If you have the skills and knowledge necessary to repair vehicles, you may be considering starting your own auto repair shop.
However, you will need to possess good business skills before you decide to take the plunge.
You should also ask yourself the following five key questions before you decide to launch your startup.
1. How much will it cost to start an auto repair shop?
You won’t be able to start an auto repair shop before working out your costs.
That means knowing how much money you will need to raise to open your own shop and what your ongoing costs will be.
You will need startup money to cover things like renting a building, buying tools and equipment, and getting insurance and licenses.
So, make sure you work out precisely what things you will need money for before you launch and calculate what the overall spend will be.
Then, determine what your ongoing business costs will be so you can work out how much income you will need to generate to make your business profitable.
Be aware that most auto repair shops don’t begin to make a profit straight away, as the startup costs can be significant and it can take a while to generate regular income.
2. Do I need to get certified?
While you’re not actually required to have ASE certification to repair vehicles, it’s a very good idea to get certified.
It will then be easier to get insurance at a lower cost and it will be easier to drum up business because customers will have confidence in your abilities.
Before you can qualify for ASE certification, you’ll need at least two years of combined work and educational experience.
3. Should I specialize?
The ASE certification is broken down into sixteen different specialties.
You should look at whether you want to specialize in certain repairs or offer repairs of all kinds.
For example, if you choose to specialize, you could work on school buses, trucks, electric vehicles, or collision repairs.
You could gain a great reputation and drum up more business if you specialize but having niches could limit the amount of custom you get, so spend some time carefully debating whether it’s best to specialize or not.
Make sure you know the scope of the services you intend to offer customers before you launch your auto repair shop.
4. What should I call my auto repair shop?
You should definitely check out tips for a successful auto repair shop launch. One tip you don’t want to overlook is choosing the right name for your business.
You’ll bring in more customers if you choose a great name.
The right business name can be a powerful marketing tool, so make sure you select a name that is catchy and represents your business.
Choose a name that is unique and memorable while also clearly describing what your auto repair shop does and who you serve.
Also, make sure you choose a name that isn’t similar to a local competitor.
5. How will I market my auto repair shop?
Even after calculating your costs, writing a business plan, choosing a great name, and doing all the other things you need to create an auto repair shop that is ready to launch, you can’t just sit back and wait for work to come your way.
Using effective marketing is crucial if you want your shop to be a success.
That means setting up a website that utilizes SEO well, getting onto social media platforms, and advertising locally in magazines and newspapers and on billboards. You should also hold a grand opening event to let locals know that your new business is open.
