Even though, starting an auto repair shop is a very profitable business today but it may require a lot of startup capital to provide for the location, shop, tools and other high cost auto repair equipment and machinery. This makes it impossible for younger mechanics with no capital to start their own business but if you have a right tool kit with good auto repair skills, there are ways to start your own auto mechanic shop with little or even no money.
Mobile Auto Mechanic Shop
Business plan is one of the most important things for any kind of business. Learn about market and prepare a business plan that may start with a low cost mobile auto repair shop or a temporary shop in a garage but include details about future expansion in a year or two. Create a website and move your mobile auto mechanic shop on demand if you don’t have money to buy or lease a shop. If you already have a car, you just need to move it around to reach the customers with your tool kit. Make sure you have a website with proper contact details that can help people in contacting you easily.
Use Your Own Garage
If you don’t have one, ask a friend or a family if there is any rent-free garage available for a year or so. A garage as a shop with a mobile auto repair services can earn you a good amount of money in a year if you have a right marketing approach. Make sure that local population around knows about your new business. Be creative with your advertisement. Create a complete business plan with the services you are looking to provide your customers, the types of vehicles you specialized in, your target market and your price against different services.
Promote Your Business online
Enlist your business on online directories like Yelp and Google Places. Create an efficient website that can also process online payments to make it convenient for your customers. For this, you can get automotive merchant account services from a good merchant account provider that can provide you with specialized service for your auto repair business.
You can also advertise your business using flyers, business cards and even using bulletin boards for little money. Though, online advertisement is more cost effective but if you have little money, it is wise to spend some on advertisement through every mean. As a new auto mechanic shop, your business heavily depends on the advertisement.
Save Money for expansion
Always plan for expanding your business to a proper auto repair shop in future. With a mobile auto repair shop or a temporary shop in a garage, you are limited in your services to offer as a mechanic. With a bigger shop equipped with proper machinery and heavy tools, you can provide car owners with more extensive and expensive services. You have to save money for future expansion and for buying machinery, for example, a good diagnostic machine costs $5,000 to $7,000 dollars. If you want to remain in the business for a long period of time, you need to equip your auto repair shop with more advanced tools and machinery.
Auto repair business is one of the best businesses to invest when it comes to good financial returns but you need to be creative and one step ahead of your competitors to sustain your position in the market. If you have a large capital to invest or you are starting your business with no money, the ultimate success of your business depends on your skills and creativity when it comes to marketing.
