While you may be a talented and skilled mechanic, that doesn't mean that you can automatically start a successful auto repair business. It will take more than a few wrenches and a garage to make a profit. A good business plan, sufficient financing, and proper tools and supplies partnered with good organization make for the proper recipe for a successful auto repair business.
Instructions
1. Decide the type of auto repair work you want to do. Take a quick assessment of your talents, knowledge and skills, as well as what you prefer to work on before deciding if you should have have a specialty or if you want to do general repair work.
2. Work on and complete a business plan. Contact your local Small Business Administration representative to help you with this. The SBA is there to help you through the beginning stages of your business, including the identification of your mission, making goals and fine-tuning your methods. The SBA will also help you find financing options (see Resources).
3. Pick a location for your garage. You may already have a perfectly good shop at your residence, and it may make sense to continue to work from it. Check with your city or county for any zoning or code restrictions if you're locating your shop within a residential area. If you find a location somewhere else, you will still need to check on the zoning issues. Also, the new location will need electricity, restroom facilities, heat and water, and a parking area as part of its offerings for a year-round shop.
4. Take inventory of all tools, supplies and equipment you currently own. Organize them. If you think you may need more to open up an auto repair business, purchase the minimum of what you need. Additional tools and equipment may always be purchased in the future. Always keep your tools, equipment and supplies (oil, filters and belts) organized so you can find them in a timely fashion.
5. Establish an office area for your shop. Keep careful track of all paperwork that details your jobs, costs and important documents, such as insurance and property paperwork. Display your business licenses prominently. Stay up to date on accounts receivable and payable, as well as with sales taxes.
6. Use various forms of marketing for your business. As a mechanic, you may already have plenty of word-of-mouth marketing, which is the best kind. Another way to market is to join your local chamber of commerce to let other business owners know of your services. Using radio advertising increases the chances of reaching people when they are thinking about their vehicles and the funny noises they may be making. Direct mail is good, as well as fliers to leave at gas stations and on community bulletin boards.
Tags: repair business, your business, already have, auto repair, auto repair
