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.

Automotive Schools: Your Passport to a Career in Auto Journalism

Automotive schools are a pathway to a dream career as an automotive journalist. Just imagine...you're flying to the West Coast. On the itinerary: a "product reveal." You've done a hundred of these by now. It's when a car manufacturer invites you, automotive journalist extraordinaire, for a 120-mile round-trip "press drive" of their latest fully loaded model. You always take these test droves slow, tinkering with the sound system, adjusting the seats.

Some of your colleagues prefer the faster-is-better approach, but you... you like to Saviour every moment, because you love everything about cars, their design, their technology. After all, that's why you went to auto training school in the first place. After the press drive, you will regroup with car-loving journalists from across North America for dinner, courtesy of the car manufacturer, in the restaurant of a 5-star hotel. At your table will be some of the engineers who worked on the car you drove.

Unlike the rest of your colleagues, who came to the profession via journalism rather than auto training school, you will be able to speak with them knowledgeably, thanks to everything you learned at auto training school.

Why Auto Training School Rather Than Journalism School?

    None of Canada's journalism schools currently offer a specialization in automotive journalism.
    Although programs do exist in other countries such as England, these can be prohibitively expensive, e.g., one one-year M.A. in automotive journalism charges non-European Union residents $15,700.
    Niche appeal of transport training. Canada has many automotive journalists, but only a handful have training as auto technicians or engineers. A graduate of auto training school has the advantage of being able to write knowledgeably about technical matters. This specialist knowledge can help them gain audience trust, and endear them to editors.

Auto training school can give automotive journalists insider knowledge about the work of:

    an auto technician
    a car salesperson
    a quality control inspector in an automotive parts plant
    a computer-aided designer
    a parts broker
    a truck driver
    a dispatcher
    an automotive journalist
    an operators manager
    a log book auditor
    a vehicle emissions inspector
    a non-flying ground support equipment mechanic
    a collision estimator
    a auto body technician
    a heavy duty equipment service technician

Automotive schools can prepare automotive journalists to sell themselves as a car expert to:

    specialty magazines
    newspapers
    websites
    TV shows
    radio shows

What Do Automotive Journalists Do?

    weigh cars
    drive them around test tracks
    attend "First Drive" events
    take notes on performance
    borrow cars from the press-drive fleets maintained by manufacturers in most major cities (freelancers, beware: you will be expected to shoulder the costs of your own fuel)
    travel to events
    attend auto shows
    assess price

It is an asset if you also have the ability to take your own publication-quality photos.

So, if the idea of test driving cars for a living sounds pretty attractive to you, you may want to pursue a career in automotive journalism, by taking transport training. Canada has many automotive schools that can prepare you for a life of "products reveals" and "press drives." Auto training school may be a springboard for aspiring auto journalists.

Contact the Canadian Automotive and Trucking Institute for more information on their automotive programs.

Percy Evans is a freelance writer who works for Higher Education Marketing, a leading Web marketing firm specializing in Google Analytics, Education Lead Generation, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Mobile SMS Alerts, Social Media Marketing and Pay Per Click Marketing, among other Web marketing services and tools.

Get Advanced Carbon Wheel Sets and Carbon Handlebars for Your Bicycle

Are you looking for latest road bicycles to ride just for sweating out or for other purposes? Do you want to present something good to your kids like bicycles? If yes, certainly you have a good idea. There are different types of bicycles available in the market. Choice is yours; you have to choose the right one according to your choice and budget. However, some people prefer to replace certain parts of their bicycles like handlebars and wheel sets. If you are also one of them planning to replace bicycle parts, then you must look for carbon handlebars and wheel sets. You can purchase them from marketplaces easily at reasonable prices with some added services and benefits. You have to choose the right and branded manufacturer or authorized distributors of the selected brand and place your order. Going local is also one of the right ways of getting bicycle parts replaced.

Get Carbon Wheel Sets of Your Choice

Carbon wheel sets are gaining momentum day after day and bike enthusiasts are looking for the wheel sets for the maximum safety of their bikes. Today, with the demand of this wheel sets soaring at a rapid pace a number of leading companies have come up with a broad range of Carbon wheel sets at pocket friendly prices with some added services and benefits. These reputed manufacturers and suppliers are considered as the leader in high-end carbon fiber bicycle products. Depending on your requirement and choice, you will get k high modules carbon wheels to different others that are known for giving you the spirited compensation you have been looking for devoid of making a hole in your wallet. As far as wheels are concerned, they are the single most effective upgrade made on your bike to give a unique look and stability as well.

In order to ensure their stability, wind tunnel testing is also done that shows that wheels can account for a good percentage of the overall wind resistance on your bike. Leading companies that deal in such wheels offer you an assortment of deep dish carbon wheels along with aluminum wheels and sometimes the combination of both. Superior riding quality that complete with carbon braking surface is the main advantage making these wheels the first choice of bikers that they want to have for their bikes. Carbon wheel sets also include some additions things like carbon brake pads for smooth and quite stopping power.

Like carbon wheel sets, carbon handlebars are also, very much important that are often preferred by people to replace. You can purchase them too from a selected authorized store. You have to choose the right size and design and place your order.

Things You Should Recognize Regarding Automotive Oil Filters

What do you recognize concerning your car? Do you recognize how to change the oil or switch a flat tire? Hey, don't worry; not all folks are automotive inclined. I apprehend that I am positively not. I primarily understand how to put gasoline in my automotive, check the coolant level and checking the washer fluid, check the air pressure in my tires, and if I've got to, amendment a flat tire. That summarizes my vehicle knowledge. Not too pretty, huh? The truth is I have never extremely had to try and do alternative things than those few just mentioned. I leave brake pads, shocks, steering wheel fluid and automotive oil filters up to the garage. Though, I am fascinated by learning additional about vehicles in general. Particularly the simple routine stuff; like changing the oil for instance. Do you know how to vary the oil on your automotive? Automotive oil filters might come in handy.

What's the cost of automotive oil filters these days? Well, I suppose that this can vary from automotive to car. On the other hand, I am not the one you should be talking to regarding this. A great place to begin this automotive ride is on the Internet. In cyberspace you can notice any and everything regarding car accessories and repair. Yes you'll, online you will be supplied with all the vital data at no cost. Isn't that the way we have a tendency to all want it anyway? Heck, I for one, will take all the free info I can get my hands on. You ought to be inclined to try to to the same. I myself have forever assumed that I knew the least concerning cars out of anyone I know. I found out that I was dead wrong.

I didn't apprehend that my software professor back in faculty knew but I. Of course she was talking regarding it in class one day. She told us that earlier that week, she was almost did not create it home from work, as a result of something was wrong along with her car. Logically I waited for her to mention something concerning the automobile's engine. Or a minimum of one thing broken that will put a stop to the vehicle from creating it all the method to her house. But, the matter was about her fuel tank. It was low on gas. You see, her husband forever fills the cars with gas. She had never place gas on her automotive before, and claimed she didn't even grasp how. Is that this weird or what?

Well, if you are looking out for automotive oil filters for your car, merely get on the web or head on over to Wal-Mart. Probabilities are good they will have what you're trying for. This method you'll be able to begin changing your oil yourself. I understand I am prepared to. We tend to want to grasp a lot of concerning the cars we tend to drive.