Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher Berish.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a Renaissance man. By that i mean that i love to have skills in multiple fields. I am a Registered Nurse and i work as a Circulating Nurse in the OR at McLaren Northern michigan. I have experience in sales, i have experience in management and i am always seeking something new. Cars have been one of the few passions that always excite me. I started helping my dad tinker with cars at 13 years old and it has been a hobby ever since. 2 years ago i thought i would try to make money buy buying damaged cars and repairing them for sale. It worked. I was able to take the whole summer off Nursing with my family and work from home. This last year i wanted to kick it up a notch so i opened Berish Automotive LLC from home. It worked too! Another summer spend at home with my family enjoying northern michigan. Now my dream has evolved and i hope to someday expand into a better building on my property or buy a shop locally. Soon, i hope, i will be able to build a team and nurse my little fledgeling business into something much more.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not entirely. There are always growing pains. Some of the vehicles i have sold in an attempt of profit have been far more work than i ever could have guessed. One vehicle purchased sight unseen arrived with 2 inches of water inside and a horrible smell. What i thought would take 30 hours to fix took 3 months and i lost money after all that. There is also a VERY steep leqrning curve when starting a new business. Once you commit you need to know everything about running a business and you need to know it right now. There are some resources available but it still felt like i was drinking from a firehose trying to take in all the new information that need all of which is new and foreign to me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Berish Automotive LLC is primarily an automotive bodyshop. Collision repair, rust repair, paint correction, full vehicle paint jobs. I have a history of restoring a couple classics too. I am not like other shops in the same field because i have very little overhead and i can pass those savings along. I can work with insurance to repair a vehicle after a collision and i will not rest until it is perfect. Some people do not need this level of repair or have no collision coverage and if this is the case i enjoy finding the perfect solution for any budget. I strive to do some little extra good whenever i take in a vehicle for free as well because i have found that the little things that you dont expect can make the biggest difference.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Find a mentor if possible. Someone who has been through the process recently and know the ins and outs. Ask for help. Youtube videos are great and SBA.GOV is a good resource but you will miss something that will slow you down or cost money to fix if you go it alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Berishautomotive.com
