Would love to help this guy out, it's nice when there's a topic that I have a little bit of experience at. I'm learning most of the lessons the hard way.
Best info I can give is, Work for a dealer for 10 to 15 years. Get all the schooling you can get, then maybe (just maybe) try it on your own. Having your own shop just isn't what most people think it is. That bottom line can get real small.