coming back to storange facilities. Keep in mind we live in San Diego, and land is priced stupidly high, and obviously there are barriers to enrty based on his investment dollars available.

    My question is, does anyone know of a similar business that operates with minimal if any employees, requires or allows the purchase of the dirt (land) underneath it, and has a recurring income? The catch is, storage facilities like he is talking about cost 1.5M to 4.5M, he is looking for some much much less than that.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.
    www.JasonandAlex.com
    Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170
  • bigdog
    Confirmed User
    • Jul 2001
    • 6964

    #2
    why not real estate outside of california

    Comment

    • iBanker
      Confirmed User
      • Dec 2004
      • 2758

      #3
      Originally posted by bigdog
      why not real estate outside of california
      Good question, and it was discussed. Basically, he is moving out of California, but wants to come back in about 5-7 years. I mean, the weather here is just too much to not come back.

      Ideally though, you are right, moving out of state would save him a ton of seed capital or investment funding.
      www.JasonandAlex.com
      Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170

      Comment

      • Sly
        Let's do some business!
        • Sep 2004
        • 31377

        #4
        You could start a storage facility in an area much cheaper but remember the demand will be less too because people don't need storage as much. Storage was a completely new concept to me when I moved to California, I never realized "regular" people would need in.
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        • MikeSmoke
          Confirmed User
          • Nov 2002
          • 3241

          #5
          i have no idea, but i always wonder whenever i'm just driving around, it seems that SD has more storage facilities per capita than any place i've ever seen. before moving further with the possibility, do you know much about demand for storage facilities here - is there still demand or is the market oversaturated (as it sure seems when driving around the UTC/Sorrento Valley area)?

          icq: 541-739-92

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          • Alex
            So Fucking Banned (YEA!!)
            • Jun 2004
            • 10963

            #6
            Laundry place.

            By a small store in an area full of apartments and college students. Set up dryers/washers. Set up a coin change thingy. And one employee at a time just to look out and shit.
            Care about me?
            Who?
            Me!
            Who?

            Comment

            • iBanker
              Confirmed User
              • Dec 2004
              • 2758

              #7
              Originally posted by Sly
              You could start a storage facility in an area much cheaper but remember the demand will be less too because people don't need storage as much. Storage was a completely new concept to me when I moved to California, I never realized "regular" people would need in.
              Yeah, and they main reason he leaned towards storage, is our Uncle has a small storage place in Detroit, MI, and he does well. Not great, but well. When my uncle visited last time for a family wedding, he was driving through San Diego and was just blown away that we have so many faciliaties here, and most are practically full, or at least 90%.
              www.JasonandAlex.com
              Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170

              Comment

              • iBanker
                Confirmed User
                • Dec 2004
                • 2758

                #8
                Originally posted by MikeSmoke
                i have no idea, but i always wonder whenever i'm just driving around, it seems that SD has more storage facilities per capita than any place i've ever seen. before moving further with the possibility, do you know much about demand for storage facilities here - is there still demand or is the market oversaturated (as it sure seems when driving around the UTC/Sorrento Valley area)?
                Yeah, the old office for the Company used to over there, it seems there is one on every corner. More and more of the small ones here in SD seem to be getting gobbled up by the big players.

                Storage in general is one of those funny things. People will pay $75 a month to store $400 worth of stuff. Then, on top of that, they will just leave it there, and get charged every month. I mean, really, how fast does a month go by? Pretty fast if you ask me.

                Seems there is a subtle similarity there with the porn industry and rebills at times.
                www.JasonandAlex.com
                Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170

                Comment

                • iBanker
                  Confirmed User
                  • Dec 2004
                  • 2758

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Alex
                  Laundry place.

                  By a small store in an area full of apartments and college students. Set up dryers/washers. Set up a coin change thingy. And one employee at a time just to look out and shit.
                  Thats a great idea as well. That one made the top 5 list.
                  www.JasonandAlex.com
                  Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170

                  Comment

                  • wdsguy
                    Ryde or Die
                    • Dec 2002
                    • 19568

                    #10
                    Parking lots- same problem with the land costs but just think about the lots near downtown areas in LA and SD. they make bank. Low maintenance and only 1 or 2 employees.

                    Comment

                    • MikeSmoke
                      Confirmed User
                      • Nov 2002
                      • 3241

                      #11
                      Originally posted by iBanker
                      Seems there is a subtle similarity there with the porn industry and rebills at times.
                      that's a good point - although i think the storage industry has it a lot better - rebills are just a few minutes of work to figure out how to cancel - you don't have to find a new space and rent a truck to cancel a porn membership

                      icq: 541-739-92

                      Comment

                      • detoxed
                        vip member
                        • Jan 2003
                        • 17798

                        #12
                        Start a smaller storage facility or many smaller ones in other areas. Hell my area is going through a real estate boom and anyone can make a killing.

                        Comment

                        • iBanker
                          Confirmed User
                          • Dec 2004
                          • 2758

                          #13
                          Originally posted by wdsguy
                          Parking lots- same problem with the land costs but just think about the lots near downtown areas in LA and SD. they make bank. Low maintenance and only 1 or 2 employees.
                          No shit. You hit the nail right on the head with that one. The new parking lots in San Diego by Petco Park in the Gaslamp Quarter, are $15-$20 a pop.

                          Worst part about the whole thing:

                          THEY ARE ALWAYS FULL.

                          So the parking lots are most likely the best business down there, even if they are the 6-8 story parking lots. Think about it, even if it was only making enough money to cover a monthly land payment of $200,000, it pays for it self in the end, and the land under it has appreciated in value over that time.

                          Man I wish I had 10-15 mil to do something like that. Good call.
                          www.JasonandAlex.com
                          Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170

                          Comment

                          • iBanker
                            Confirmed User
                            • Dec 2004
                            • 2758

                            #14
                            Originally posted by MikeSmoke
                            that's a good point - although i think the storage industry has it a lot better - rebills are just a few minutes of work to figure out how to cancel - you don't have to find a new space and rent a truck to cancel a porn membership
                            I don't know there are some freaks out there that may need to rent a truck to cancel all of their memberships, or at least a super-computer to cancel all their memberships!

                            Validi point though. There are some significant costs to "canceling" at a storage facility.... never looked at it that way before.
                            www.JasonandAlex.com
                            Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170

                            Comment

                            • iBanker
                              Confirmed User
                              • Dec 2004
                              • 2758

                              #15
                              Originally posted by detoxed
                              Start a smaller storage facility or many smaller ones in other areas. Hell my area is going through a real estate boom and anyone can make a killing.
                              Yeah. Size isn't the issue for my brother, so a smaller facility would be easier on his budget, and most likely a better starting point for him.
                              www.JasonandAlex.com
                              Christopher's ICQ: 268-843-170

                              Comment

                              • MrIzzz
                                If u touch it, I will cum
                                • Sep 2003
                                • 22923

                                #16
                                buy an emerging franchise, like a subway or quiznos or dunkin donuts....

                                or a gas station with a convenience store...


                                all smaller costing invetments were the labor doesnt need to be skilled


                                WHO WANTS TO PLAY GRAB-ASS?

                                Comment

                                • MikeSmoke
                                  Confirmed User
                                  • Nov 2002
                                  • 3241

                                  #17
                                  Originally posted by MrIzzz
                                  buy an emerging franchise, like a subway or quiznos or dunkin donuts....
                                  or a gas station with a convenience store...
                                  all smaller costing invetments were the labor doesnt need to be skilled
                                  that's one thought i've had periodically since moving out here...there are franchises that haven't established themselves yet on the West Coast, like Dunkin' Donuts - virgin territory for successful franchise operations that could be very profitable....
                                  of course, i'd never go ahead with what i'd REALLY like to do here...open supermarkets that are like the supermarkets back east, with much better selection because half the floor space wouldn't be taken up with beer, wine and liquor. i'd shop at it in a heartbeat - but i'd lose my shirt

                                  icq: 541-739-92

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