Opening an Auto Repair Business

 

How to run a successful auto repair business? Well, planning, organizing, managing and sustaining the four most important pillars, holding the success of any business and automotive repair ones is not an exception to it. You will be facing ups and downs, success and failures, etc. However, it is imperative to face all of them and yet, sustain in the competition. However, these are advanced aspects of the business (but you need to be aware of these in the beginning itself).

Volume and Scope of the Business
Logical thinking and planning are the most significant factors involved in this part. Logical thinking refers to thinking about the scope of your own knowledge and capacity to handle the business. If you want to evolve gradually, you can begin with an automotive repair business offering few services such as, tire replacement, brake repairs or replacement of other parts of the vehicle. You can include, operations which are not too complicated and can help you earn considerable profits. Once, your business gets settled, you can move on to introduce newer and advanced services, which will attract more customers, thereby contributing to larger profits. Logical thinking would thus decide the scope of your business. Planning refers to the process which starts, once the logical thinking process gets over. Once, you have decided on everything you can, start planning things accordingly, like arranging space by either buying it or taking it on lease, mobilizing financial funds, etc. Planning would thus decide the volume of your business.

Checking Out the Law
As soon as you are done with planning the preliminary necessities, you can proceed to check out law and order, associated with setting up an auto repairing business. The most important document in this regard is the licensure to open the business. It is necessary to obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture, garage operating license and sales certificates and documents in order to open and further run the business.

Organizing and Managing Financial Funds
Capital is amongst the most important factors required to set up a business. For this, you need to contact financial institutes offering business loans. Look out for financial institutes offering a low rate of interest (needless to say!). You need to prepare a business plan and then explain it to the concerned authorities, so that they get convinced about the success and substantial nature of your business. Using the financial resources wisely, also forms a significant part of starting and operating the business.

Set Up Business Systems and Recruit Staff
Your automotive repair business is not just a garage, but it is a well planned organization, which intends to offer the best possible customer service. It is therefore necessary for you to set up well-defined and well-organized systems, so that the administration, as well as the operations department of your business, function efficiently. For this, you need to open a bank account in the name of your business and also initiate an invoice system, so as to define a pattern of printing work orders. Now, another challenge in front of you is to, recruit staff. You will need experienced mechanics and some people looking after the administration issues of your business. Contact recruitment agencies for this purpose. This would ensure, some good candidates applying for a job in your organization. Set up parameters for technical knowledge, personal qualities, intellectual abilities, experience etc, while interviewing and further, recruiting the candidates. Once employed, clear out things such as, payments, code of conduct, entry and exit formalities, leave policy, operating procedures etc.

Marketing, Promoting and Advertising
From the point of view of attracting more and more clients, you need to do some marketing and promotional activities. You can either do the work yourself, by studying the current market situation, position of your nearest competitors and the needs and demands of the customer. Or else, you can opt for marketing services providers, who will do the work for you, by charging the stipulated fees. Promoting and advertising, go hand in hand, you need to advertise and then promote your business, so that people come to know about your services. Prepare business cards to advertise your business on an individual level. You can contact advertising agencies and specify the targeted customers and the area, wherein you want your business to be advertised the most.

Fulfillment of commitment and optimum customer satisfaction play an important role in increasing the profits of your business. Remember, the more organized and dedicated you are, the more are your profits and the higher is your success rate. So now, just go ahead and initiate your first step towards becoming a successful businessman. Good luck!

Automotive Technician Salary

The job of an automotive technician is one which demands the most technical capabilities from a person. The demand for cars is increasing, so is their manufacturing, usage, problems, and hence, the services of these professionals are in much demand.

The importance of an automotive technician is known to people who have experienced car breakdowns or car problems. As the name denotes, these are experts whose main responsibility is to repair vehicles and automobiles. They inspect the problems and carry out repair jobs and other maintenance tasks. They are well-versed in every aspect of a car engine, the possible problems that can occur, and what repair tasks need to be performed. Nowadays, automotive technicians even have specializations in problems related to engines, brakes, body, and other significant parts of a vehicle.

Job Description
As automotive technicians can be employed in a particular facility or even be self-employed, their duties and responsibilities may differ accordingly. However, there are a few fundamental tasks that they have to do.

When the car comes to the garage for a repair, they draft a rough vehicle damage and repair estimate. They discuss the problems with the owner, and ask questions that will help them realize the exact problems of the car. They then test the car's performance, understand the problems, and suggest the tasks that need to be performed. An automotive technician has to maintain repair, service, and also replacement records. Fixing, installation, repairing, and replacing parts and components are the major duties of this professional. In order to carry out all these procedures, they work manually and also use advanced tools and equipment. After the job is done, they take a test drive to check if it is running perfectly, and whether the problems have been resolved. They may also give some tips to the car owner regarding how to maintain the car in good condition.

Salary Range
There are several factors that have an impact on the salary. The basic determinants are if the individual is self-employed or working in a facility; the state and city he is employed in; the technical know-how he possesses regarding automobile repair; the years of experience in repairing vehicles; technical trainings attended; and most importantly, the contracts which he may receive.

As per industry norms, the per annum average salary falls somewhere around $45,000. The salary prospects increase with the ability to familiarize with new advancements in the field. If you are thinking about the entry-level salary, it may range from approximately $25,000 to $45,000. Those possessing five to nine years of experience can receive pay of around $30,000 to $50,000. Those technicians with 10 to 19 years of experience can get a yearly pay of about $35,000 to $60,000.

If you are thinking of becoming an automotive technician, you would obligatorily need technical skills, ability to do manual work, and that too for a substantial amount of time, problem solving, and decision-making skills. You also need to stay in touch with the latest computerized technologies and systems of the automobile industry.

You may have the ingenious product in the world, but what's the point if you can't find the market for it? Without a market, a product is as good as dead. Every small business has to engage in aggressive marketing, if it aims to reach its best potential. Most naive entrepreneurs believe that marketing takes a lot of money and it is only meant of giant business organizations. NO! Do you really think Facebook and YouTube used any great marketing techniques, to make a niche in the virtual market?

It is difficult to come up with creative ideas, which is why we are here to help you. These ideas will work the best for small business firms, if they are used with a hint of intelligence. So, let's see what you can do, to make your business grow faster.