Your first shop

**mthomasdev** · 04-01-2016, 09:46 PM

For those of you that have seperated rented / leased shop space, a few questions:
1. Were you full time or part time when you got your shop?
2. How big a space?
3. Monthly rent - how much?

Thinking of making the move. My stuff is getting in the way at the house.

**AuburnEwaste** · 04-01-2016, 10:30 PM

1. Went full time to be able to justify the shop
2. 1000 square feet
3. Rent was only 625, I miss that payment alot

After a year I moved into an 8000 square foot building. We originally were using about half but are now(another year later) moving some operations into the other half. My rent is around 2000.00 now but for the size of the space in this area that is pretty good.

If you have any questions about anything, feel free to message me and I will be glad to help.

**gabrielservices** · 04-02-2016, 12:49 AM

I was full time, with a full time guy and a part time guy. We went from my house to a 1000sf shop in a storage complex, with my own office, our own bathroom, also had a makeshift kitchen. It was $750 a month. now I'm part time, by myself at home again.

**matador** · 04-02-2016, 01:48 AM

My first offices:

I was full time in computer repair, part time in recycling. Added office space so I could break down during the day.

The space was irregular, but not that large- I'd say 50x30 feet of usable space.

The extra space cost me $175 pe rmoth, but the ceiling leaked, and it flooded when the snow melted. There was no heat in half the space, and no A/C at all. The building was absolute junk. I don't miss that place at all.

**ryanw** · 04-02-2016, 02:45 PM

I've been in a 2000 square foot space for almost 4 years. Things have changed over time, and with that I have to reorganize how I have things set up. I have a lot of shelving and racks to use the space more efficiently. Some things I wished were done permanently before I moved in:
1. Had all the racks and shelves planned out better. I have switched out pallet racks to stronger ones, and have taken down shelving which leads me to:
2. Make sure there is enough open space. I had thought I left myself enough space for moving around and I was wrong. I am back to over 1000 sq/ft of open floor space now.
3. Heating/cooling. Make sure you know how it will get in your space. If I leave the loading door closed with no fans, this space gets up to 120 in the summer.
4. Proximity to services. I am within a couple miles of a few scrap yards, office supply, hardware store, and post office.
5. Lease terms. I started out at $700/mo here and it's now at 1000/mo. I can only lease in 1 year increments. This is fine for now, but if it keeps increasing at this rate, I will move on.