What should I ask about a garage’s tool boxes that belong to the technicians?

Start with a clear line between shop equipment and personal property. Ask the owner to list the diagnostic scanners, lifts, presses and specialty tools the garage supplies, and to confirm in writing that a technician’s own tool box is not part of the sale. If you plan to count on a tool, make sure it is on the owner’s list.

Next, ask how tools are handled day to day. Does the shop pay an allowance, loan tools to new hires, or help technicians finance larger purchases? If the business has advanced money for tools, find out what is still owed and whether any repayment depends on a technician staying. Your lawyer can explain how that carries over to a new owner.

Then think about continuity. If a skilled technician decides to leave with their own tools, what work can the shop no longer do? Ask which specialty jobs depend on one person’s equipment, and what it would cost and how long to equip a replacement. Finally, ask about the toolroom: storage, theft or loss history, and who is responsible for upkeep of shared tools. A tidy inventory of shared tools helps the buyer plan what must be bought.

Key takeaways

• Get a written list of shop-owned tools, separate from technicians’ personal boxes.
• Ask about tool allowances, loans to staff and any balances still owed.
• Find which specialty jobs depend on a single technician’s own equipment.