I am interested in learning about the junk yard business. I am researching potential business opportunities. Are they a decent investment? What is needed to start one? How do they operate? How much potential for growth do they have? How will that industry handle the battery components of future vehicles?
Any information is appreciated.
Thanks Zack
Buying an existing one with all the permits in place or starting a new one?
There was a previous thread on this board a few months ago. The upshot is that they are an EPA-regulation hell.
You will learn to hate people, but you will make good dough.
I already hate people, so I'm halfway there. 
This is my story. I already own and operate a 20,000 sq ft supermarket in the Metro Detroit area. I've been doing this for 7 yrs, its a family business. Well business is not good at all and I am considering selling. Trust me I already hate people. This store sees over 400 people a day.
I have considered starting a salvage parts business in the past, but didn't have the time. I did some parting out of sport bikes in the past several years out of my garage and that proved to be profitable. Where can I find out what is needed to start a junkyard? I realize it would be easier to buy an existing one, but a quick search shows nothing available. Can you please link me to the other post, I ran a search and couldn't find anything. I am focused on doing the research bc it will be a total career life change for me.
You might start here.
http://www.junkyarddog.com/yardsforsale.htm
From there you might be able to link to the information you need.
I could have fun owning a salvage yard.
I'll tell you this and it's getting hard to do: buy low, sell high.
Reason: LKQ. They are the "WalMart" of the JY biz. They can buy things that the little guy can't, either from speed, volume, or cost.
The days of buying $500 "junkers" and turning 500+% profit days are over. And that is straight from a guy I went to HS with and now runs what was once his mom and dad's JY.
thunderzy wrote:This is my story. I already own and operate a 20,000 sq ft supermarket in the Metro Detroit area. I've been doing this for 7 yrs, its a family business. Well business is not good at all and I am considering selling. Trust me I already hate people. This store sees over 400 people a day.
I have considered starting a salvage parts business in the past, but didn't have the time. I did some parting out of sport bikes in the past several years out of my garage and that proved to be profitable. Where can I find out what is needed to start a junkyard? I realize it would be easier to buy an existing one, but a quick search shows nothing available. Can you please link me to the other post, I ran a search and couldn't find anything. I am focused on doing the research bc it will be a total career life change for me.
What kind of groceries? I mean, typical stuff, or organic, hippie, living, what? And, where are you????
So how many of you want a junk yard just to fund your crapcar race team?
In reply to DrBoost:
Standard supermarket, located in Farmington.
In reply to Ranger50:
Anyway you can put me in touch with him?
Down the road from my Inlaws and only a few miles from me is a small airplane, airport w/ grass runway. It is a family run business. While in highschool, the two boys used to sell lawn mowers from the roadside and do mower repair as well.
After highschool the boys took over one of airplane hangers and started parting out motorcycles. I think they have 4 hangers now and in the past two years they have each build new 1800sq ft houses on the family property. They seem to be doing well and it does not take up that much space.
I think they only sell through ebay. Here is a sample and they have a feedback of 11,009
http://www.ebay.com/itm/89-gl1500-gl-1500-goldwing-left-saddle-bag-saddlebag-/2202...
I think this link will take you to his 17,745 listings for his ebay store.
http://stores.ebay.com/Mikes-Motorcycle-Parts?_trksid=p4340.l2563
The guys working the counter at the junkyard nearest me each carry a pistol on their belt and have a shotgun stood up against the wall behind them. I asked once if they felt unsafe working at a cash and carry lot, and was told "Not anymore."
Streetwiseguy wrote:You will learn to hate people, but you will make good dough.
That explains why they're all shiny happy people.
nderwater wrote:The guys working the counter at the junkyard nearest me each carry a pistol on their belt and have a shotgun stood up against the wall behind them. I asked once if they felt unsafe working at a cash and carry lot, and was told "Not anymore."
We have 4 guns in my store. My uncle, I worked along side, and myself conceal ours and we have .45 in the cash office and one shotgun in the back. My family has been doing business in the heart of Detroit for more than 40 yrs. My store is the only one outside the city. But we act like its in the city. You can never be too careful.
This is all good info. Please keep it coming. I'm getting more serious about this by the minute.
One of the coolest junkyards in the western Chicago suburbs cleaned it up and sold the and (Hub Auto).
My buddies father & uncle owned it and cashed in after a long run. Tough business.
I'd love to own a junkyard. My problem is that, same as if I had a whorehouse, I'd be my own best customer and go flat broke.
