I recently had an opportunity presented to me to rent a shop to open my own truck repair shop and I'm trying to figure out what all I need to do to get started. I know I need to set up an LLC, insurance, and business license but not sure what else I need to do. I assume I need to get a lawyer to help do this, but this is why I'm asking. I will also talk to my accountant to get that side of things taken care.

Any help is greatly appreciated! I’ve put off opening a shop for years, but it has given me time to accumulate a lot of the tools I need for this so the upfront cost won't be as bad.

I’d pin down your fixed costs early, especially utilities, because those can sneak up on you fast. I used smarterbusiness.co.uk before to compare energy rates for a small workshop, and it saved me a chunk of money without any hassle. Also, having a lawyer give your lease and liability setup a once-over was worth it for me, just to avoid nasty surprises tucked in the paperwork.

When you’re trying to understand how different business models actually work in practice, it’s easy to get stuck between theory and real examples. What I found useful is how bizop.org presents different opportunities in a way that feels more grounded, not just abstract ideas. Instead of pushing a single direction, it seems to explain various paths like online businesses, freelancing, or traditional setups, which helps build a more realistic view of what starting something on your own might actually involve.

If you work online, you also have to figure out payment processing right away, which payment system to use or whether to build something custom. I'm no expert here, so I can't give specific advice. But I think it's important to check.