Rental Studio

[sharpfocus]

Is there any interest in a rental studio on the Northwest side of San Antonio? I know a good location with high ceilings and a dressing room/bathroom. It is one very large room that could be divided into different areas for example, one area for full length pictures another for large groups and then one for head shots and couples.

My idea would be to provide lighting equipment and backgrounds and the photogapher would provide his own camera. Room is large enough to host Portrait classes or seminars etc.

In a very high traffic location and easy to find. 2 1/2 miles inside loop 1604 on Bandera Road. Next door to a photolab called JPEGS. Newly vacated and won't be available for long.

Anybody?

Bob

[OTRphoto]

I know right where that is... I've talked with the owners of JPEGS a few times.... They have some cool ceramic tiles available in there...

What kind of price range is it in?

[sharpfocus]

I think it is in the range of $1200 a month plus expenses (utilities).

There used to be a rental studio and rental darkroom here years ago called the F-Stop. It was on Babcock over by Wurzbach Road. Also there was a rental darkroom with a rental studio that turned retail called Photogenesis.

The way that Photogenesis generated business was to have classes on Studio photography. And then they would rent the darkroom to the students. I remember it well, it was bought out by Ritz camera. No darkrooms anymore, just digital ones.

This is just an idea and I am not sure just exactly how it would work, but I am pretty sure that it could work. It could be like a members only and then rent by the hour?

Bob

[ppcass]

Is that in your complex Bob?

[bigjon0107]

It sounds like a great deal and something that could be really neat. But the business side of me looks at the fact that there were 2 almost exact things there before you, they actually offered more services as well; and they are not there today....there is probably a reason for that. I know Ritz bought one, but usually when a chain like that goes and buys another company, like in this case, and is only slightly related to what they do (consumer sales v. pro services) they probably got a deal on it. Usually you buy a company cheap when it is floundering. But i could be totally off with this one, at least the Ritz example. They could have been looking to break into a different market, or tons of other reasons (i just have not seen it other places with Ritz, that is why i am a little questionable about it).

Also, the going rate is +/- $200/day for studio rental. Can you be able to rent it out at least 8 days a month? That will only cover your lease a some electric. But you are going to have more bills than that. So look at having to rent it out 12-15 days each month min to cover expenses (dont forget insurance in there; liability, gear, etc...), cover star-up costs (strobes, backdrops, props, any renovations, etc...). and MAYBE have some left over for it to be worth you while. Also, for liability, the owner has to (or should be) present. Some insurance companies actually require it. So you then are actually going to budget in there somewhere for you to get paid. At that point you are looking at renting it out almost every day, if not, 2 out of every 3 at least

Just some stuff to think about before you commit to a $1200 + m/o lease PLUS all the other costs that are involved in running a business.

[sharpfocus]

Phil, yes it is in the Ford's Landing Shopping Center which is right next to me.

Jon, thanks for the info. It would be a great place to have classes and seminars which could mean additional income, but I see what you mean. I wouldnt want to charge $200 a day anyway, I would rather charge $50 an hour with a minimum of 2 hours up to a maximum of $200 for the day.

I think that the only way something like this would really work would be if you had enough interested people that it would start out paying it's own way (rent, utilities, etc.)

Bob