Our hobbies are what usually helps us develop our passions. You might be someone who used to love playing with toy cars when you were younger. Or you’d always watch your dad fix the car in the garage. So now, you’d probably want to give the automotive industry a try and open up your own auto shop.
However, like in any business, it would cost a lot of time and money. But if this is something that you really want to invest in, you should go for it. But keep in mind that there are certain things that you first need to do before making such a commitment.
Upon discovering why you want to venture into this industry, you need to develop a plan, from your business’s name up to the littlest of details.
Show What You Can Offer
Of course, one of the things you should go over is the type of shop you want to operate. You can pick from either a transmission shop, body shop, tire retail, and many more.
The proper research can help you with this one. You should inspect your target location to see if there are any competitors within the vicinity, whether you plan on opening in Denver, Reno, or Salt Lake City. Chances are there will be at least one since there are many businesses on the rise nowadays. If that’s the case, then the next best thing you can do is offer something different.
Think of what would make you stand out. A usual car repair shop would have oil changing services, tire rotation, and brake repairs. So think of the services that would make your customers come back for more.
You might want to offer repair and dyno performance tuning for better efficiency. Also, almost all vehicles nowadays comprise various electronic components. So you could make use of advanced diagnostic technology as well. This allows a faster way of troubleshooting engine problems.
Assemble Your Team
Once that’s settled, you would need to focus on assembling your team. You can’t possibly do everything on your own, from the early phases up to the actual execution. Having numerous inputs would be more beneficial.
You should also decide how many employees you would need from the sales, management, parts, and service departments. You can base this on the size of the business you plan on having.
Securing Your Budget And Equipment
Afterward, you need to consider your budget. You already have an idea as to what type of services you want to offer. So you should look into how much these would cost you. Starting with small capital can cause problems, so it’s best to have some options.
An ideal way is by getting investors. But since you’re only about to start a business, that can be difficult to do. So you can ask for some help from your family or friends. In most cases, one would opt to loan from a bank as well.
And once you secure enough capital, you can now purchase the equipment you need from air compressors, jack stands, torque wrenches, and all that.
Put The Word Out
Since not many people are aware of your business yet, you also need to think of ways to reach your audience. Everything has pretty much gone digital nowadays, so capitalize on this opportunity. You can put up a website or social media accounts to interact with potential customers. You can also use this as a way to promote your services and any upcoming promos. Not only that, but other companies might also show interest in partnering with you.
Adjusting To The Times
With our current situation, the automotive industry needs to keep making adjustments as well. This is why others are starting to offer mobile auto repair services. Not only is it convenient, but it also helps in assuring your customers. Some people might not like the idea of leaving their vehicles overnight.
In some cases, one might also end up stranded in an unknown place. So with this kind of service, they won’t have a hard time contacting tow truck companies and stressing over getting their vehicle to an auto shop at once.
In It For The Long Run
Pursuing a new career will always be difficult at first, from thinking of unique ways to stand out among the competition to choosing the right people to help you out. But if you love what you’re doing and you’re always ready to welcome change, then it’ll all be worth it.
