Larade Collision Repair

Jan. 1, 2020
It's been just over a year since brothers bought their own shop, and so far the risk was worth it.

It's been just over a year since brothers bought their own shop, and so far the risk was worth it.

After working in the collision repair business for more than a decade, brothers Roy and Steven Larade made a move that others in their position sometimes contemplate but don’t follow through on. They opened their own shop—Larade Collision Repair of Waltham, Mass. A year and a half later, the brothers are handling more than the volume of repairs they had hoped for, despite a slow year for the collision repair industry in their area.

“We’re at or better than what we thought we could do—and we made it through the first year, which everyone says is the hardest,” says Roy Larade. “When things pick up, we should exceed our expectations.”

The Larades’ experience could serve as a checklist for others considering a similar move. As with many shops, the key to their success is not dependent on a single factor, but rather on doing a lot of small things right.

Both Roy and Steven, who are co-owners of the shop, studied auto body repair at a vocational high school and both went to work at the same local body shop after graduation. After a few years, Roy, who is the eldest of the two, ended up managing that shop. At one time, there was talk that he might become a part owner in the company, but he eventually realized that such a possibility was unlikely to occur.

“I’d been in the business 17 years and never worked anywhere else,” says Roy. “I didn’t want to work for someone else.”

Roy began asking friends in the industry to let him know if they heard of any shops for sale. One of his industry contacts told him about one such shop that was about a 15-minute drive away. The shop owner had not been able to make a go of it and the shop was being sold as a piece of real estate, rather than a business. That was good news for the Larades because it meant several important pieces of collision repair equipment were included in the deal at no additional cost. Most importantly, this included a frame machine and a paint booth. “Those are the big things you need,” says Steven.

What the brothers didn’t get was a customer list. But because of their experience, they haven’t had difficulty getting business. “I had a reputation with the company I was running for 10 years,” says Roy. Insurance companies knew who he was and how he did things, he says. Although direct repair process isn’t used in Massachusetts, Roy says, “It wasn’t difficult to get on insurance company referral lists.”

Once customers realized the brothers were no longer at their previous company, those customers tracked them down and began to use them. Based on their reputation, the brothers also obtained an anchor customer—a car rental company that uses them to repair its vehicles.

At present, the Larades operate the shop without any other employees. Steven does the frame pulling and sheet metal, while Roy handles administration and all painting. Roy relies heavily on automated computer systems that help him generate bills and estimates. He feels he also learned a lot about how to work with insurance companies during the three months he worked for an independent appraiser—between when he left his previous job and opened Larade Collision Repair. “I went on the road and met other shop owners and learned a lot about what they were able to get paid for by the insurance companies,” says Roy. “I learned to be more thorough and how to get paid for all of the work that you do.”

When business picks up, the next priority will be to hire someone to help with office work, then a painter. The brothers have kept in touch with people who attended vocational school with them and anticipate tapping into that network when the time comes to staff up. “A lot of people say it’s hard to find good help,” says Steven. “But we have people just waiting to join us.”

The next priority after adding more employees will be to upgrade some of their equipment. “I’d love to get a downdraft paint booth and a bigger frame machine,” says Steven. The equipment that the brothers obtained with the real estate purchase was not the most modern. Paint has to dry overnight and extra care must be taken to keep the area dust free. But, as Roy points out, “It’s more than some body shops have now,” adding that the quality of the brothers’ work has not suffered. They also are considering expanding when the time comes.

The Larades encourage other collision repair industry veterans to make the same move they did. “If you get the opportunity and really want it, don’t be afraid,” advises Roy. “If you don’t try, you’ll never know.”

Adds Steven, “It’s just so much nicer when you watch your work going out the door.”

SNAPSHOP
Name: Larade Collision Repair, Waltham, Mass.
Owners: Roy and Steven Larade
Revenue: $350,000 annual revenues
Volume: 25 repairs per month

Sponsored Recommendations

Best Body Shop and the 360-Degree-Concept

Spanesi ‘360-Degree-Concept’ Enables Kansas Body Shop to Complete High-Quality Repairs

How Fender Bender Operator of the Year, Morrow Collision Center, Achieves Their Spot-On Measurements

Learn how Fender Bender Operator of the Year, Morrison Collision Center, equipped their new collision facility with “sleek and modern” equipment and tools from Spanesi Americas...

ADAS Applications: What They Are & What They Do

Learn how ADAS utilizes sensors such as radar, sonar, lidar and cameras to perceive the world around the vehicle, and either provide critical information to the driver or take...

Coach Works implements the Spanesi Touch system

Coach Works Uses Spanesi Equipment to Ensure a Safe and Proper Repair for Customers