How to start your own Auto Mechanic Business

AUTO MECHANIC BUSINESS OWNER

Starting an auto mechanic business is an exciting time and it is a career move that has the potential to lead to a lifelong endeavor. There is a high level of reward and satisfaction that comes with owning and operating an auto mechanic business. However, there are a lot of areas to address before the business turns into a success. Starting an auto mechanic business takes a fair amount of preparation, diligence and work. Here is a closer look on how you can make the dream of starting an auto mechanic business into a reality.

Certifications issued by the ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence) are held in high regard in the auto repair industry. There are a number of reasons that it pays for auto mechanics to have attained ASE certifications when opening a business. Prior to even thinking about starting an auto mechanic business, it is important to start earning ASE certifications. Here’s a look at how ASE certification will help in that process:

Starting an auto mechanic business requires a lot of financial planning. There is a need to account for acquiring a space for the shop, as well as tools, equipment and insurance. There is also a need to market the business as people are not going to automatically know a new shop has opened. Renting a facility may be cheaper than buying a space, although it might provide less freedom to make large scale changes. However, buying a space can be costly and adding construction costs is only going to increase that amount needed for startup. When estimating startup costs, it is important to add additional funding for any unforeseen expenses.

The best auto mechanic in the world is not going to be successful in a location that does not draw any customers. It is important to scout potential locations and examine how it fares in terms of accessibility and traffic. During this process, it is also key to check out the nearby auto mechanic businesses and size up the competition. Locations that are already dense with auto repair businesses are not going to be as fruitful. It also helps to check out any zoning restrictions that may eliminate certain locations from being the future site of your auto mechanic business.

The best auto mechanic in the world is not going to be successful in a location that does not draw any customers. It is important to scout potential locations and examine how it fares in terms of accessibility and traffic. During this process, it is also key to check out the nearby auto mechanic businesses and size up the competition. Locations that are already dense with auto repair businesses are not going to be as fruitful. It also helps to check out any zoning restrictions that may eliminate certain locations from being the future site of your auto mechanic business.

Specializations may prove to be an advantage, but they can also work against an auto mechanic shop. For example, if a shop has developed a reputation for doing excellent brake repair, then vehicle owners may not be as inclined to go there for an engine rebuild. That could impact income because brake repair is a lot cheaper than different kinds of engine work.

Most auto mechanic businesses offer general automotive repairs. When a business focuses on a specialty area, the potential clientele becomes more limited. That makes the startup process even more critical, as there are only so many potential customers. Car owners are easily the largest market segment, so there is always a wealth of potential customers when offering general automotive repair.

In order to run an auto mechanic repair shop, there is a process for obtaining a business license. Running a business also requires owners to adhere to liability regulations, tax reporting and submitting articles of incorporation. This process is rarely handled by an auto mechanic. There are attorneys that specialize in business law and hiring one is almost an essentiality in the start-up phase. It is also important to look into hiring an accountant to balance the books. That can become a daunting task for auto mechanics and also take away time from the regular duties that come with operating an auto mechanic business.

It is futile to believe one auto mechanic will be able to handle the complete volume of business within a repair shop. As an owner/operator, there will be a lot of duties to attend to on a daily basis. That is why it is important to consider hiring a staff. This does not necessarily have to be a large staff, but one that can help out with the workload.

When hiring a staff, one of the prime factors is salary. Setting aside a certain amount of money for staff pay will help balance your budget. A staff does not have to include master mechanics, but should have enough to handle the workload. There may also be the need to hire a receptionist or someone who can assist in a clerical capacity. If money is a factor, then here is a look at some affordable options.

There is still the need to oversee work duties, which puts an auto mechanic shop owner in a supervisory role. There is also the option of relegating simpler job assignments to less experienced mechanics and reserving the more detailed and difficult jobs for veteran mechanics.

Growing an auto mechanic business is about more than just fixing cars and trucks. It also involves successful marketing as word needs to spread. That means that owners will have to explore several different areas of marketing and promotion. Here is a look at some of the marketing tactics auto mechanics can utilize when opening up a business.

It is also a good idea to hold a grand opening event and contact local media outlets in an effort to gain publicity. When a new shop opens, offering special discounts over the course of the first few weeks is an excellent way to attract new customers and show them all that you have to offer.

Every auto mechanic business needs to have an identity. Building that identity comes with brand awareness. This is not a one-time occurrence, but rather an ongoing endeavor. It is extremely important to build a recognizable brand name. In the modern era, that means developing an online presence. Most people search for local businesses via the web and rely on online reviews when selecting where to go for products or services. However, not every branding effort has to be done online. Here is a mix of branding efforts that will boost your auto mechanic business.

As important as it is for an auto mechanic business to be efficient with the mechanical parts of the job, it is equally important to place a high priority on customer service. This goes beyond being pleasant and forthright during customer interactions. It could involve something like creating a waiting area that is customer friendly. That area could be a point of emphasis when creating the layout of an auto mechanic business.

Another area that is important is maintaining contact with customers. Initiating follow-up calls or emails after a customer spends a certain amount of money can be instituted as company protocol. However, that process would need to be established prior to opening the business.

Customers have options and it is important to always be on the lookout for ways to create a top-notch customer experience. It will help with online reviews and word of mouth business. Preparing employees with a customer service training course is also a very good idea as it helps to establish a company culture.