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Auto Repair Shop Business Plan

Not everyone has the talent and technique to repair and restore cars, and if you have those skills, you might have thought of starting an auto repair business.

After all, most people prefer the autonomy having a business offers. But with autonomy comes responsibility. And to fulfill that you’ll need an auto repair business plan.

If you are planning to start a new auto or car repair shop, the first thing you will need is a business plan. Use our sample auto repair shop business plan  created using upmetrics business plan software to start writing your business plan in no time.

Before you start writing your business plan for your new auto repairing shop, spend as much time as you can reading through some examples of  services-related business plans.

Industry Overview

In 2021, 162000 establishments had a combined annual revenue of $115 billion in the US auto repair industry.

The growth has mainly come from the increasing number of cars on the road. Also, the growing mileage consumption has played a huge role.

Opening up a car repair shop requires you to pay for construction costs, labor, and equipment.

As the auto repair business is a profitable one it attracts a lot of competition, and to stay ahead of it you’ll need skills and a proper business plan.

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Things to Consider Before Writing an Auto Repair Business Plan

Select what area of repairs you’ll work on.

Auto repairs shops take up a variety of jobs like repairing and painting car bodies, transforming old vehicles, or doing tire and mechanical repairs.

So, it is necessary to decide what you want to do before getting started. Specialization helps you get more expertise in the area and makes you more reliable for the job to customers.

Pick a suitable location

An accessible location is a must for an auto repair business. Your location would also rely on the niche you’ll be working on. Tire repair services are usually on the road to make them accessible for emergencies.

While transformation services are mostly opened inside the city for easier pickup and drop.

Hire an efficient team

An auto repair business’s success relies heavily on the quality of services you provide. That helps you retain customers and get more. Hence, it is important to have a team that can provide quality services to your customers.

Apart from that, it is also important to have a team with good technical and soft skills to understand your customer’s problems better.

Formulate marketing strategies

Marketing your business is essential to attract customers and building your brand’s identity. Hence, it is important to have a marketing strategy for all the platforms your target audience uses to find repair services.

Chalking out Your Business Plan

A business plan helps you leverage the best of your resources, and get the maximum out of your efforts.

A business plan also comes in handy if you need funding or loans for your business, as investors and banks prefer to see a business plan before they give the money.

Reading sample business plans will give you a good idea of what you’re aiming for. It will also show you the different sections that entrepreneurs include and the language they use to write about themselves and their business plans.

We have created this sample auto repair shop business plan template for you to get a good idea about how a perfect auto repair shop business plan should look like and what details you will need to include in your stunning business plan.

Auto Repair Shop Business Plan Outline

This is the standard auto repair shop business plan outline which will cover all important sections that you should include in your business plan.

• Keys to Success
• Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• 3 Year profit forecast
• Business Structure
• Startup cost
• Products and Services
• Market Trends
• Target Market
• Market Segmentation
• SWOT Analysis
• Sales Strategy
• Local Publications
• Community Events/Organizations
• Commuter Advertising
• Customer Loyalty Programs
• Direct Mail
• Pricing Strategy
• Important Assumptions
• Brake-even Analysis
• Profit Yearly
• Gross Margin Yearly
• Projected Cash Flow
• Projected Balance Sheet
• Business Ratios

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Download a sample auto repair shop business plan

Need help writing your business plan from scratch? Here you go;  download our free auto repair shop business plan pdf  to start.

It’s a modern business plan template specifically designed for your auto repair shop business. Use the example business plan as a guide for writing your own.

After  getting started with Upmetrics , you can copy this sample auto repair shop business plan template into your business plan and modify the required information and download your auto repair shop business plan pdf or doc file.

It’s the fastest and easiest way to start writing your business plan.

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About the Author

Upmetrics Team

Upmetrics is the #1 business planning software that helps entrepreneurs and business owners create investment-ready business plans using AI. We regularly share business planning insights on our blog. Check out the Upmetrics blog for such interesting reads. Read more

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Auto Repair Business Plan

Written by Dave Lavinsky

You’ve come to the right place to create your Auto Repair shop business plan.

We have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Auto Repair shops.

Auto Repair Business Plan Example

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Automotive Repair business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair is a startup auto repair shop located in St. Louis, Missouri. The Company is founded by Tim Martinez, an experienced auto mechanic who has gained valuable knowledge on how to manage an auto repair shop during the past 15 years while working at Fast Cars Auto Repair. Now that Tim has experienced managing an auto repair shop, he is ready to start his own company, Tim’s Timely Auto Repair. Tim is confident that his auto repair skills, combined with his understanding of business management, will enable him to run a profitable auto repair shop of his own. Tim is recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day-to-day complexities of auto repair shop operations – sales and marketing, customer service, and financial reporting.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will provide reliable auto repair services for customers in the St. Louis area. Tim’s Timely will be the go-to auto repair shop in St. Louis for convenient scheduling, quality work, and timely repairs. The Company will be the ultimate choice for busy individuals, providing the best customer service in the area.

Product Offering

Auto Repair will provide the following repair services for most vehicle makes and models:

• Brake repair
• Powertrain repair
• Muffler & exhaust repair
• Heating repair
• Electrical system repair
• Wheel alignment and repair
• Preventative repair & maintenance

Customer Focus

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will target personal vehicle owners in St. Louis. The Company will also target small businesses who use a vehicle for their company’s operations such as delivery drivers, plumbers, and other mobile businesses. No matter the customer, Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will deliver the best communication, service, and results.

Management Team

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will be owned and operated by Tim Martinez. Tim is a graduate of Missouri University with a Bachelor’s degree in Automotive Technology. He has 15 years of experience working as an auto repair technician and manager of another local shop. Tim will be the Company’s CEO and the Head Auto Repair Technician. He will oversee the day-to-day operations, auto repair equipment management, and auto technician staff’s activities.

Tim has recruited his former administrative assistant, Jen Jackson, to be the Company’s Chief Operations Officer and help oversee the auto repair shop’s daily operations and customer relations. Jen has a Master’s degree in Business Administration. She has worked in the auto repair industry for many years and understands what it takes to effectively run this type of business.

Success Factors

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will be able to achieve success by offering the following competitive advantages:

• Skilled team of auto repair technicians who will be able to diagnose and repair a wide variety of vehicle issues in a timely manner.
• Tim’s Timely Auto Repair makes it easy for customers to schedule appointments, pay for service, and check on the status of their vehicle through a user-friendly customer app.
• The Company offers competitive pricing and discounts for regular customers.

Financial Highlights

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair is seeking $250,000 in debt financing to launch its auto repair business. The funding will be dedicated towards securing the auto repair shop and purchasing auto repair equipment and supplies. Funding will also be dedicated towards three months of overhead costs to include payroll of the staff and marketing expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Auto repair shop build-out: $100,000
• Equipment, supplies, and materials: $40,000
• Three months of overhead expenses (payroll, utilities): $90,000
• Marketing costs: $10,000
• Working capital: $10,000

The following graph below outlines the pro forma financial projections for Tim’s Timely Auto Repair.

Company Overview

Who is tim’s timely auto repair.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair is a newly established auto repair business in St. Louis, Missouri. Tim’s Timely will be the first choice for vehicle owners in St. Louis and the surrounding communities for its reliable and timely repair services. The Company is able to service almost any vehicle make and model and has the ability to accommodate customers’ busy schedules.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will be able to guarantee the quality of its repairs thanks to the latest and most reliable auto repair equipment and technology combined with stringent quality control standards. The Company’s team of highly qualified professionals experienced in a wide range of automotive issues will be able to provide timely diagnosis and repair. Customers can easily schedule appointments, check on their vehicle, and make payments using the Company’s customer app.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair History

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair is owned and operated by Tim Martinez, an experienced auto mechanic who has gained valuable knowledge during his 15 year tenure working as an auto repair technician and manager at another local auto repair shop. Now that Tim has gained the experience and knowledge of how to manage an auto repair shop, he is ready to start one of his own. Tim has begun recruiting a team of highly qualified professionals to help manage the day to day complexities of running an auto repair shop – sales and marketing, customer service, and financial reporting.

Since incorporation, Tim’s Timely Auto Repair has achieved the following milestones:

• Registered Tim’s Timely Auto Repair, LLC to transact business in the state of Missouri.
• Has begun negotiations to purchase the warehouse that will become the shop.
• Reached out to numerous contacts to include past customers, local businesses, and friends and family members to start spreading the word about the new shop.
• Began recruiting a staff of accountants, auto repair technicians, maintenance workers, and sales personnel to work at Tim’s Timely Auto Repair.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair Services

Industry analysis.

The United States auto repair market is valued at $78B with approximately 280,000 businesses in operation and over 614,000 employees working in the industry across the country. The auto repair industry has grown steadily over the past five years. Much of this growth can be attributed to more vehicles on the road combined with an increasing age of the vehicles in service. Additionally, rising disposable incomes have led to more people foregoing DIY repairs, and instead, taking their vehicles to industry operators when they need to be repaired.

One of the biggest challenges facing the auto repair industry is the growing shortage of technicians as many are retiring and there are not enough new technicians joining the field to fill the vacancies. Additional challenges include increased digitization and evolving technologies. Industry operators will need to keep up with the latest innovations to remain competitive.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will target vehicle owners in St. Louis. The Company will also target small businesses who use a vehicle for their company’s operations such as delivery drivers, plumbers, and other mobile businesses. No matter the customer, Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will deliver the best communication, service, and results..

The precise demographics for St. Louis, Missouri are:

Customer Segmentation

Tim’s Timely will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Individual vehicle owners
• Delivery drivers
• Mobile service providers who use vehicles for their business operations (e.g., plumbers, HVAC, mobile pet grooming, non-emergency medical transport, solar panel installers, etc.)

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will face competition from other companies with similar business profiles. A description of each competitor company is below.

Fast Cars Auto Repair

Established in 1975, Fast Cars Auto Repair is one of the largest auto repair companies in Missouri. The company provides a wide range of repair and maintenance services for many vehicle makes and models, with a focus on sports cars, luxury cars, and race cars. Fast Cars Auto Repair’s leadership team continuously introduces new technology and repair training for its staff to ensure all technicians are equipped to repair the latest model vehicles. The company has four locations in St. Louis, with more being built in the near future.

JP’s Affordable Auto Repair

JP’s Affordable Auto Repair is a small auto repair shop catering to local vehicle owners in St. Louis, Missouri and surrounding areas. JP’s Affordable Auto Repair provides efficient service at affordable prices. The company provides same day and 48-hour repairs for an extra fee. The owners of JP’s Affordable Auto Repair have been in the automotive business for over 40 years, so they keenly understand the ins-and-outs of running an auto repair shop.

Dependable Dan’s Auto Repair

Dependable Dan’s Auto Repair is a trusted St. Louis, Missouri-based auto repair shop that provides superior service to vehicle owners in St. Louis and the surrounding areas. The company is able to provide a wide variety of repair services for both personal and commercial vehicles. Dependable Dan’s Auto Repair has been family owned and operated since 1999. The company prides itself on being the number one choice for quality auto repair services at competitive prices.

Competitive Advantage

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will be able to offer the following advantages over the competition:

• Skilled team of auto repair technicians who are highly skilled and trained in a wide variety of vehicle issues to provide reliable results for almost any make or model.
• Tim’s Timely Auto Repair makes it easy for customers to obtain the Company’s services. Customers can schedule appointments, check on their vehicle, and make payments through the convenience of the customer app.

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Tim’s Timely Auto Repair provides reliable results in a timely manner for most vehicle makes and models.

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Tim’s Timely Auto Repair is as follows:

Social Media Marketing

The Company will enlist the help of a marketing director to create accounts on social media platforms such as Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.  The marketing director will ensure Tim’s Timely maintains an active social media presence with regular updates and informative content.

Professional Associations and Networking

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will become a member of professional associations such as the Automotive Service Association, Auto Care Association, National Automobile Dealers Association, and the International Automotive Technicians Network. The leadership team will focus their networking efforts on expanding the Company’s customer network.

Print Advertising

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will invest in professionally designed print ads to display in programs or flyers at industry networking events. The Company will also send direct mailers to local businesses who may be interested in auto repair services.

Publications

The Company will invest in advertisements in major industry publications such as Auto Body Repair News Magazine, Auto Inc., and Auto Service Professional publications. Additionally, the Company will invest in local advertising through newspapers, magazines, and community newsletters.

Website/SEO Marketing

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will create a company website. The website will be well organized, informative, and list all the services that Tim’s Timely is able to provide. The Company’s marketing director will also manage the Company’s website presence with SEO marketing tactics so that when someone types in a search engine “St. Louis auto repair shop” or “auto repair shop near me”, Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will be listed at the top of the search results.

The pricing of Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will be moderate and on par with competitors so customers feel they receive value when purchasing the Company’s superior repair services.

Operations Plan

The following will be the operations plan for Tim’s Timely Auto Repair.

Operation Functions:

• Tim Martinez will be the CEO and Head Auto Repair Technician. He will oversee the auto repair technicians, repair process, and the auto repair equipment maintenance. Tim has spent the past year recruiting the following staff:
• Jen Jackson – Chief Operating Officer who will manage the bookkeeping, customer relationships, and help oversee the daily operations for the Company.
• Andrea Miller – Accountant who will provide all accounting, tax payments, and monthly financial reporting.
• Bill Smith – Marketing Director who will oversee all marketing strategies for the Company and manage the website, social media, and outreach.

Milestones:

Tim’s Timely Auto Repair will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

11/1/2022 – Finalize contract to purchase property.

11/15/2022 – Finalize personnel and staff employment contracts for the Tim’s Timely Auto Repair management team.

12/1/2022 – Begin build-out of the shop and purchase equipment and supplies.

12/15/2022 – Begin networking at industry events and implement the marketing plan.

1/15/2023 – Finalize contracts for auto repair technicians.

2/15/2023 – Tim’s Timely Auto Repair officially opens for business.

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

The revenue drivers for Tim’s Timely Auto Repair are the fees charged to customers in exchange for the Company’s auto repair services.

The cost drivers will be the overhead costs required in order to staff an auto repair shop. The expenses will be the payroll cost, utilities, auto repair equipment and supplies, and marketing materials.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and in order to pay off the startup business loan.

• Average number of vehicles serviced per month: 450
• Average fees per month: $15,000
• Overhead costs per year: $140,000

Financial Projections

Income statement.

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

Auto Repair Business Plan FAQs

What is an auto repair business plan.

An auto repair  business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your auto repair company business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your auto repair  business plan using our Auto Repair  Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Auto Repair Companies?

There are a number of different kinds of auto repair companies , some examples include: Auto Service Shop, Transmission Repair Shop, and Body Repair Shop.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Auto Repair Business Plan?

Auto repair companies are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding. A thorough  business plan for auto repair shop will show investors you are well-prepared to start a business on your own.

How to Write an Auto Repair Shop Business Plan + Free PDF

Elon Glucklich

8 min. read

Updated February 16, 2024

Looking for a free, downloadable auto repair shop business plan Word doc or PDF to help you create a business plan of your own? Bplans has you covered.

You don’t need to find a sample business plan that exactly matches your business. Whether you’re starting an independent garage, a specialty shop for imports, or an auto body shop, the basics of the plan will be the same.

More than 280 million registered vehicles were on the road across the United States at the end of 2022. With a vast majority of them being used vehicles, the need for skilled auto repair technicians is higher than ever.

In this article, we’ll cover the basic elements of how to write an auto repair shop business plan, from your marketing plan to your financials. We also provide a sample auto repair shop business plan PDF for you to download and incorporate into your own plan.

What should you include in an auto repair shop business plan?

Are you writing a business plan for your auto shop because you’re seeking a loan ? Are you looking to clarify your path to creating a profitable, long-lasting business? 

Independent auto repair shops account for three-quarters of all used car repairs in the U.S., so there are numerous examples of successful business models to guide your business. 

But no two auto shops are exactly the same, so your plan will differ from others based on who you’ve identified as your target market , and what products and services you’re offering them.

Many business plans include the following sections:

• Executive summary
• Company overview and funding needs
• Market and competitive analysis
• Products and services
• Operational plan
• Business structure
• Marketing and customer acquisition strategies
• Financial planning and projections

One thing that makes an auto repair business plan different from many other service-based business plans is the sheer number of different products and services you might offer. 

For instance, besides providing auto repair services, you might also sell parts, accessories, and car care products. Each might require a different promotional strategy to maximize the number of sales you make.

You may also want to think about how you’re pricing your services and if you have specific staffing requirements or training programs.

Here’s an example of an auto repair shop business plan outline.

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The 8 elements of an effective auto repair shop business plan

1. executive summary.

The executive summary is a high-level overview of your business plan. 

It shouldn’t be more than two pages, and even though it goes at the beginning of the plan, you should write it last. That’s because the executive summary is basically a condensed version of your business plan.

Your executive summary should include a mission statement that describes the purpose of your business and what sets it apart from competitors. Maybe you can guarantee a quicker service time than other shops in your area, or you offer a unique mix of services.

Your business plan helps you focus on these key factors that will help your auto repair shop thrive, and the executive summary makes your plan more credible to anyone reading your plan.

2. Company overview and funding needs

The company overview is a short summary of your auto repair shop, including its legal structure , location, and history. 

If you aren’t seeking a loan or investment for your business, you can likely skip this section. 

If you are writing the business plan for funding, clearly state: 

• How much you need
• What you will use it for
• How it will benefit the business

For instance, you may need funds to renovate your building, buy equipment, or place advertisements.

3. Marketing plan and competitive analysis

The marketing plan focuses on analyzing the auto repair shop market in your area, both in terms of potential customers’ needs, and how other shops in the area are (or aren’t) meeting those needs.

Researching your market involves researching local demand for auto repair services. For instance, a shop in a colder climate might have customers with different car issues than a shop in a warmer area. A shop in a lower-income market might get more customers with older vehicle models than one in a high-income market.

The market analysis should also examine your competitors , noting their strengths and weaknesses and how you can differentiate your shop.

4. Products and services

This section outlines the range of services your auto repair shop will offer. You can list them as bullet points, though you should also take some time to explain why you are offering them. 

Start with your most profitable services, and work your way down. Also, separate any unique services products that differentiate your auto repair shop from competitors (you’ll need to do market research to know which services will set you apart).

A list of products and services could include:

• Engine repairs
• Transmission work
• Suspension and steering
• Brake repair
• General maintenance
• Auto part sales

You can also include specialty services like:

• Classic car restoration
• Hybrid and electric vehicle maintenance 

5. Operational Plan

The operations section details the everyday functioning of the auto repair shop. It includes the shop’s operational hours, workflow management, and customer service policies.

The idea with this section is to cover the processes that you’ll deploy in your business to make sure your shop is operating efficiently, so you can maximize the number of customers you’ll serve and revenue you’ll bring in. 

Be sure to touch on how you’ll manage inventory , work with parts suppliers, and ensure equipment maintenance protocols are being followed. Also, outline safety procedures and environmental compliance measures you’ll implement.

6. Business structure and management

This section describes the organizational structure and management of the auto repair shop. If you skipped the Company Summary and Funding Needs section, include information about your legal structure here. 

Many owners choose to incorporate their business as Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) . This option strikes a balance between protecting the business from legal liabilities while providing flexibility in how they operate their business.

The management team section provides information about the auto repair shop’s key personnel. This includes the shop owner, managers, technicians and front office support. 

Briefly explain their roles, responsibilities, qualifications, and experience. 

7. Marketing and customer acquisition strategies

This section is where you’ll outline your strategies for attracting and retaining customers. You might want to offer loyalty programs for repeat customers, discounts for customers coming to your shop for the first time, or add-on services like a free car wash.

Cover the various marketing channels you’ll use, like local advertising or online marketing. Maybe you want to create a strong website and leverage social media. Or maybe you’ll rely more on partnerships with local businesses and participation in community events. 

Focus on how you plan to build a strong reputation to attract and retain customers.

8. Financial planning and projections

Your financial plan should give detailed financial projections, including sales , expenses , and profitability . If you’re running an existing business, you can start with your previous year’s numbers. If you’re just starting out, put in your best guess.

Set a goal for yourself — maybe you want to grow revenue by 5 percent. Create a 12-month cash flow statement, income statement, and balance sheet that rises by 5 percent from the beginning of the year to the end.

Then, run your business. 

As you compare your actuals to the forecast over time, you’ll see where you need to make strategic adjustments in order to reach your goal or if you need to revise your target. 

It’s totally fine to adjust your forecast over time — forecasts are just guesses, after all.

Building a successful auto repair shop business plan: Key considerations

Understanding your target customer’s needs is crucial to writing an auto repair shop business plan that you can use effectively. 

To ensure your business plan is the foundation of a growing operation, ask yourself whether you’re taking these considerations into account.

1. Service range

Vehicle owners have varied needs. 

You should offer a broad spectrum of services that meet as many of the needs in your market as you can realistically provide, from basic maintenance to specialized repairs. Catering to more customer segments than your competitors is a good way to set your shop apart.

2. Pricing strategy

Competitive pricing is crucial. You want to attract customers with reasonable rates, while ensuring profitability by bringing in more revenue than expenses. Researching your competitors’ prices should help inform your pricing decisions.

3. Technician expertise

Skilled technicians are vital to your reputation and your bottom line. Make sure your technicians undergo regular training so that they’re up to date with the latest automotive trends and technologies. 

Take some time to research technician wages in your area, to ensure you’re paying a competitive wage that will attract qualified employees.

4. Online presence

A strong digital footprint is essential. 

Even if you plan to rely on traditional advertising and word-of-mouth sales, a website that is search engine optimized can help you generate good online reviews and attract customers in your area who are searching for auto repair services online. 

If this isn’t an area of strength for you, consider hiring a website designer .

5. Shop environment

It may not make or break your business, but providing a welcoming environment at your shop signals to customers that you’re running a credible organization—a factor that might affect whether or not they return. 

Focus on cleanliness, organization, and professional service.

Download your free auto repair shop sample business plan PDF

Download your free auto repair shop sample business plan PDF now, or explore Bplans’ collection of over 550 sample business plans for other options.

There are numerous reasons auto repair shop owners can benefit from writing a business plan — you’ll almost certainly need to write one if you need a bank loan.

But even if you’re not seeking funding, writing a business plan increases your chances for sustained growth .

Elon is a marketing specialist at Palo Alto Software, working with consultants, accountants, business instructors and others who use LivePlan at scale. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA from the University of Oregon.

Table of Contents

• What to include in your business plan
• Elements of a business plan
• Key sections
• Example and template

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Auto Repair Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Auto Repair Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 10,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their auto repair businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through an auto repair business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is an Auto Repair Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your auto repair business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Auto Repair Business

If you’re looking to start an auto repair business, or grow your existing auto repair business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your auto repair business in order to improve your chances of success. Your auto repair business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Auto Repair Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for an auto repair business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings is the other most common form of funding for an auto repair business.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

If you want to start an auto repair business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your auto repair business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your mechanic shop business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of auto repair business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have an auto repair business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of auto repair businesses?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the auto repair industry. Discuss the type of auto repair business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of auto repair business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of auto repair businesses:

• Auto Service Shop : this type of auto repair business focuses on routine servicing of cars and trucks, such as oil changes and tire rotation.
• Transmission Repair Shop: this type of business focuses on maintenancing, diagnosing and repairing transmissions in all types of cars.
• Body Repair Shop: this type of repair shop focuses on repairing damage to the body of a vehicle, primarily cosmetic damage due to collision.

In addition to explaining the type of auto repair business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews, amount of monthly revenue, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the auto repair industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the auto repair industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your automotive business plan:

• How big is the auto repair industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your auto repair business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your mechanic business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: car owners, truck owners, luxury vehicle owners, classic vehicle owners, and businesses that own vehicles such as car rentals, car dealers, delivery businesses, and repairmen.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of auto repair business you operate. Clearly, luxury vehicle owners would respond to different marketing promotions than truck owners, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most auto repair businesses primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other auto repair businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to choose from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes auto parts stores (for DIY repair). You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other auto repair businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be auto repairs located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What types of vehicles do they maintenance and repair, or what types of maintenance and repairs do they offer?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide better maintenance and repair services?
• Will you provide services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a car service business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of auto repair company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to auto repair, will you provide car rental services, repair financing or any other services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your auto repair company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your auto repair business located in a busy retail district, industrial area, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your customers.

Promotions : The final part of your auto repair marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local websites
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your auto repair business, including speaking with vehicle owners in person or on the phone, maintenancing and repairing vehicles.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to repair your 50th car, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your auto repair business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your auto repair business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing auto repair businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing auto repair shops or successfully running small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

Income Statement : an income statement is more commonly called a Profit and Loss statement or P&L. It shows your revenues and then subtracts your costs to show whether you turned a profit or not.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, how many cars will you repair per week? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your auto repair business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

Cash Flow Statement : Your cash flow statement will help determine how much money you need to start or grow your business, and make sure you never run out of money. What most entrepreneurs and business owners don’t realize is that you can turn a profit but run out of money and go bankrupt.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing an auto repair business:

• Location build-out including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of equipment and supplies
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your shop location lease or descriptions of repairs you are working on.   Summary Putting together a business plan for your auto repair business is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the auto repair industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful auto repair business.

  OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.

Click here to see how Growthink’s professional business plan consulting services can create your business plan for you. Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

The 7-Step Business Plan to Grow Your Auto Repair Shop

Free profit and valuation ebook.

Discover and implement essential shop management strategies for building a profitable, high-valuation business.

• By Kyle Zhao
• | February 23, 2022
• | Business Advice , Tips

Does your auto repair shop’s growth rely merely on hope, or do you strategize how to drive your business forward?

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While many auto repair shops and most businesses operate on hope—whether it’s hoping new target customers and repeat customers show up to spend a lot of money—it’s not an effective plan, says Al Wheeler, Chief Executive Officer of ShopPros , a management and training company that offers a complete business system for independent auto repair shops.

Wheeler, who has 35 years of experience in the automotive industry, understands the challenges that every auto repair shop owner faces. In a recent webinar , Wheeler shared why shops should consider creating a detailed financial plan for growing and sustaining their auto repair business.

“As business owners, we typically spend the majority of our time working in the business and not on the business,” Wheeler says. “I think it’s especially prevalent in our industry because you’re wearing so many hats throughout the day, and our days seem to be consumed by firefighting much of the time. As a result, the business trends really tend to drive us, rather than us driving business.”

The sample auto repair shop business plan discussed in this article outlines a strategy for:

• Discovering the potential in your auto repair shop
• Analyzing the current status of your auto repair shop
• Setting repair shop goals
• Training and planning
• Implementing change
• Monitoring and measuring

Why do you need a business plan for your auto repair shop?

Think of a business plan as a GPS for your auto repair shop. Not only will a business model provide details and direct you from point A to point B, but it also optimizes your route and helps you avoid potential pitfalls along the way.

According to research by Entrepreneurial Dynamics , using business plans helps you become:

• Twice as likely to obtain a bank loan
• Twice as likely to create investment value 
• 49% more likely to grow

While goal setting remains an important aspect of this equation, it’s not the same as business plans, which analyze current performance and define specific actions to reach purposeful results. “Keep in mind that setting goals, while important in business, does not constitute a business plan,” Wheeler says.

“Business planning really lays the foundation for continuous improvement,” Wheeler says. “I like to call it a success cycle for your business. What fundamental steps do you need to take to create an environment of continuous improvement within the business?”

Creating a cycle of success is essential for your auto repair shop, and where a clearly defined business plan will play a big role.

• The success cycle starts with a practical understanding of current performance against your desired or optimized outcome. Complete this analysis in thoughtful detail.
• The planning process then kicks in, helping you define specific actions to take advantage of outcomes. 
• As results of this success cycle start to roll in, employees across your auto repair shop will begin to believe more and more in the business’s potential. This positive energy keeps the success cycle in motion, resulting in even more growth.

“It’s about establishing (this) success cycle for your business. It builds on belief, establishes potential, and leverages the specific actions you choose to deliver those purposeful results,” Wheeler says.

Can your shop survive without a plan?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) , approximately 20% of new businesses fail during the first two years of starting operations, 45% during the first five years, and 65% during the first ten years. Only 25% of businesses make it to 15 years or more. Why’s that?

From this industry overview, it’s clear a major reason for failure is their lack of a business plan.  This is where an auto repair business plan will help. With the right high-level overview and strategy, determination of how much funding you need, and enough flexibility, your auto repair shop will have a better chance of success. The future becomes much clearer once a business plan is in place to get the ball rolling.

Creating an auto repair business plan

Now that you know why this type of plan is important, it’s time to put pen to paper. Here are some pointers to help your auto repair shop get started:

Step 1: Discover potential at your auto shop

To discover your auto repair shop’s potential, it’s key to establish a ceiling and baseline so you can measure performance.

In the industry, an auto repair shop’s primary revenue producer is billed hours. It’s critical to determine your production capacity because that helps determine the ceiling of your financial plan, Wheeler says. Production hours will drive business potential in terms of revenue and gross projected profit, which ultimately your employees generate. Incorporate this business idea into your auto repair shop’s own business plan and create a more efficient system to generate money.

One of the common elements includes examining relevant benchmarks of other shops of a similar type and size, and their quality work performance.

Step 2: Analyze your auto shop’s current status

Determining the current status of your auto repair shop helps you understand how your shop compares to its potential. This includes analyzing store averages in daily, weekly, and monthly production, revenue, and gross projected profit.

Not only do you want to scrutinize business performance, but also individual performance. This executive summary includes auto mechanics’ average production, service advisor average gross profit, and service advisor billable hours and revenue. Keep these factors in mind when forming the business plan for your auto repair shop.

“This is a good way to effectively establish the baseline in which we’re going to judge performance improvement in those key areas and within our key employees,” Wheeler says.

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Step 3: set goals for your auto shop team.

Team involvement remains necessary to achieve individual and store-level goals. “This is where it’s critical to have team involvement and remember the SMART acronym—specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timestamp goals,” Wheeler says.

To remain on track with your automotive repair shop business plan, set specific monthly, weekly, and daily goals, both at individual and store levels. It’s important to involve your team in establishing these repair services goals and possess effective ways to measure them.

Step 4: Train and plan for auto shop growth

Training and business planning become critical components of facilitating change. Investing in your team as part of your own plan not only shows you care but allows them to grow in knowledge and skill.

Planning becomes part of the long-term business strategy. While many shops set business plans and goals around needing more car repair services completed, which drives sales, shops should first build the underlying fundamentals for a great customer experience

“We don’t need more cars for the sake of cars,” Wheeler says. “We need more cars to develop long-term loyal customers, and if we don’t have a conversion strategy for those guests, more cars are not going to sustain our growth.”

Step 5: Implement change to grow your auto repair business

A business plan won’t become effective unless it’s put into practice. To do this, good communication and accountability remain key.

“I’ve seen companies develop these great missions and vision statements, only for them to become artwork on the wall,” Wheeler says. “They really don’t have any substance behind them, and they aren’t lived out each day.”

Step 6: Monitor and measure your auto shop’s performance

To measure success, your auto repair shop needs to set relative benchmarks so they can obtain broader insights into the business and performance. This information will help you determine next steps on how to attract customers and generate new business. An excellent way to do this within your automotive repair shop business plan is by investing in automotive repair business software, such as AutoLeap .

While it’s important to monitor and measure repair services goals in your new plan, it’s also important to communicate with your team in daily or weekly meetings.

“What we’re doing in this business plan is essentially establishing the playbook in which you’re going to operate your auto repair business,” Wheeler says. “It’s going to drive the customer engagement system within your shop, so your business plan really should strive to eliminate randomness in your auto repair business. Nothing should happen by accident, everything should be intentional around achieving your objectives.”

Step 7: Adapting to the changing auto repair industry

Your auto repair shop must keep up with the changing dynamics of the automotive repair industry, technology, and customers’ behavior. Within the plan you put together, your auto repair shop  must prepare for the electrification of vehicles and equip itself to deal with the latest technology, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) . How will your business plan account for these emerging vehicle technologies and the potential customers they draw?

“I understand changing an operating system is painful, but in many cases, it’s going to be necessary,” Wheeler says.

An auto repair shop should consider:

• What could you be doing based on your existing staffing by location?
• A performance dashboard that can provide relevant data at a glance.
• A plan built and owned by the business with discrete actions.
• Standards/goals set for every tech and advisor to measure performance and reward/recognize high achievers.
• Benchmarking against every competing auto repair shop gives you insight into your relative performance and identifies areas to improve.
• Effective technology and systems that ensure great customer experiences.

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Your auto repair shop business plan, much like other goals, is only effective and only as good as it’s acted upon, Wheeler points out.

“It’s kind of like Newton’s first law that we all learned in school—objects in motion will remain in motion until acted upon by an external force,” Wheeler says. “In other words, your business will continue on the path that it’s on unless you engage the energy necessary to change that trajectory…If you think you can do better, then I think one of the energy components that you can use, or should consider, is a comprehensive business plan.”

Now that you’ve learned the steps to prepare an auto repair shop business plan and explored several benefits, it’s time to execute on this clear vision and  grow your business .

Customers with older vehicles are more likely to need auto repair services. Why is this? For one, older vehicles tend to break down more. Warning signs like check engine lights will appear more frequently, requiring a visit to your shop.

To write a business plan for your auto shop, you will need to: 

• Analyze your shop’s current status 
• Set SMART goals for your shop team
• Include plans for training and growth 
• Prioritize communication and accountability  
• Establish and measure performance benchmarks
• Account for evolving industry trends

Auto repair shops’ profitability depends on many factors. But the revenue potential is significant. Nearly one third of surveyed shops in AutoLeap’s 2022 State of the Auto Repair Industry Report generated $1 million or more in 2021 revenue. 

Successful promotion helps maintenance shops earn new business. Targeted email marketing and aggressive word-of-mouth outreach are two widely used strategies. Referral programs, organic SEO and active social media presences also help attract new customers. 

You can promote your car repair business by: 

• Launching social media accounts and posting regularly 
• Targeting local search terms with paid marketing 
• Sending creative promotional emails to your target customers
• Creating a referral program
• Building up your organic keyword rankings

Auto Repair Shop Management Software

AutoLeap is a powerful all-in-one auto repair shop software that helps to keep complete track of your business – from scheduling appointments to managing technicians and generating invoices.

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Auto Repair Business Plan Template & PDF Example

• July 19, 2024
• Business Plan

Creating a comprehensive business plan is crucial for launching and running a successful auto repair business. This plan serves as your roadmap, detailing your vision, operational strategies, and financial plan. It helps establish your auto repair business’s identity, navigate the competitive market, and secure funding for growth.

This article not only breaks down the critical components of an auto repair business plan, but also provides an example of a business plan to help you craft your own.

Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or new to the service industry, this guide, complete with a business plan example, lays the groundwork for turning your auto repair business concept into reality. Let’s dive in!

Our auto repair business plan is structured to cover all essential aspects needed for a comprehensive strategy. It outlines the garage’s operations, marketing strategy, market environment, competitors, management team, and financial forecasts.

• Executive Summary : Offers an overview of your auto repair business’s concept, market analysis , management, and financial strategy.
• Services & Location: Describes the shop’s facilities, services offered, and why its location is beneficial for customers.
• Operational Details: Outlines the operational aspects like workshop layout, equipment used, and staff roles.
• Key Stats: Presents data on market size , growth trends, and customer demographics.
• Key Trends : Highlights technological advancements and changing consumer preferences in auto repair.
• Key Competitors: Analyzes main competitors in the area and your business’s unique selling points.
• SWOT : Conducts a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis.
• Marketing Plan : Discusses strategies to draw in and keep customers, including promotional activities and customer service enhancements.
• Timeline : Lists important goals and milestones from the outset through the first year.
• Management: Provides information on the auto repair business management team and their responsibilities.
• Financial Plan: Forecasts the business’s 5-year financial performance, including expected income, profit margins, and outlays.

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Auto Repair Business Plan

Fully editable 30+ slides Powerpoint presentation business plan template.

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Executive Summary

The executive summary is a critical component of your bike shop business plan. It offers a concise yet comprehensive view of your business within the bike retail and service market, including competitive analysis and financial forecasts. This section is crucial for attracting investors and partners, as it highlights your business’s potential and strategic plans.

A two-slide PowerPoint presentation is recommended for this summary. The first slide should detail your business model, covering the range of products and services unique to your bike shop. The second slide should focus on your management team’s qualifications and financial goals, giving a snapshot of anticipated market performance and growth prospects.

Auto Repair Business Plan Executive Summary Example

Business Overview

In the executive summary of an auto repair shop business plan, the business overview section is crucial for detailing the shop’s offerings and operational capabilities. This includes the shop’s location, facility features, range of services, brand specialization, and any additional customer-focused services.

For an auto repair shop, it’s important to emphasize the expertise in specific vehicle brands, the advanced technological equipment available, and the comprehensive nature of services offered, from routine maintenance to complex repairs. The inclusion of customer convenience features, such as loaner vehicles and service guarantees, also plays a significant role in differentiating the shop in the market.

Example: AutoFix Hub, situated in a prime automotive district, operates from a 10,000 sq ft workshop equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and repair tools. Specializing in European brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, the shop offers a full spectrum of services and stands out with additional customer conveniences like loaner vehicles and a 90-day service guarantee.

Market Overview

The market analysis section should assess the size, growth, trends, and competitive landscape of the auto repair industry. It’s crucial to provide insights into the industry’s dynamics, such as the demand for specialized repair services due to increasing vehicle complexity and the shift of consumer preference towards independent repair shops.

Understanding the competitive environment, including the presence of major chains and local service providers, is vital for identifying the shop’s market position and opportunities for growth.

Example: The US auto repair market, valued at $76.8 billion, is growing steadily. AutoFix Hub is positioned in a market with 281,000 shops, differentiating itself through specialized services for European models. The shop capitalizes on the trend of consumers preferring independent shops for better value, distinguishing itself among 7 key local competitors.

Management Team

In this section, the focus is on the background and expertise of the management team leading the auto repair shop. It’s important to highlight their experience in the automotive industry and their roles within the shop.

The management team’s qualifications are a key aspect of the business’s ability to deliver quality services and manage operations efficiently. This part of the summary should instill confidence in the team’s capabilities to drive business growth and maintain high standards of service.

Example: The CEO, a co-founder of AutoFix Hub, brings over 15 years of industry experience, including management roles at leading auto repair chains. The Lead Mechanic, also a co-founder, possesses extensive expertise in servicing European models, ensuring high-quality repair work and customer satisfaction.

Financial Plan

The financial plan overview provides a snapshot of the auto repair shop’s revenue and profit targets. It outlines the financial goals, including specifics like aiming to reach $7.8 million in annual revenue with a 23% EBITDA margin by 2027.

This section reflects the shop’s financial health and potential for profitability, taking into account market positioning, service offerings, and operational strategies.

Example: AutoFix Hub aims to achieve $7.8 million in yearly revenue with a 23% profit margin by 2027. This financial goal is underpinned by strategic expansion of services, targeting high-value vehicle brands, and leveraging the growing consumer trend towards independent repair shops for specialized services.

For an auto repair business, the Business Overview section can be effectively divided into 2 main sections:

Garage & Location

Briefly describe the garage’s physical setup, focusing on its layout, functionality, and the welcoming environment it creates for customers.

Mention the business’s location, emphasizing its ease of access and the convenience it offers to customers, such as proximity to major roads or availability of ample parking. Explain why this location is strategically chosen to attract your target clientele, considering factors like high traffic volume or lack of similar services in the area.

Services & Pricing

Detail the range of maintenance and repair services offered, from routine services like oil changes and tire rotations to more specialized repairs such as engine diagnostics, transmission work, or electrical system repairs.

Outline your pricing strategy , ensuring it mirrors the quality of services provided and aligns with the market segment you’re targeting. Highlight any service bundles, membership deals, or loyalty programs that offer added value to your customers, fostering repeat business and customer loyalty.

Make sure to cover here _ Services & Location _ Operational Details

Industry size & growth

Begin with an overview of the auto repair industry, noting its size and potential for growth. Highlight key factors like the increasing vehicle population, aging car fleets, and trends towards vehicle longevity.

Key market trends

Next, discuss current trends such as the demand for specialized services, the rise of new automotive technologies, and eco-friendly repair practices. Emphasize the growing need for expertise in electric and hybrid vehicle maintenance and advanced diagnostics.

Key competitors

A competitive analysis is not just a tool for gauging the position of your auto repair shop in the market and its key competitors; it’s also a fundamental component of your business plan.

This analysis helps in identifying your auto repair shop’s unique selling points, essential for differentiating your business in a competitive market.

In addition, competitive analysis is integral in laying a solid foundation for your business plan. By examining various operational aspects of your competitors, you gain valuable information that ensures your business plan is robust, informed, and tailored to succeed in the current market environment.

Identifying Your Competitors in the Auto Repair Industry

Begin by identifying and mapping out local auto repair shops, dealerships offering repair services, and franchises specializing in car maintenance within your vicinity. Direct competitors include shops offering similar services or catering to similar vehicle types, while indirect competitors might involve dealerships with in-house repair centers or mobile repair services.

Leverage online resources such as Google Maps and review platforms like Yelp and Angie’s List to gather insights into competitor locations, customer feedback, and service ratings. Positive reviews praising the expertise and quick turnaround at “Speedy Auto Care” highlight a strength that your competitor possesses in the market.

Auto Repair Competitors’ Strategies

A comprehensive analysis of competitors’ strategies encompasses various operational dimensions:

• Service Portfolio: Evaluate the spectrum of services offered. For instance, a competitor like “Eco-Green Auto Care” gaining traction by specializing in eco-friendly repairs and using sustainable practices signifies an emerging market trend towards environmentally conscious auto maintenance.
• Technical Expertise: Consider the technical proficiency and specialized services provided. An auto shop like “Performance Motorsport Garage” focusing on high-performance vehicle tuning might cater to a different clientele compared to a shop specializing in general repairs.
• Pricing and Packages: Conduct a detailed comparison of service pricing structures with competitors. Is your shop positioned similarly to “Affordable Auto Fixes” or more aligned with premium services offered at “Elite Car Service Centre”?
• Marketing Strategies: Analyze competitors’ marketing approaches. Are they investing heavily in digital advertising, local sponsorships, or community engagement to bolster brand visibility and customer reach?
• Customer Experience: Evaluate the overall customer journey. Perhaps “Friendly Auto Repairs” excels in customer service by offering conveniences such as online appointment scheduling, shuttle services, or a dedicated customer portal.
• Operational Efficiency: Observe technological advancements or innovative processes adopted by competitors. For example, “Tech-Forward Motors” might utilize AI-powered diagnostics or automated service reminders for enhanced customer engagement and operational efficiency.

What’s Your Auto Repair Shop’s Value Proposition?

Define your shop’s distinctive value proposition . It could be specialized services such as transmission rebuilds, a focus on superior customer service, or offering a comprehensive maintenance package with added value services like complimentary car washes or extended warranties.

Identify market gaps by analyzing customer feedback, industry trends, and unmet needs within the automotive repair sector. For instance, an increasing demand for electric vehicle maintenance might signal an opportunity for your shop to invest in training technicians for EV-specific repairs, thus addressing a niche market segment overlooked by competitors.

Tailor your approach based on location: A shop situated in a suburban area might emphasize personalized services, loyalty programs, and extended warranties to build lasting relationships with local customers. In contrast, an urban location might focus on quick turnaround times and express services to cater to the fast-paced lifestyle of city dwellers.

First, perform a SWOT analysis for your auto repair business, identifying Strengths (such as highly skilled technicians and a broad range of services), Weaknesses (like high operational costs or intense competition), Opportunities (for instance, the growing demand for maintenance of aging vehicles), and Threats (such as economic downturns impacting consumer spending on non-essential repairs).

Marketing Plan

Then, craft a marketing strategy detailing how to draw in and keep customers through targeted advertising, promotional offers, a strong online presence, and involvement in local community events.

Marketing Channels

Utilize various marketing channels to communicate your brand and services, engage with potential clients, and drive foot traffic to your shop.

Digital Marketing

• Online Presence: Maintain a professional website that showcases your services, customer testimonials, and informative content about automotive maintenance and care. Optimize your website for local SEO to improve visibility in local search results.
• Social Media: Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to showcase your expertise through before-and-after repair images, customer testimonials, and educational content. Engage with your audience by responding promptly to inquiries and comments.
• Email Marketing: Build an email list by offering valuable content or discounts in exchange for sign-ups. Send regular newsletters featuring promotions, DIY car care tips, and updates about new services or events.

Local Advertising

Connect with your local community through targeted advertising efforts:

• Local Publications: Advertise in local newspapers, magazines, or community newsletters to reach a wider audience. Consider sponsoring specific automotive sections or publishing informative articles on car maintenance.
• Community Engagement: Participate in local car shows, street fairs, or dealership events. Offer free vehicle check-ups or workshops on basic car maintenance to showcase your expertise and build rapport with potential customers.
• Collaborations: Partner with car dealerships, rental companies, or local businesses for mutually beneficial promotions or referral programs. Cross-promotions can expand your reach within the local market.

Sales Channels

Optimize sales channels to maximize revenue and enhance customer satisfaction.

In-Shop Sales Techniques

• Service Upgrades: Train your staff to suggest additional services or maintenance checks during customer interactions. For instance, recommending a wheel alignment with a tire change or a fluid flush with an oil change can add value to the customer’s visit.
• Retail Merchandise: Display automotive care products or accessories prominently within your shop. Educate customers on their benefits and relevance to vehicle maintenance.
• Service Packages: Offer bundled services, such as a ‘Seasonal Maintenance Package’ or ‘Pre-Trip Inspection,’ to incentivize customers and simplify their automotive care choices.

Online Sales Integration

Leverage technology for streamlined sales processes:

• Online Appointment Booking: Implement an easy-to-use online booking system on your website and social media platforms. Offer incentives like discounts or priority scheduling for online bookings.
• E-Commerce Integration: Consider selling car care products, accessories, or merchandise online. Offering package deals on services or maintenance kits can attract customers looking for convenience.
• Virtual Consultations: Provide online consultations for basic troubleshooting or pre-service assessments. This personalized approach can lead to tailored service bookings or product recommendations, enhancing the customer experience.

Membership & Loyalty Programs

Encourage customer retention and repeat business:

• Membership Options: Create membership plans offering discounted rates for routine maintenance services or exclusive benefits such as priority scheduling or complimentary check-ups.
• Loyalty Rewards: Implement a digital loyalty program where customers earn points for every service or purchase. These points can be redeemed for discounts on future repairs or merchandise, fostering long-term customer relationships.

Lastly, set up a comprehensive timeline highlighting key milestones for the auto repair shop’s launch, marketing initiatives, customer base development, and expansion goals, ensuring the business progresses with clear objectives and purpose.

The Management section focuses on the auto repair business’s management and their direct roles in daily operations and strategic direction. This part is crucial for understanding who is responsible for making key decisions and driving the auto repair business toward its financial and operational goals.

For your auto repair business plan, list the core team members, their specific responsibilities, and how their expertise supports the business.

The Financial Plan section is a comprehensive analysis of your financial projections for revenue, expenses, and profitability. It lays out your auto repair business’s approach to securing funding, managing cash flow, and achieving breakeven.

This section typically includes detailed forecasts for the first 5 years of operation, highlighting expected revenue, operating costs and capital expenditures.

For your auto repair business plan, provide a snapshot of your financial statement (profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow statement), as well as your key assumptions (e.g. number of customers and prices, expenses, etc.).

Make sure to cover here _ Profit and Loss _ Cash Flow Statement _ Balance Sheet _ Use of Funds

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Auto Repair Shop Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Auto Repair Shop Business Plan Template

If you want to start an Auto Repair Shop or expand your current Auto Repair Shop, you need a business plan.

The following Auto Repair Shop business plan template gives you the key elements to include in a winning auto repair business plan. An automotive business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your business.

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Below are links to each of the key sections of your Auto Repair business plan: Auto Repair Shop Business Plan Sample I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Auto Repair Shop Business Plan Home I. Executive Summary II. Company Overview III. Industry Analysis IV. Customer Analysis V. Competitive Analysis VI. Marketing Plan VII. Operations Plan VIII. Management Team IX. Financial Plan

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Car Repair Shop

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start an Auto Repair Shop in 13 Steps

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on February 25, 2022 Updated on July 1, 2024

Investment range

$23,050 - $39,200

Revenue potential

$93,000 - $470,000 p.a.

Time to build

1 – 3 months

Profit potential

$55,000 - $95,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Here are the most essential things to consider when you want to start a car repair shop:

• Location — Find a location that’s near busy roads, highways, or areas with high traffic. Or consider running the car repair business from your home if zoning restrictions allow you to do so.
• Licenses and certifications — In some regions, like California, you need a specific license to operate an automotive repair shop. The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification is highly respected in the industry. Technicians can be certified in various areas, such as engine repair, electrical systems, and brake systems. This certification demonstrates expertise and commitment to quality. Also, if your shop offers collision repair you can benefit from a certification from Inter-Industry Conference on Auto Collision Repair (I-CAR) .
• Niche — Choose a niche or specialization that will help you stand out such as hybrid and electric cars, classic car restoration, high-performance tuning, fleet maintenance, or mobile repair services.
• Register your business — A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple. Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the best LLC services on the market.
• Legal business aspects — Register for taxes, open a business bank account, and get an EIN .
• Diagnostic tools and software — Invest in a high-quality OBD-II scanner , multimeter, and oscilloscope. You will also need repair shop management software and diagnostics software. 
• Parts suppliers — Find and partner with reputable suppliers for all the spare parts you might need in your car repair business.
• Hire staff — Hire experienced and certified technicians.

Interactive Checklist at your fingertips—begin your car repair shop today!

You May Also Wonder:

How profitable can a car repair shop be?

A car repair shop can be extremely profitable. The average repair bill is $600, so a handful of those a week adds up fast.

How do I organize my auto repair shop?

You should use software to track your appointments, invoices, and workflows. In terms of the physical space, you should have stations that are equipped with all the tools needed for common repairs.

What customers want in a car repair shop?

When customers choose a car shop, they look for three things:  Speed,   Reliability,  and  Good prices.

How to grow car repair shop business?

You can grow a car repair shop business by offering as many services as possible or expanding to new locations. You could even franchise your car repair shop at some point.

Can you start car repair shop on the side?

It is possible to do car repairs as a side hustle. However, having a full-fledged repair shop is a full-time business.

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Starting a car repair shop has pros and cons to consider before deciding if it’s right for you.

• Steady demand — Somebody’s car is always breaking down
• Great money —  Auto repair rarely comes cheap
• Live the dream — Fiddle with cars all day and help people get moving
• High startup costs — A garage and all those tools will be $$$
• Stiff competition  — There’s a lot of mechanics out there, plus car dealerships too

Car Repair Shop Industry Trends

Industry size and growth.

• Industry size and past growth — The US auto mechanics industry is worth more than $81.7 billion in 2023 and has seen steady growth in the last five years.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/auto-mechanics-united-states/ ))
• Growth forecast — The US auto mechanics industry is projected to experience continued growth in the coming years and expand by more than 5.98% by 2029.(( https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/united-states-automotive-service-market )) 
• Number of businesses — More than 286,000 auto mechanic businesses are operating in the US.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/auto-mechanics-united-states/#:~:text=How%20many%20businesses%20are%20there,increase%20of%200.3%25%20from%202021. )) 
• Number of people employed — There are more than 592,000 people working in US car repair.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/employment/auto-mechanics-united-states/ )) 

Trends and Challenges

• More than 70 million US vehicles are more than 15 years old, which means lots of business for auto repair shops in the years ahead. 
• Changing auto technology presents opportunities for auto mechanics that are up to date on all the latest features.
• As new cars become more reliable, the car repair shop industry may suffer.
• Labor shortages have become an increasing problem in the car repair industry, with qualified auto technicians becoming harder to find. 

Demand Hotspots

• Most popular states — The most popular states for car repair shops are Vermont, Wyoming, and North Dakota.
• Least popular states — The least popular states for car repair shops are Arkansas, Hawaii, and Florida.(( https://www.zippia.com/mechanic-jobs/best-states/ ))

What Kind of People Work in Car Repair Shops?

• Gender — 3.6% of auto mechanics are female, while 96.4% are male.
• Average level of education — The average auto mechanic is high school educated.
• Average age — The average auto mechanic in the US is 40.2 years old.(( https://www.zippia.com/auto-mechanic-jobs/demographics/ ))

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Car Repair Shop Business?

Startup costs for a car repair shop range from $23,000 to $40,000. The main costs include renting a garage, equipment, and tools. 

You could go to a trade school and learn to be an auto mechanic in about a year for around $8,000, or take an $800 online course at Penn Foster. It’s probably best to be certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) . You can take a test near you for less than $100.

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your car repair shop business, including: 

• Hydraulic lift
• Diagnostic machine
• Basic tools
• Air compressor
• Jack and jack stands
• Oil drain and oil caddy
• Battery charger and jumper
• Engine hoist
• Brake lathe
• Strut compressor

How Much Can You Earn From a Car Repair Shop Business?

The average car repair bill is $600. When working as a solopreneur, your profit margin after rent and overhead should be about 60%.

In your first year or two, you could work by yourself and do three repairs per week, bringing in about $93,000 in annual revenue. This would mean $55,000 in profit, assuming that 60% margin. As your brand gains recognition and you get repeat customers and referrals, sales could climb to 15 repairs per week. At this stage, you’d hire staff including other mechanics, reducing your profit margin to around 20%. With an annual revenue of almost $470,000, you’d make a tidy profit of $95,000.

What Barriers to Entry Are There?

There are a few barriers to entry for a car repair shop. Your biggest challenges will be:

• The high startup cost
• Strong competition from local dealerships and mechanics
• Acquiring auto mechanic skills and certification, if you don’t already have them

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a car repair shop, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an Opportunity

Research car repair shops online and in your area to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a car repair shop that makes house calls. 

You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as brakes or mufflers.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine Your Range of Services

Your services will depend on your skills and equipment. You could just offer oil changes and tune-ups or a full range of services all the way up to engine replacement. The more you can do, the better.

How Much Should You Charge for Car Repair Services?

Prices will vary based on the repairs to be done. Your prices should work out to $75 to $130 per hour for labor. Your costs will be for overhead, rent, and labor. Once you have other mechanics working for you, you should aim for a profit margin of about 20%. 

Once you know your costs, you can use our profit margin calculator to determine your markup and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify Your Target Market

Your target market will be anyone who owns a car, so you should spread out your marketing to sites like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You could also partner with tow truck companies to get and give referrals.

Where? Choose Your Business Premises

You’ll need to find a garage/shop space to rent. Find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Mechanic Shop Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “auto mechanic” or “car repair,” boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for example, “Expert Car Care Center” over “Engine Repair Shop”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Discover over 380 unique car repair shop name ideas here . If you want your business name to include specific keywords, you can also use our car repair shop name generator. Just type in a few keywords and, hit Generate, and you’ll have dozens of suggestions at your fingertips.

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

Powered by GoDaddy.com

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that set your business apart. Once you pick your company name and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Car Repair Shop Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Executive summary — A brief summary outlining the core elements of the car repair shop business plan, including its mission, goals, and key highlights
• Business overview — A comprehensive description of the car repair shop, detailing its mission, vision, location, legal structure, and any unique aspects that set it apart
• Product and services — Clear and concise details about the specific car repair services offered, such as maintenance, diagnostics, and repairs for various vehicle types
• Market analysis — An examination of the local automotive market, identifying target customers, analyzing trends, and assessing potential demand for car repair services
• Competitive analysis — Evaluation of competitors in the area, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses, and outlining strategies to position the car repair shop effectively
• Sales and marketing — Strategies for promoting the car repair shop, attracting customers, and retaining them through effective marketing, advertising, and sales approaches
• Management team — An introduction to the key individuals responsible for running the car repair shop, including their roles, expertise, and relevant experience
• Operations plan — A detailed plan outlining day-to-day operations, facility requirements, equipment, suppliers, and any partnerships necessary for smooth business functioning
• Financial plan — A comprehensive overview of the car repair shop’s financial projections, including startup costs, revenue forecasts, and break-even analysis
• Appendix — Supplementary materials, such as additional financial data, charts, graphs, and any other relevant information supporting the business plan

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose Where to Register Your Company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you’re planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to car repair shops. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind that it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose Your Business Structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your car repair shop will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole proprietorship — The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General partnership — Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) — Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corporation — Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corporation — This refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. A corporation or an LLC can elect to be an S Corp for tax status. Here, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number or EIN. You can file for your EIN online, or by mail/fax. Visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you’re completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund Your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans — This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and a strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans — The Small Business Administration can act as a guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants — A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and family — Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Personal — Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a car repair shop.

Step 8: Apply for Car Repair Shop Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a car repair shop business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your car repair shop business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability — The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business property — Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment breakdown insurance — Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation — Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property — Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto — Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability — Protects against claims from clients who say they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP) — This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential Software and Tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks. 

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as shopmonkey , AutoLeap , or Shop Boss , to manage your appointments, workflows, invoicing, and payments. 

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , FreshBooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences of filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial. 

Develop Your Website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using website builders . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

However, people are unlikely to find your website unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Local SEO — Optimize your website using best SEO practices for car repair-related search terms and encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews to boost local visibility. Regularly update your Google My Business and Yelp profiles to strengthen your local search presence.
• Professional branding — Ensure your branding communicates expertise, trustworthiness, and approachability, from your logo to your workshop’s signage.
• Direct outreach — Establish referral partnerships with local car dealerships, insurance companies, and fleet operators to broaden your client base.
• Social media engagement — Utilize Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to share your services, post car maintenance tips, and engage with the community.
• Automotive care blog — Publish articles about vehicle maintenance, DIY tips, and the latest car technology to establish your authority in the field.
• Customer success stories — Highlight testimonials and stories from customers who had positive experiences, emphasizing your problem-solving skills.
• Educational videos and guides — Produce video content and downloadable guides that explain common car issues and maintenance tips.
• Workshops — Offer educational sessions on basic car maintenance and seasonal vehicle preparation to engage and educate your customers.
• Participation in local events — Showcase your services at local fairs, car shows, and community events to interact directly with potential customers.
• Email campaigns — Maintain contact with your customer base through newsletters featuring car care tips, service reminders, and exclusive offers.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that set it apart from the competition. Today’s customers are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they can quickly grasp how your car repair shop meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your car repair shop business could be:

• Certified mechanics for all your auto repair needs
• Affordable car repairs, guaranteed to get you back on the road fast
• Car broke down? We’ll come to you! Mobile car repair 

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain but your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a car repair shop, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in car repair for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in car repair shops. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a car repair shop business include:

• Mechanics — perform car services and repairs
• General manager — scheduling, ordering, staff management, accounting
• Marketing lead — SEO strategies, social media, other marketing

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Car Repair Shop — Start Making Money!

If you’re a mechanic, why work for someone else when you could be the boss of your own shop? It will take a significant investment to get started, but you’ll soon grab a slice of the $80 billion market and get a nice return. 

Now that you’ve honed your entrepreneurial skills, it’s time to get your tools ready and start driving toward auto repair success! 

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Mechanic Shop Name
• Create a Car Repair Shop Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund Your Business
• Apply for Car Repair Shop Business Licenses and Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Car Repair Shop — Start Making Money!

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Featured resources.

10 Best Repair Business Ideas for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

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Auto Repair Business Plan Sample

Published Nov.11, 2016

Updated May.16, 2024

By: Jakub Babkins

Average rating 4.6 / 5. Vote count: 7

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Table of Content

Do you want to start an auto repair shop business?

Are you thinking of starting an auto repair shop? Well, auto repair is one of those businesses that allow you to earn considerable profits even by managing a small team. The business provides repair and maintenance services for automobiles. Moreover, in many cases, auto repair shops also offer aftermarket modifications and upgradation services.

So, if you have made up your mind to enter this venture, you should first prepare a auto repair shop business plan . If you don’t know how to open an auto repair shop or how to make an accurate auto repair shop business plan , you can take help from here.

The essence of an Auto Repair Shop Business Plan

Over the years, we have been monitoring the operations and success of some auto repair shops in a bid to determine the strategies that they use to grow their enterprises. Here are some of the findings that we feel will have a great impact on your new auto repair shop.

• Understand the market needs and tailoring the services right
• Managing their resources well
• Embracing new technology

It is important that you learn how to cope with these problems to business continuity plan checklist reigning supreme and achieve your short and long-term goals such as achieving financial stability. Here are some of the challenges that you will face if you venture into this business without a proper auto repair shop business plan.

Scalability Issues

As the auto business grows and attracts more clients, you will encounter many challenges that need to be responded to well. Simple mistakes can bring down your business no matter the success that you have achieved so far. For instance, an increase in customers can lead to the lack of enough space to store business the various materials. The most plausible solution to such a problem is by expanding your workspace or renting a large facility.

A auto repair shop business plan is not complete if it does not give instructions on how scalability challenges or issues will be resolved. As mentioned earlier, we have been monitoring some facilities over the last three years. The research has given us an in-depth understanding of the industry, and we will use the same knowledge to come up with credible recommendations that you can use to jump the hurdles.

In this blog, we’re providing a sample auto repair shop business plan of a startup, Auto Fix & Services.

Executive Summary

2.1 the business.

Auto Fix & Services will be a registered and licensed auto repair shop in Austin. The business will provide usual repair and maintenance services ranging from oil change to parts replacement. The business will also offer car modification and upgradation services such as window tinting, installing air filters, etc.

2.2 Management of auto repair shop

Running an auto repair shop requires a relatively smaller team. Still, you need to have a proper management plan. Because, without strict supervision, your workers may do some negligence during repair work – resulting in losing your customer’s trust.

The best way to ensure efficient management is to create a comprehensive auto repair shop business plan . In which you’ll list all the details of how to start a auto repair shop and how to manage it successfully.

2.3 Customers of auto repair shop

Before exploring how to open up a auto repair shop you should think of who’ll be your customers. As that will enable you to do the relevant preparations.

Auto Fix & Services identified its customers as the following groups:

• Professional Automobile Drivers
• New Car Owners (Households/ Individuals)
• Used Car Owners (Households/ Individuals)

2.4 Business Target

• To achieve an NPS score above 80 within two years of our launch
• To achieve a CSAT score of 95 to 98% within a year of our launch
• To earn a net profit margin of $24.5k per month by the end of the third year of our launch

Company Summary

3.1 company owner.

Auto Fix & Services will be owned by Robin Redford. Robin is a talented person with exceptional managing skills. He started his career by working in an auto repair shop as an auto mechanic. After working for four years, he got promoted to a managing post. However, he served as a manager for just three years and eventually decided to start his own business.

3.2 Why the auto repair shop is being started

Due to a great demand for trustworthy auto repair works, Robin decided to start his own shop. By starting a auto repair shop Robin wanted to make considerable profits and introduce 100 percent reliable services.

3.3 How the auto repair shop will be started

Step1: Write Auto Repair Shop Description

To start an auto repair shop, the first step is to make a detailed auto repair shop business plan . For that purpose, you can read any example auto repair shop business plan available on the web like this sample business plan for auto repair shop. Or you can hire a professional to make your auto repair shop business plan .

Step2: Make The Arrangements

The second step is to get the licenses and permits to start an auto repair shop. After getting his business registered, Robin will rent a facility to turn it into a repair shop. At the same time, he’ll procure the machinery and tools required to provide his services.

Step3: Recruit Your Staff

Robin will hire the expert and certified auto mechanics for his shop. The complete list of his employees will be given in the upcoming sections.

Step4: Promote & Market

After that Robin will devise his sales strategy to reach out to his customers. He has decided to offer several discounts in the startup phase to get more and more customers.

Step5: Ensure Strong Web Presence

Lastly, you have to ensure a strong online presence so that people can find you whenever they search for the relevant services on Google.

The costs required to carry out all of the above steps are provided in the following table:

Owning your own auto repair shop allows you to offer a wide range of services. From this business plan for auto repair shop , you can see the services provided by Auto Fix & Services.

• Automobile engines
• Automobile exhaust systems
• Automobile brakes
• Automobile radiators
• Ignition System
• Electric repairs
• Spark plug, fuel cap, and others
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Wheel alignment
• Regulating radiator fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc.
• Maintaining car’s air conditioning system
• Installing Efficient air filters
• Installing the latest stereo system
• Brake discs
• Backup camera
• Turbochargers and more
• Seat covers
• Dash covers
• Fuel consumption meters
• Steering wheel covers

Marketing Analysis of Auto Repair Shop

Before opening an auto repair shop business plan you should carry out detailed marketing analysis to explore the market trends and the competitors’ strategies. This critical examination will help you in introducing competitive aspects for your own shop. Moreover, in your auto repair workshop business plan you should also identify the groups of your target customers so that you can devise your policies and pricing plan accordingly.

If you are starting an auto repair shop business plan but don’t know how to write a business plan for auto repair shop, you can take help from here. However, if you think that you don’t possess the skillset to make an accurate marketing plan, you should prefer hiring a professional marketing analyst.

5.1 Market Trends

According to SBDCNet, nearly 160k auto repair and maintenance shops are running in the United States – generating a collective annual revenue of $115 billion. The demand for such services is increasing because of an overall increase in automobile purchases. Along with the fact that cars need regular maintenance after a certain mileage. And that maintenance and upgradation cannot be done without proper space and machinery.

5.2 Marketing Segmentation

Auto Fix & Services divided its target market into separate groups to study their needs and expectations thoroughly. The detailed marketing segmentation done by them is provided below:

Business plan for investors

5.2.1 professional automobile drivers.

This will be the group of our major target customers. Professional automobile drivers such as Uber drivers, taxi drivers, bus drivers, and others, need car maintenance and repair services much frequently than all other groups. It is because of their long hour driving and large mileage. Moreover, this group is also expected to be a significant buyer of our car parts and accessories.

5.2.2 Used Car Owners (Households/ Individuals)

Our second target customers will be the owners of used cars. People who buy used cars often get the old parts such as seat covers, engine, brakes, replaced by newer ones. Thus, they are expected to avail of all of our services especially car upgradation and repairs.

5.2.3 New Car Owners (Households/ Individuals)

Lastly, new car owners who would want to upgrade their automobiles will also be our target customers. This group is usually very careful about their cars. Thus, they are expected to avail of our regular maintenance services more frequently. Moreover, they’ll also acquire our upgradation services.

To turn these people into potential/ repeat purchasers, we’ll offer several benefits to them. The biggest benefit our repeat customers will get is free video consultation. Whenever they encounter any problem while being far away from us, we’ll help them to resolve the issue themselves. Moreover, we’ll also send our auto mechanics to their location if the fault is of complicated nature.

5.3 Business Target

Our business targets are:

• To earn a net profit of $24.5k per month by the end of the third year
• To obtain a repeat purchase rate of 80% throughout our service years
• To achieve and maintain a CSAT score of 95 to 98% within a year of our launch
• To achieve a Net Promoter Score of above 80 within two years of our launch

5.4 Product Pricing

Our prices are almost in a similar range as that of our competitors. However, we still expect to get more customers due to our competitive advantages.

Marketing Strategy

After you have fulfilled all the requirements to open an auto repair shop business plan , you should start thinking about its promotion. To get introduced to a larger audience, you need to develop an accurate auto repair shop marketing plan.

For your help, we’re providing the marketing strategy planned by Auto Fix & Services.

6.1 Competitive Analysis

• Our auto mechanics hold ASE certification. All of our workers are highly experienced and skillful.
• We also provide remote auto repair services throughout Austin. However, this service will be provided in special cases where bringing the vehicle to our facility wouldn’t be feasible.
• Only we in the entire city provide video call assistance so that customers can repair minor faults themselves. However, this service will only be valid for return customers and repeat customers.

6.2 Sales Strategy

• We’ll advertise our startup through posters, Google Local ads service, and social media.
• We’ll ensure a strong web presence to reach out to a wider audience and to keep track of our return/ repeat customers.
• We’ll offer a 50% discount on our services for the first month of the launch.
• We’ll offer a 15% discount on automobile accessories for the first two months of our launch.

6.3 Sales Monthly

6.4 Sales Yearly

6.5 Sales Forecast

Personnel plan

It is essential to make a list of the employees you’ll need to run your business. When you write business plan auto repair shop you must make your personnel plan enlisting required staff and their expected salaries.

7.1 Company Staff

Robin will hire the following people for his assistance:

• 1 Supervisor to help in the management
• 8 Auto Mechanics to perform the major work
• 2 Technicians to provide overall support
• 1 Database Manager to manage company’s sites and arrange video calls
• 1 Accountant to maintain financial records
• 1 Front Desk Manager/ Call Operator
• 2 General Assistants
• 1 Sales Executive

7.2 Average Salary of Employees

Financial Plan

Great service.

Great service. Good turnaround time and quality work. Thanks!

The last thing to do before launching your auto repair shop business plan is to create a detailed financial plan. Your financial plan should describe the expenses, net worth of your startup, projected loss and profits, and balance sheets for at least three years.

Since startup and running costs for auto repair shops are usually high, it is essential to devise a trajectory to achieve your financial goals – provided the limited resources, sales, and investment. Understanding the importance of an accurate financial plan, Robin hired a professional financial analyst to create an auto repair shop business plan . The financial plan developed by him is given here to provide you an idea of auto repair shop finances.

8.1 Important Assumptions

8.2 Brake-even Analysis

8.3 Projected Profit and Loss

8.3.1 Profit Monthly

8.3.2 Profit Yearly

8.3.3 Gross Margin Monthly

8.3.4 Gross Margin Yearly

8.4 Projected Cash Flow

8.5 Projected Balance Sheet

8.6 Business Ratios

Download Template Business Plan for Auto Repair Shop in pdf

Professional writers OGS capital specialized also on a theme such as auto parts business plan , starting an auto dealership business the right way , car dealership business plan , car wash business plan , car shop business plan , car accessories business plan and etc.

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

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How to Start a Car Repair Business

Last Updated: July 29, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Jason Shackelford . Jason Shackelford is the Owner of Stingray Auto Repair, a family owned and operated auto repair shop with locations in Seattle and Redmond, Washington. He has over 24 years of experience in auto repair and services, and every single technician on Jason’s team has more than 10 years of experience. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 19 testimonials and 92% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 466,679 times.

If you are interested in opening your own car repair shop, now is a great time because the market for mechanics is currently experiencing significant profit gains. Most drivers now have cars that are at least 10 years old, which means that the need for an auto mechanic is growing for more consumers. [1] X Research source Starting your own car repair shop can give you control over your own hours and allow you to reap the benefits of owning your own business.

Opening Your Store

• Fill out an application . Your motor vehicle department can provide you with an application to apply for your license.
• Meet eligibility requirements . In most states, you will need to meet certain eligibility requirements to be allowed to apply. These requirements may include things like your age, credit, and criminal record.
• Provide required documents and information . You may need to include some other documents and information such as proof that the building you plan to use has been zoned for your business, your tax ID number, and color photographs of your facility.
• Pay any fees required to process the application . The application fee may be as low as $20, but if approved, you may need to pay $300 or more to obtain the license. [2] X Research source [3] X Research source

• Check with your state's motor vehicle department to determine how much insurance you will need to obtain for your business.

• Consider hiring an accountant or a financial advisor to help you establish a budget for your expenses as a new business. An accountant can help you manage your taxes, your payroll system, and advise you on the best bookkeeping system to use in your business.
• You should also consider retaining a lawyer in case you face any suits or claims from your clients. Ask other mechanics in your area which lawyers they use and like.

• Define your core values as a brand . What are three words your customers should think of when they think of your business? You might think of words like "honest,""loyal," and "dependable." [7] X Research source
• Print eye-catching flyers . You can place them in places where lots of customers might congregate, such as gyms, civic centers, office parks, and the parking lots at universities and college campuses.
• Establish a loyalty program . You might offer your customers a free oil change after they come to see you for another service (like an engine repair or heating/air conditioning repair). You can also send coupons in the mail to your neighbors or consider offering a digital discount through a service like Groupon. [8] X Research source
• Consider advertising on TV or on the radio. TV commercials and radio ads may also help you to reach a wider audience and gain new customers.

Designing a Business Plan

• Will you only offer a specialized service, such as oil changes and tire repairs, or will you offer a more comprehensive range of repairs?
• Will you buy a currently operating car repair shop or start a brand new one from scratch? What are the costs and benefits of each of these options?
• Do you plan to remain an independent repair shop or will you join a franchise like Jiffy Lube or Midas? You will generally need $30,000-$200,000 to join a franchise, but the advantage is that they will handle marketing and they often have a nationally trusted brand name for potential customers. If you do not have any existing customers in your current career that you know would follow you to a new business, joining a franchise might be worth the investment.

• Look for locations that are convenient to either highway or main road access. If your shop is very isolated, it is unlikely customers will come to you, especially when towing costs are often tallied by the mile.
• Your location should also be able to accommodate an office for you to take care of your administrative needs and a waiting room area for your customers.

• You should clearly detail any loans your plan to apply for in order to fund your business? Will you apply for a business loan from your bank, from the Small Business Administration, or from another source? To get approved, you must have a healthy financial history (with good credit, no history of bankruptcy) and be able to demonstrate that you have roughly 70% of the funding already raised. [10] X Research source
• If you are denied a loan from the Small Business Administration or your local bank, then you could consider other lenders like OnDeck and Kabbage if you need cash quickly. These lenders are meant for short-term loans because their interest rates are very high. [11] X Research source
• If you choose to take a loan from friends or family members, still put the repayment terms of this loan in writing. You do not want to risk losing relationships in the event that you cannot repay the loan in a timely manner.

• You can also consider if you will specialize in a niche field, like restoring old cars, or providing environmentally friendly or "green" services to your customers. [12] X Research source
• Defining your USP will help lay the foundation for your broader marketing plan once you open your store.

Expanding Your Business

• Technicians must have a two-year degree and a year of formal experience working as an automotive technician (or mechanic).
• You can become certified in a number of specializations, ranging from school bus repair, collision repair, trucking equipment, and more.

• You should only do this if you get to the point where your first branch runs smoothly on a daily basis. Make sure you have reliable and capable managers to help you. If you still have to run daily demands by yourself, then it might not be the best time to expand.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.inc.com/sageworks/why-business-is-booming-for-auto-repair-entrepreneurs.html
• ↑ https://www.miamidade.gov/licenses/vehicle-repair.asp
• ↑ https://www.state.nj.us/mvcbiz/BusinessServices/AutoBodyRepair.htm
• ↑ https://www.bplans.com/auto_repair_shop_business_plan/financial_plan_fc.php
• ↑ https://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/define-your-personal-core-values-5-steps.html
• ↑ https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/6174-customer-loyalty-programs.html
• ↑ https://www.careerealism.com/auto-repair-shop/
• ↑ https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/small-business/small-business-loans-auto-repair-shop/
• ↑ https://www.marketingdonut.co.uk/marketing/marketing-strategy/branding/developing-your-usp-a-step-by-step-guide
• ↑ https://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/mobile-mechanic
• ↑ Jason Shackelford. Auto Technician. Expert Interview. 11 June 2019.
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshsteimle/2013/07/12/how-i-opened-a-branch-office-of-my-business-in-hong-kong/

About This Article

If you want to start your own car repair business, contact your local motor vehicle department to learn all of the requirements for opening and operating a shop in your state. Purchase insurance, hire your administrative staff and mechanics, and start spreading the word to get customers. You can design eye-catching flyers to put in public places like gyms, office parks, and college campuses, and you can also advertise on TV, radio, and social media. To learn how to grow your business by having your employees become certified, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Sample Auto Repair Shop Business Plan Template PDF

Automobile business plan sample.

What are some new business ideas in the automobile industry ?

If you are so passionate about starting an automobile business of your own, this is indeed a great time for you to do so because by mere looking around, the market for mobile car repair is by this time experiencing a great deal and large margin of profit.

These are some areas to invest in the automobile industry:

• Automobile repair
• Automobile transport
• Automobile spare parts
• automotive oil change
• armored, exotic and RC car
• car audio business
• roadside assistance

Here is a sample business plan for starting an auto repair service workshop.

Starting an automobile business on your own is not a bad idea and I shall, therefore, write you some significant steps to follow to make your dream comes through. The steps will be broken into three segments or parts regarding the top 10 automotive business ideas.

The First Segment (The Automobile Business Plan)

Here in this segment, we shall look critically at what those requirements you need to meet before the business can be classified as standard. The first thing to do when creating a business plan for the automobile industry  is;

Plan your business Niche

Starting an automobile business of your own requires you to plan for the business thoroughly by having in mind the specifics number of potential customers to cater to, how many vehicles or cars will you attend to in a day, and how many workers will you hire. All these needs plan before going further.

It will speak well of you to decide from inception on what niche of automobile you will base your business on, are you going to specialize on tire repair, engine repair, or changing and gauging of oil, or will you just go for the comprehensive or general repair of the mobile car?

You need to make up your mind whether to buy off one workshop that has been in existence or you start your own fresh, juxtapose the cost and benefit between buying existing and starting a new auto repair service or automobile detailing business.

Identify Your Location

Automobile business or franchises like Cottman and AAMCO transmission requires a definite location where your potential customer can easily locate and recognize you. Look for a location that is near to road, highway, or traffic access, avoid sitting your automobile business shop in a seclusion area, you will have low patronage.

Also, your workshop or your location should have an office for you to look after your customers and other administrative works for most successful small business ideas in the automobile field.

Get the Equipment needed Ready

Do you know the right equipment and premises to start an auto repair workshop? The next thing that will cost you to spend largely in the course of establishing an automobile is getting and buying the equipment required ready. It wouldn’t speak well of you to be renting and borrowing tools here and there but to have yours is just the best.

Write the Capital Involved

Ranging from the money spent on location, tools, insurance, the salary of the worker, and other things in the course of opening the business opportunities in the automobile sector.

How to Start My Own Auto Mechanic Shop

State your U. S. P

The meaning of USP is, “Unique Selling Point”. Your U.S.P is your competitive strength that will make your business known, you need to vividly and clearly state your unique selling point, what your workshop will offer your customer that no other or competitor would, is it the easy turning center you will provide or cut down your price?

Identifying your unique selling point will help you to bring, fetch, and attract customers before the opening.

However, the aforementioned are the first segment you need to put into consideration, haven’t done that, move to the next step without hesitating.

Second Segment (Opening the Automobile Workshop)

The second segment shall talk about the necessary things you are to do when your workshop just kick start.

Obtain License and other Documents

Different country and different states have their conventional ways of getting their license done. Make any payment when required to get certain documents sign to prevent any form of obstacle in the future.

Ensure your Business

Check and ask around for the steps to follow in getting this done in your state.

Strategize your Market

For you to liberate and breakthrough through any forms of car service business ideas, you need to relate very well with your customers. Define in detail your major values, and let them have trust in you.

You can go further by advertising your automobile business ideas in India through media outlets as it is considered as the only medium that can reach countless numbers of audiences within a short period.

Strike a Deal with Car Dealers

Endeavor to ally with car dealers because some or majority of them have their automobile shops attached to them, but if you can strike a deal with them, they can in return direct customers to your workshop.

Third Segment (Enlarge Your Coast)

This is the last segment and it is basically on how one can start an automobile business. It consists of the methods you can adopt to spread your wing to different areas.

Going for Home Service

You can go to the customer’s home to do some minor works as such it will bring more about familiarity and they will trust and depend on you more.

Split into Branches

If you find out that your automobile business opportunities have gone viral and you’ve gain ground, have many and different customers, why don’t you consider opening other branches somewhere else?

By so doing, make sure the manager in every branch is reliable but if you realize that you haven’t seen anyone who fit for such position, you needn’t enlarge the coast of your  automobile business at all cost.

How to Start an Auto Repair Shop

An auto repair shop is increasingly in demand these days, fuelled by an ever-increasing number of car owners both in the developed and the developing world. As demand for auto repair shops grow, there is an accompanying demand for professionalism among clients, and continuous innovations both in the way clients are handled and in technology.

This article focus on how to start an auto repair shop, with important tips, which when used will greatly help in bringing about the much-needed growth needed by the entrepreneur. We begin with the following tips which effectively answer the question bothering on how to start an auto repair shop;

• Have in Place a Well Written Business Plan

This is a critical ingredient necessary for the success of any business enterprise. For an auto repair shop business, a business plan charts the way for the future of the business. It contains all the details from the least to the greatest.

The advantage of having in place an effective business plan is that it eliminates guesswork or second-guessing. It sets clear what should be done and at what time it should be done. Dedicating time to writing this business plan will prove helpful at the end of the day.

• Ensure that Your Auto Repair Shop is Licensed

To start an auto repair shop, certification is key to the realization of meaningful success. However, getting certification requires that the individual well trained, as your skills will be tested through a certification test.

A licensed auto repair shop gives more confidence to your clients on your capability of taking care of their vehicles.

Being licensed attracts more clients to your business leading to business growth.

• Fully Understand the Cost Implications of Starting One

This is critical to the success of your business venture. Without having a hang on how much exactly is needed, or having a projected cost, the entrepreneur is most likely to work blindly which results in insufficient funds to follow through with the business, resulting in an uncompleted business venture.

To avoid this, get an expert in valuation in this field, plus know exactly the tools needed and their cost implications.

Although the costs of tools might sometimes fluctuate, it is safer to have a cost range to work with than not having at all.

Seek Legal Guidance

This is a requirement for any meaningful business venture. This guides the entrepreneur to avoid pitfalls that might be caused by being ignorant of the business laws and other legal frameworks. Also, seeking legal guidance helps the entrepreneur avoid pitfalls that might result in the closure of the business.

• Location is Key

In starting an auto repair shop, location is a key component that must be considered. Location boosts the chances of succeeding or failing.

With the right location, the auto repair shop is likely to experience increased patronage. For an auto repair shop, an area with lots of traffic will be most ideal. This adds an advantage of increased visibility to the business enterprise, leading to more clients.

An auto repair shop located in a small town is more likely to attract fewer clients compared to the one located in a densely populated area where there are typically more vehicles.

• Put In Place an Effective Publicity and Advert Structure

This should be a very important consideration to make. How well your business does largely depends on how effectively you market your business. Your business should have in place a marketing department that will formulate the best advert and publicity strategies to adopt.

Some of the strategies to be adopted might include the set-up of an easy to use the website, accompanied by the creation of incentives such as a guarantee of services done plus a few free automobile maintenance services to new clients.

• Selecting Your Work Force

This will determine how far your business goes. An effective workforce will result in a well-run business. Having employees that have huge experience in the automobile service industry results in a business that will effectively compete with its larger competitors because its workforce understands the dynamics of the business environment and drive the business in the direction of growth and profitability.

• Buy all the Necessary Tools and Equipment Necessary for Smooth Operations

To start a successful auto repair shop, there have to be tools which must be standard and of the right specifications. These will help the business to function effectively with minimal disruptions.

All the required tools must be put in place before opening for business. This is because different clients with different auto repair needs will become a constant feature. Each of these requires the use of certain tools. Without these, there will be an inability to meet the client’s expectations, resulting in loss of confidence.

• Hire the Services of A Financial Advisor

The services of a financial advisor’s such as an accountant are very key to the success of the business enterprise.

Running a business without the guidance of a financial advisor is an invitation to disaster. The financial advisor will arrange the cash flow system to ensure efficient management of resources including the payroll system of the business.

The tips given on how to start an auto repair shop are key to the success of any auto repair shop business, as they help in creating a defined line of action to be taken by the entrepreneur. This is a business venture that requires careful planning and implementation. The elimination of any haphazard process increases the chances of success.

How to Start a Brake Repair Service Business

The automobile repair industry has been in existence from the time the first automobile was rolled out from the manufacturing plant. From that time to this present day, the growth experienced in this industry has been astronomical.

A lot of vehicle models have since emerged each with different designs, but working on the same principle. Since then, a lot of improvements and innovations have been made resulting in hybrid automobiles.

The auto repair industry has witnessed a huge transformation, resulting in the emergence of different specializations within it. It is no longer as it used to be before, where a single automobile technician/mechanic handled every aspect of automobile repair. Today, there are many areas of specialization in the auto repair industry.

Some of these specializations include car engine repair, vulcanizing, brake repair, wheel alignment , and auto electrical repair among others.

This article focuses on how to start a brake repair shop business. Being an area of specialization in the automotive repair industry, the right knowledge on starting this business must be made available to interested individuals who possess the right skills on brake repair. This is a guide to help entrepreneurs successfully start their brake repair shops. These are the necessary steps to take;

Obtain Certification

Obtaining an ASE professional certification is necessary if you want to be taken seriously by new clients. An ASE certification stands for the certification given by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. This professional body is tasked with the responsibility of certifying professionals and all forms of auto repair shops in both the United States and some parts of Canada.

This certification speaks volumes about your ability and gives added confidence to your clients. Another importance of obtaining this certification is the opportunity for applying for financing. Without an ASE certification, it will be difficult to obtain financing for your brake repair shop business.

Have a Good Knowledge of the Cost Implications

The startup costs must be taken into account by the entrepreneur. Without a good knowledge of the startup costs and proper financial planning, the entrepreneur is bound to have financial difficulties which are inimical to the growth of the brake repair shop.

Factors to take into account the cost implications should include the purchase of the right equipment and the money to be expended on rent. These among several others should be well planned to avoid future problems.

The importance of legal guidance cannot be overemphasized. To avoid any costly mistakes that may occur in the future, the services of a lawyer should be strongly considered. Legal advice guides the entrepreneur by ensuring that the business is patterned around the existing legal framework, without violating any. The whole process of registering the business, organizing the business, and employment plus the payroll system needs to be vetted by a lawyer.

The Business Plan

The success of a brake repair shop business largely depends on a business plan. The business plan should not be hurriedly written but must involve the input of experts such as the services of professionals like accountants, a lawyer among others. These check the reliability of the brake repair business plan and easily identify where there are red flags.

Producing a well-written business plan greatly impacts the success of the business. The business plan is the working document of the business and includes all the things to be done and the timeframe they should be carried out. The good news about this is that there are professionals whose business is to write good business plans for businesses.

Using their services helps the entrepreneur avoid mistakes. However, after writing the business plan, it should be taken to a lawyer for review.

Know Your Competition

To effectively deliver services to clients, it will do well to have a good knowledge of your competition. Within the business area, how many people are offering your type of services? Are their services affordable? What areas of the gap have you noticed in their services that you can easily fill? The success of your brake repair shop depends on answering these questions satisfactorily.

Location is Golden

Starting a successful brake repair shop business strongly depends on the location. The location of the business will likely determine profitability and turnover. A brake repair shop sited in a sparsely populated neighborhood is likely to witness low patronage as compared to the brake repair shop sited in busy neighborhoods or a Central Business District (CBD).

When starting your brake repair shop, strongly consider locating such in busy centers where there is high vehicular and human traffic. In such areas, you are more likely to have a higher level of patronage than areas where there is low vehicular and human traffic.

Develop an Effective Advert and Publicity Strategy

To grow your client base significantly, effective advert and publicity strategies need to be put in place. The presence of a business should be increased. This can be achieved through the use of publicity tools such as the internet, social media, electronic and print media, and the adoption of the word of mouth marketing.

These if effectively put into action will increase the patronage of your brake repair shop significantly.

Focusing on how to start a brake repair shop business , the above guidelines are an effective way of establishing your business in the path of growth and sustainability.

AUTO REPAIR SHOP BUSINESS PLAN EXAMPLE

With so much potential in the auto repair industry and franchises like AAMCO, and its potential for further growth, this area of business has continued to attract the attention of entrepreneurs.

However, the planning stage for every business enterprise requires that such a business should have a working document, which is usually what the business plan represents.

This article will be paying close attention to the auto repair service business.

This article provides the basis for guidance to entrepreneurs that fall within this bracket of entrepreneurs. It will be anchored under the following;

• Executive Summary
• Products and Services

Our Mission

Competitive Advantage

Target Market

Sources of Revenue Generation

Sales Projection

• Payment Channels
• Publicity and Advert Strategy

Mike’s Auto Repair is an auto repair shop to be located in Atlanta. Specialized in the provision of auto repair and maintenance services for vehicles that include trucks, buses, vans, trailers among several other car types, it is a fully licensed business that eventually plans on spreading its reach beyond Atlanta, to other states within the United States.

We intend to compete favorably with other similar service providers, with plans on hiring the best hands with impressive track records and years of experience. We will be channeling all our resources and efforts at ensuring that client satisfaction becomes a reality.

We will be offering a variety of products and services that will include the repairs, service, and also the maintenance of automobiles. This is in addition to services that include training and certification of auto technicians and also the sale of auto engine accessories .

Among the services to be offered is the repair of damaged vehicle transmissions of all car types, wheel balancing and alignment , fixing of damaged vehicle electrical fittings, repair, and replacement of mufflers, exhaust systems, repair, maintenance, and service of the truck, car, and other vehicle engine types.

Our mission is to be among the top 10 auto repair shops within the first 3 years from the commencement of business operations like auto body repair. Through the provision of highly professional and efficient services driven by a dedicated and well-motivated workforce, we intend to build a brand name synonymous with service excellence and total client satisfaction.

Driven by a commitment to satisfy our esteemed clients, we plan on eventually spread our outlets to cover more states within the United States. This will also involve a deliberate effort to grow our client base to impressive levels.

To achieve this, we will focus on encouraging our satisfied clients to spread the word about our services for an incentive such as discounts in repairs, maintenance, and servicing of their automobiles.

An area that gives us an advantage over other similar businesses is our special attention to detail. With a quality control department headed by seasoned professionals, we will ensure that only the best services are rendered to clients by our technicians.

Also, all our workforce will be adequately motivated through the provision of work-friendly environments, attractive remuneration packages; all aimed at ensuring our workforce achieve job satisfaction.

With an ever-increasing number of people using vehicles and automobiles, there is ever-expanding business potential for an auto repair, maintenance, and servicing. Hence, our target market will be diverse and will include individuals, businesses, and corporate clients.

Some of these include transport companies, individuals and households, corporate organizations, schools, financial institutions among several other potential clients.

Our revenues will be realized by the diverse services and products offered by us. Some of these areas where are revenues will come from including the fixing and servicing of vehicle brakes, wheel alignment, repairing, servicing and maintenance of vehicle exhaust systems, replacement, repair and servicing of car mufflers, and all general automotive repairs including the training sessions to be conducted for all new auto repair technicians. These and others will form the bulk of where our revenue will be generated.

Using the current potential within the industry, we have drawn a three-year sales projection that will see our revenue increasing considerably to health levels. This however discounts major factors as natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes among others, and also economic recession.

Our sales projection is briefly represented by the chart below;

• First Year $140,000
• Second Year $210,000
• Third-year $290,000

Payment Channels We will be introducing a wide variety of payment channels that will ensure that difficulties faced due to limited payment options are eliminated.

To achieve this, we will be using POS machines for payments, acceptance of credit cards, mobile banking acceptance of cash payments among several other payment options as may be available.

Publicity and Advert Strategies

To adequately inform our potential clients of the services provided by us, we will be adopting multiple publicity and advert measures aimed at considerably increasing our client base.

These measures include paid adverts in both electronic and print media, the use of social media channels, the printing of flyers and handbills, and also the reliance on the word of mouth marketing which has been and continues to be effective.

Satisfied clients will be encouraged to spread the word about our services to their relatives, acquaintances, and friends.

This auto repair shop business plan sample has been specifically written to guide entrepreneurs with little or no understanding of how to adequately and correctly write an auto repair shop business plan sample. While following the guidelines provided, all they have to do is simply brainstorm on what is unique to their small auto repair business.

AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS PLAN SAMPLE

This article presents you with an automotive business plan sample that will serve as a template for writing a good business plan for your automotive business.

No doubt, you must have avail yourself of all the requirements you need to get started with your automotive business, and I know you are not here to read about how to start up a small automotive business. So, let us get right to business!

SAMPLE AUTOMOBILE RELATED BUSINESS PLANS:

AUTO MECHANIC , MOBILE CAR WASH , AUTO DETAILING , TOWING TRUCK , TIRE SHOP , DRIVING SCHOOL , TIRE RECYCLING , SELF SERVICE CAR WASH , FOOD TRUCKING, AUTOMATIC CAR WASH,  SMALL ENGINE REPAIR , GPS VEHICLE TRACKING , CAR SERVICE CENTER , TIRE RETREADING

Are you interested in starting up an automotive business, and are looking for an automotive business plan sample to serve as a useful template to help you write a business plan for your automotive business or transmission repair franchise?

BUSINESS NAME: Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company.

• Vision Statement
• Mission Statement
• Business Structure
• Market Analysis
• Sales and Marketing Strategy
• Financial Plan
• Sales Forecast

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company is a fully registered and licensed automotive business. The Company will be located in one of the industrial zones of Ohio, United States. Our company will be concerned with providing the following services such as mechanical and electrical repairs and maintenance services that involve cars, trailers, trucks, et al.

Jimmy Sullivan will be the owner and the Chairman Executive Officer (CEO) of Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company.

The startup investment that will be required is a $300,000 sum. $100,000 of it will be contributed by the owner, Jimmy Sullivan, from his savings and investments. $50,000 will be borrowed from the owner’s close friends and family, while the remaining $100,000 will be obtained as a loan from the owner’s bank.

VISION STATEMENT

Our vision at Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company is to be renowned as the standard and world-class automotive company whose products and services will be accepted not just in Ohio but all over the United States and even all around the globe.

We will ensure we achieve this vision by making sure we do all that is permissible under the laws of the state and the United States.

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to deliver quality and professional automotive-related services such as auto repair, maintenance services, to our customers, which will assist them in making sure that their automobiles are always in shape and top quality. Nonetheless, our company will be ready to compete favorably with the other top companies in the industry.

BUSINESS STRUCTURE

Our company, Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company, is an automotive company that hopes to start on a small scale in Ohio. In subsequent years, probably five to six years after startup, we hope to grow our business big to the level where it can favorably compete with other top and leading brands in the automotive industry in Ohio and the United States at large.

We are aware of the importance of building a very strong business structure that is capable of supporting and guaranteeing us the prospect of actualizing our business vision of becoming a renowned standard and world-class automotive company in the United States.

This is why we will ensure we hire only the right employees for our business, who are ready to work for us and work with us in actualizing our dream. We will only accept into our business, candidates that are hardworking, competent, driven, customer-centric, and have some measure of experience in the automotive industry.

Our employees will be hired based on their performance in an interview session that will be organized by us. In no particular order, the following are some of the positions to be filled:

• Auto Garage Supervisor.
• Sales and Marketing Executive.
• Automobile Repair and Maintenance Engineers/ Technicians
• Accountant.
• Client Service Executive.
• Human Resources and Admin Manager.

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

At Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company, our aim in the automotive industry is to maximize profits and minimize costs as practicable as possible under the laws of the United States.

Our focus is not to simply offer services to customers, but to make sure we offer the best in the industry. We want to establish our business to be able to completely compete with other businesses in the industry.  This is why we will offer products and services that include the following:

• Repair and replacement of automotive engines.
• Power train repair services.
• Scheduled and preventative repair and maintenance services.
• Truck repairs.
• Repairs and replacement of mufflers.
• Repair of automotive transmission.
• Repair of automotive radiators.
• Repair and replacement of automotive exhaust systems.
• Repairing of general automotive.
• Several other repairs and maintenance services.

Jimmy Sullivan will be the owner and Chairman Executive Officer (CEO) of the automotive company.

MARKET ANALYSIS Market Trends

One good market trend in the industry whether in developed or developing countries is the fact that one could find steady growth in the automotive industry. In the last few years, the industry had grown so well in the United States that the growth rate is even projected to increase in subsequent years.

Our target market includes the following key groups:

• Financial Institutions such as Banks and Insurance Companies.
• Corporate Organizations.
• Transport Companies.
• Blue Chips Companies.
• Manufacturing and Distributing Companies.
• Individuals and Households.
• Haulage Companies.

SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

We will ensure we hire some of the very best experts to attend to our sales and marketing needs. We are well aware that the competition in the industry is very stiff, hence we will make sure our experts are very proficient in deducing formidable sales and marketing strategies to be able to keep our competitors at bay and shoot our company to become rated among the leading automotive companies in the United States.

We will start by introducing our automotive business and our services to the relevant groups such as the transport companies, corporate organizations, et al; which we will do by sending our brochure and introductory letters to them.

We will ensure we also list our business in yellow pages ads. We will also advertise our company and services in relevant business magazines, newspapers, and on radio and TV stations.

We will also leverage the internet and social media world to make sure we advertise our business. Also, we will have a functional website that our customers can log onto.

FINANCIAL PLAN Startup costs

A total estimated sum of $300,000 will be required to start up Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company in Ohio, United States.

Sources of Funds

A total sum of $100,000 will be contributed to the owner’s savings and investments. $50,000 will be borrowed from the owner’s friends and family, and the last $150,000 will be obtained as a loan from the owner’s bank.

SALES FORECAST

The following is a sales projection for Gentle Jimmy Automotive Company for the next three years.

Year One                     $300,000 Year Two                   $800,000 Year Three                 $1,000,000

This sales projection has been done based on various factors such as the location of our automotive business, and other obtainable statistics in the automotive industry. Nevertheless, this projection has not considered the emergence of any major competitor within the same location. Also, this projection has not considered the occurrence of any major economic meltdown.

The business plan sample in this article is an automotive business plan sample. This business plan sample has presented all the key areas of the business that will demand attention. It has presented the executive summary of the company; the vision and mission of the company; the products and services of the business to their clients; and the sales and marketing strategy to achieve their set out a business vision.

It can only be hoped that this business plan sample will serve as a useful template for enabling you to write a good business plan for your automotive business.

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Car Service Center Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Automotive Industry » Auto Repair

Are you about starting a car service center? If YES, here is a complete sample car service center business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE .

Okay, so we have considered all the requirements for starting a car service center. We also took it further by analyzing and drafting a sample car service center marketing plan template backed up by actionable guerrilla marketing ideas for car service centers. So let’s proceed to the business planning section.

If you are interested in starting your own car service centre, it can never be a better time since the market for mechanics is currently showing significant and promising profit gains.

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We all know that most drivers in the industry now have cars that are at least 10 years old, which means that the need for a car servicer is growing for more consumers in the industry. It is very important to note that beginning your own car service centre can guarantee or rather give you adequate control over your own hours and allow you to enjoy the advantage of being your own boss.

If you enjoy working on automobiles, then starting a car service centre might be what you’re looking for to remain relevant and enjoy your steady income.

However, the automobile industry has its own economics and is changing with each coming day with the advent of technology. For example, recycling oil is one way automotive dealers, manufacturers and repair shops are helping to preserve the environment.

Additionally, cars are being manufactured to run more efficiently and control emissions that affect the air. Therefore, be wise to write a business plan to serve as a commandment for your business, protect and Make sure that you go according to plan.

A Sample Car Service Center Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

We all can attest to the fact that during the Great Recession of 2008-2010 a lot of people felt that the end of the American automobile industry has finally come like the sun setting in the west. But while that real risk was narrowly avoided for the automobile manufacturing industry, what most individuals don’t or have not understood is the huge industry that arrives after the car is manufactured and sold.

We all know that the automotive aftermarket, as against the sales of new cars, performed very well during that economic recession – and is still booming even after the recession. We all know that these machines call automobiles are complex machines that increasingly include sophisticated computers.

But we also know that the said machines are absolutely essential to the majority of the working population, and are always a point of pride for their owners. They needed by both regular and emergency service, replacement parts, paint, cleaning, stereo system installations and a whole lot more.

It is also crucial to note that the automotive aftermarket provides these parts and services, and massively flourishes during economic uncertainty. Because when individuals aren’t buying new cars they are keeping older cars longer.

It is a known fact that the average age of vehicles in the united states is high – and has been climbing steadily over the last several years, and even new cars need regular service but as they get old they need more care and they break down faster than new ones. Service stations and parts retailers both benefit from these particular actions.

It has been estimated that the US automotive aftermarket will be worth $273.4 billion in 2017 – an increase of almost $35 billion in just four years. This we believe puts the aftermarket between 1.5 and 2% of the US Gross Domestic Product.

It is also estimated that over 4.3 million individuals work in the industry and growth is expected frequently in the industry.

We believe that the large and growing fleet of vehicles and their high average age will be the key adrenaline pushing the industry forward. It is also known that older cars need more care and an aging and older national fleet is great news for aftermarket providers.

It has been estimated in the industry that the value of the repair/replacement market for vehicles 0-4 years old is $20.7 billion, but the value of the aftermarket for those 8 or more years old is a whopping $77.3 billion.

2. Executive Summary

Fast Repair Auto Car Services (FRACS) is a new start-up car service centre that offers a complete car service and repair as well as a full-featured retail parts store to the good people of New Orleans, Louisiana. We at FRACS hope to give the people of New Orleans our astounding services with four unique and convenient locations.

We at FRACS plan to grow our venture into a business with outstanding sales by year three and also create a substantial clientele base. We at FRACS understand how competitive the market is and how hard it tends to get, but we believe that only us will be offering the unique service we hope to offer.

We also plan to differentiate our business completely from our competitors by not only offering a hassle-free repair service, but a fully stocked parts store and other car related services.

We hope that not only will this serve a wide range of customers for both service and parts, but the parts department will support the service department by allowing the service department to turnaround jobs far faster than the competition with generally all of the needed parts in stock and on location.

We at FRACS plan to also differentiate our astounding business by having 12 bays at every location we establish. We believe that this will offer incredible value to customers who need their cars fixed right away. We at FRACS do not entertain the idea of wait for service and parts.

We also hope to offer our clients unlimited shuttle service for repair which will make the entire service experience as painless and convenient as possible. We at FRACS will also attract and maintain a loyal customer base through our customer-oriented focus on business.

We also want to make it known that all our employees are trained and held In charge of  providing superior service, building a long lasting trust bond with clients. Because we believe it is very important in the car service centre industry.

3. Our Products and Services

We believe that we have the core competencies within our large workforce to work on all makes and models of domestic and foreign vehicles brought to our service centre. We believe that with twelve service bays at each location, and all our employees dedicated to offer superior customer service, we will be known as the solution to any car problem.

We will always strive to be accurate and honest with customers in terms of quoting cost estimates and repair completion time estimates in order to gain their trust and acceptance. We believe that our employees will always focus on delivering what they promise to our customers at any expected time.

FRACS is dedicated to build a lasting strong customer relationships based on trust and integrity, which we believe will be the catalyst in establishing a strong regular customer base in the industry. FRACS hopes to offer these various kinds of services:

• Mechanical job like engine , gear, accelerator, shock-absorber etc.
• Electrical job like horn, light etc.
• Car air conditioner service
• Wheel balancing and alignment
• Sell of car parts and accessories
• Several oil change service like engine oil, gear oil, steering oil etc.
• Car body repair service like painting and denting
• Battery service
• Car body polish service

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision at FRACS is to build a standard and world class car service centre with breath taking services and brand that will serve not only the good people of New Orleans, but the United States of America.
• Our mission at FRACS is to offer high-quality car services and a full range of auto parts to our prospective customers. We at FRACS hope to focus on personalized service channelled to our customers by offering convenience and rapid service which will make us the leading figure in the market.

We at FRACS believe that we are technologically savvy with computerized monitoring of all parts inventory, to make sure that parts are always in stock, while keeping a balanced level of inventory to maximize inventory turnover. We at FRACS can also boost of having a strong vendor relationships with the most service conscious vendors who can go to the limit in order to ship major parts rapidly to us.

Our Business Structure

FRACS believe that we have a strong management team that will allow us to actualize and execute our goals and visions. It is very important to note that FRACS have four founding partners, Ernest Brighton, Donald Meth, Wesley Shinuf, and Luke Chin. Ernest Brighton has a background of sales, 15 years of working with Chevrolet.

We believe he will be in charge of the sales and marketing for FRACS. Donald’s core experience is from the management from Advent motors where he was a Vice President in charge a department of 306workers. Wesley is also a product of the auto industry, specifically the car service industry. He spent 8 years at Nino palmers Dealers and then 6 years at Toyota .

He enjoys and participated in multiple roles within the business allowing him to bring to credit FRACS with multiple skills and experience.

However, Luke Chin popularly known as the Oracle of Shanghai brings an astounding 15 years of finance, investment and administration experience to FRACS. Luke was trained in China but later established Chin transcorp, a real estate firm based in Louisiana. He is also known for his unique eye for investment and proper business management.

FRACS believes that our business is an exciting business opportunity that settles the huge need of having a full car service centre that also has a complete retail parts centre. We believe that these distinct services will have benchmarked customer service, something that the industry is not known for having.

We at FRACS believe that our business will be led by a seasoned management team comprising of our four founding partners and other employed workforce, all of whom have extensive industry experience to push us to the top. The portfolios include:

Chief Executive Officer

Service Supervisor

Human Resources and Admin Manager

• Sales and Marketing Executive
• Car Service Engineers / Technicians (12)
• Car wash Attendant

Client Service Executive

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counselling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• In charge of providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• In charge of signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Serves as project manager of the organization; works directly with employees
• Develops strategic plan by studying new automobile technological, and financial opportunities; presenting assumptions; recommending objectives.
• Accomplishes subsidiary objectives by establishing plans, budgets, and results measurements; allocating resources; reviewing progress; making mid-course corrections.
• Coordinates efforts by establishing procurement, production, marketing, field, and technical services policies and practices; coordinating actions with corporate staff.
• Builds company image by collaborating with customers, government, community organizations, and employees; enforcing ethical business practices.
• Maintains quality service by establishing and enforcing organization standards.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional societies.
• Makes certain that the auto repair and maintenance department perform efficiently, coordinate employee efforts, and facilitate communications between management and computer repairs and maintenance engineers and technicians
• Make sure that the organization works in line with international best practices.
• In charge of overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• In charge of training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• In charge of arranging travel, meetings and appointments
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily office and factory activities.

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Models demographic information and analyse the volumes of transactional data generated by customer
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts; participates in the structuring and financing of projects; assures the completion of development projects.
• Writes winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• In charge of handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• In charge of supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Creates new markets cum businesses for the organization
• Empowers and motivates the sales team to meet and surpass agreed targets

Accountant / Cashier

• In charge of preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyses financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• In charge of financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for one or more properties.
• In charge of developing and managing financial systems and policies
• In charge of administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the business
• Serves as internal auditor for the business

Car Service Engineers and Technicians (12}

• Repairs and replaces automotive engines
• Performing general automotive repairs
• Handles Power train repair services
• Handles Brake repair services
• Scheduled and preventative repair and maintenance services
• Repairs trucks
• Keeps and swaps automotive exhaust systems
• Maintains and replaces mufflers
• In charge of car body maintenance and repair
• Maintains automotive transmissions
• Repairs automotive brakes
• Implements automotive electric repairs
• Implements automotive wheel alignments
• Repairs automotive radiators
• Handles wheel alignment and repair services
• Handles other repair and maintenance services

Car wash attendant

• Dusts loose dirt and wash cars off with water
• Makes sure that car windows and doors are properly secured before dusting and washing
• Adjusts water pressure in hoses to Make sure that no damage occurs
• Mixes soap and water in appropriate quantities
• Uses cloth or sponge to soap cars and wash them down
• Makes sure that windscreens are not scratched during the soaping procedure
• Hoses down cars properly and make sure that no trace of soap is left behind
• Dusts the interior of the car and make sure that any trash is disposed-off properly
• Polishes interior surfaces and vacuum carpeted area inside the car
• Makes sure that the roof of the car is cleaned or wiped according to instructions
• Waxes and polishes the car from the outside
• Makes sure that the car is properly dried from the inside and the outside
• Puts back placemats after dusting, washing and drying them
• Drives cars through the car wash area when specifically instructed by car owners
• Makes sure that any accessories taken out of the car during the car wash procedure are put back before handing the car to the owner
• Welcomes clients and potential clients by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Makes sure s that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In centre, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Serves as a auto parts sell attendant
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the creative director in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to Make sure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries

6. SWOT Analysis

The primary service offered by is at FRACS is the general repair of automobiles for the general public. We at FRACS will have the ability to service most domestic and foreign automobiles. We at FRACS plan to maintain an extensive shop which can fix any automotive issue.

We will also generate income from both the sale of the mechanic’s labour and the sale of after-market parts which may be needed for the repairs. We have adequate plans to make our business the best in the industry, which is why we contacted Access Business Consultants to do our SWOT Analysis for us.

Access Business Consultants are known for the experience and agility they posses in terms of business consulting and analysis. They were very thorough with their dealings and outlined below is a summary of the SWOT Analysis they conducted for us:

According to our SWOT Analysis, the strength of FRACS rests on the power, dedication and experience of our workforce. Our team at FRACS comprises of individuals who understand the automobile industry in and out, they have been in the industry and they understand the changing trends and the quality of innovation needed to stay relevant in the industry.

They also have been put through specialized monitored training that will boost the approach to customers and adequate understanding and adjustment to situation.

It was very easy to note in the SWOT Analysis that the industry we are into is very competitive. It was also noted that our weakness include the time it might take us to  development an identity and consumer brand acceptance, develop and execute effective marketing communications, Identify and execute ongoing affiliate revenue generation, advertising, and ecommerce revenue stream. We believe all these are issues we can handle properly and very fast.

• Opportunities

Our SWOT Analysis noted that the automotive industry is a huge, diverse set of manufacturing and service businesses that bring cars and trucks to market, keep them in working order, paint, clean, fix and even trash them when it’s time. It stated that the industry will keep growing and we remain an important aspect of the US economy.

Our SWOT Analysis noted that just like any other business, one of the major threats that we are likely going to face is economic downturn.

It is a fact that economic downturn affects purchasing / spending power. Another threat that may likely confront us is the arrival of a new car service centre in same location where our target market exist and who may want to adopt same Business model like us.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trend

We at FRACS understand how the car service centre industry works and how fast things change. We understand the trend in the industry, which is why we have put it on ourselves to outline them in our comprehensive business plan. They trends in the industry, both old and new, will be properly considered at FRACS, and they include:

• The increase in complexity of vehicles often requires specialized training. Repair shops can gain an edge by specializing and staying current. However this specialization is leading to a shortage of trained techs in the market.
• Electric and hybrid cars are bringing new opportunities to market– service, parts, and fuel businesses will need to expand to support these trends.
• Service providers are now able to leverage technology to gain marketing efficiencies. For example, timely reminders about snow tires and oil changes have already proven to provide an uptick in return business.
• New cars are getting more reliable. Improvements in technology and materials are increasing useful life and requiring fewer services. New cars, in other words, are able to last longer with less money spent in aftermarket services. Some automobile manufacturers are even recommending longer intervals between standard maintenance services such as oil changes or tire rotations.
• On the flip side, people do wash new cars more frequently!
• There are a lot of cars on the road, and keeping them running, keeping them clean and making them your own is big business. This breadth of opportunity and such strong market trends make 2016 an exciting time to get involved!

8. Our Target Market

We at FRACS have conducted a market survey and feasibility studies and we believe that there is a vast range of both corporate and individual clients who would need the services of a car service centre, which we hope to offer with breathtaking services.

We have also created strategies that will help us reach out to various corporate organizations and households who we know can’t afford to do without our services. Below is a list of the people and organizations that we have specifically market our products and services to;

• Banks, Insurance Companies and other related Financial Institutions
• Blue Chips Companies
• Corporate Organizations
• Manufacturers and Distributors
• Transport Companies
• Haulage Companies
• Individuals and households
• School with transportation system for students

Our competitive advantage

Our competitive at FRACS rests on the vision and unity of our partners, who understand better than many of their rivals that a service visit does not just include repairing a client’s car; it inculcates the entire service experience from the first time a client talks to their mechanic until they decide to stop driving.

We at FRACS understand perfectly that the long-term profitability of a service firm of this type lies in the repeat customer that finds our services unique and enjoy our excellent experience, even if they must have suffered an inconvenient breakdown.

We all FRACS believe that we will seek to examine every aspects of the service experience to look for ways to improve our customer satisfaction. Also, we believe that all our employees will be rigorously trained and retrained to think about customer satisfaction in order to create a self-sustaining company culture that revolves around this issue at FRACS.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Just we stated above, the primary service to be offered by FRACS is the general service of automobiles for the general public. We believe that we will have the ability to service most domestic and foreign automobiles. We also plan to maintain an extensive shop and outlets which can fix any automotive issue.

We will generate income from both the sale of the mechanic’s labour and the sale of after-market parts which may be needed for the repairs. Below is the outline of the services we will offer and make income from them:

10. Sales Forecast

We at FRACS understand perfectly that the car service centre industry is, operationally, a job-shop environment; it is somewhat difficult to estimate sales. For job-shops, each individual product or service is tailored or unique to that job, and is only initiated once an order is made.

However, our sales projections reflects the professional opinion of our sales and marketing team who believe that in how much we make at FRACS will depend solely on the following assumptions:

• The number of clients out founding workforce can attract from their previous companies.
• The outcome of planned promotions and word-of-mouth marketing.
• Current prices and costs of doing business .
• The types of automobiles and jobs that will occur in every month.

Yet we believe in the strength of our workforce, which even our SWOT Analysis noted and we believe that we are built on the foundation of success. Our sales and marketing team noted that definite sales projections cannot be analysed, given the prospect of the industry we are into, but are very prepared to shoot FRACS to the top.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

It is utmost goal at FRACS to become the local leader in quality and service experience of all the small car service centre business within the New Orleans area while also striving to keep a low cost plan.

We believe that once a reputation for quality and service experience has been created, and a strong network of referrals is attracting new business, we at FRACS plan to re-evaluate all our strategy and positioning within the market to see if a differentiation strategy is viable.

We believe that this will allow us at FRACS to increase prices and raise profit margins in relation to our competitors on the industry.

We believe that this process is will help us achieve long-term growth until we at FRACS can reach a regional scope of operations. We at FRACS have a simple, direct and modest program of marketing our breath taking services to our target market that includes the following:

• Direct mailers.
• Newspaper ads.
• Yellow pages.
• Referrals through other local businesses.

We believe that each of these marketing aspects has the benefit of being low cost and creating service awareness that will catapult us into limelight. Our long-term marketing goals at FRACS is to use local radio and TV ads in making sure that people know what we do and where we offer them.

We at FRACS also hope to consider the possibility of having a grand opening program that would feature discounts, food, a local radio disc jockey, and other promotional ideas, and we hope we will actualize it because it is a diehard marketing strategy.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We understand how competitive the industry is and the level of importance attached to publicity, which is why we expect that a significant number of our founding partners and employees pre-existing clients ( both personal and where they worked ) will desire to switch to FRACS retain the services of their personal mechanics who they believe understand how they automobiles function.

We believe that this will provide a sufficient income until we at FRACS can build up a brand affinity or reputation and see our marketing program take effect in the entire industry. We at FRACS believe that our publicity and advertising strategy will take the form of flyers, direct mailers, price discounts, and advertisements in newspapers and yellow pages.

We at FRACS do not intend to spend a large amount on marketing until the firm is ready to expand either into new facilities or open up new ones. It is estimated this will occur sometime after year five, but we will leverage some approaches to boost our brand awareness and they are;

• Place adverts on both print (newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our services
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around New Orleans
• Engage in road show from time to time in targeted neighbourhoods
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Contact corporate organizations by calling them up and informing them of FRACS and the services we offer
• List our auto repair, servicing and maintenance business in local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our auto repair, servicing and maintenance business in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our company logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

We at FRACS understand that we exist in a purely competitive environment where each business must be a price taker. This simply means that a business that has no ability to affect the market price of its services, regardless of how many automobiles it services is destined for a crash.

Therefore, putting it, that marginal revenue (the revenue incurred by producing or servicing one more unit) is equal to the price charged. Furthermore, because the demand curve is essentially horizontal, we at FRACS can service automobiles at total capacity without affecting the price in the market.

All these simply mean that we at FRACS must strive or look to charge our clients at the market price (or lower). It has been estimated that the average price is approximately $400 per vehicle, and we understand that as long as marginal costs do not surpass revenues, the method to increase short-run profits is to service automobiles at maximum capacity.

• Payment Options

Having done our research and studies, we understand that payment options are the forces that bring a car service centre closer to the heart of the people, and we hope to make use of that extensively. We will be bringing payment options that are unique and will make the payment for the service we offer very easy for our customers.

• Payment by via bank transfer
• Payment via POS machine
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via mobile money
• Payment with cash

To provide all these outstanding services, we have partnered with a renowned bank in the country and we hope to make use of that relationship. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials so that it will be easier for clients to make payments when necessary.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

We at FRACS understand that no matter how breath taking your ideas and goals might be or how attractive your business plan might be, without proper and enough financing your ideas are just like water poured on a rock.

In every business enterprise fund is a big ingredient that can move a business to the limelight and without a detailed business plan; a business won’t be able to land substantial funds from prospective investors. We have analysed the market and have decided on how we plan to spend our start up fund. These are the key areas where we will spend our start – up capital on;

• Business incorporation fees in the United States of America will cost – $750.
• The budget for Liability insurance, permits and license will cost – $3,500
• Acquiring a garage facility that can accommodate a good number of cars per time for at least 6 months (Re – Construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $100,000.
• The amount required to purchase the needed tool box and repair equipment – $25,000
• Equipping the office (computers, printers, projectors, markers, servers / internet facility, furniture, telephones, filing cabinets, and electronics) will cost – $30,000
• Amount required to purchase the needed software applications to run our business – $3,500
• Launching an official Website will cost – $500
• Amount need to pay bills and staff members for at least 2 to 3 months – $70,000
• Additional Expenditure such as Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions will cost – $5,000

From our detailed cost analysis above, we will need approximately two hundred and fifty dollars ( $250,000 ) to start FRACS. All our partners are inclined to raise this fund and build a standard business.

Generating Funding / Start up Capital for Fast Repair Auto Car Services (FRCS)

FRACS is a new car service centre business formed or that have four founding partners, Ernest Brighton, Donald Meth, Wesley Shinuf, and Luke Chin. We are the sole owners and operators of the business and they intend to remain so till further notice.

We have been able to raise the required funds need to start FRACS from personal savings. We intend to build a business that will take over the market completely while also giving customers what they want. Their objectives is to make sure sales revenues increase steadily through year three and also to institute a program of superior customer service through rigorous evaluation of service experience.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

We at FRACS understand that in the car service industry, every business builds its client base one customer at a time and mostly through word of mouth marketing.

Which is why we will also strive to keep our customers with our High-quality work, constant contact with clients so as to keep them informed about the state of their automobile and the repair job progress, and employ intelligent mechanics that are friendly, customer oriented, and will take the time to explain to customer the intricate nature of our business and our work.

We also understand that the industry is highly competitive. Each company within this field has high capital costs, low margins, and a high intensity of competition.

We understand perfectly that suppliers have a great deal of power in setting and negotiating the prices of their products and services to car service shops. We believe that this is due to the fact that the suppliers who absorb the greatest amounts of cash from repair shops are large auto part companies.

We believe that these companies are more consolidated that the car service industry, have deeper pockets, an almost limitless number of substitute customers, and finally they are the single most important supplier to the car service industry.

This only goes to mean that these companies can set whatever price they wish to. Also, the barriers to entry and exit are moderately low in this industry. Switching costs are virtually non-existent and the costs to entry and exit the market are low.

The large number of competitors in this field including substitutes means that the pricing for such services are very competitive. We believe that the only way to have an advantage in this industry is a low cost leadership principal applied aggressively to all aspects of the business or to build up customer relations to a point where the switching costs are raised.

Also the technological revolution in computers has enhanced our abilities to diagnose and repair our client’s vehicles. We at FRACS have put all these into consideration and believe we will remain on the cutting edge by instituting the use of computer diagnostic equipment in its shop.

We will continue to seek new ways to provide a better service through technology and also remain vigilant for new trends.

Checklist/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Incorporation: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts various banks in the United States: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of All form of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Leasing, renovating and equipping our facility: Completed
• Generating part of the start – up capital from the founder: Completed
• Applications for Loan from our Bankers: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing / Promotional Materials: Completed
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed software applications, furniture, office equipment, electronic appliances and facility facelift: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business (Business PR): In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with banks, financial lending institutions, vendors and key players in the industry: In Progress

Step-By-Step Marketing Plan For Automobile Service Shop

Every business runs on marketing.

Star companies like Tesla may claim that they don’t waste money on marketing. But that’s false. Their no-to-marketing claim, in itself, is a well-planned marketing strategy and it’s working well for them.

That’s why,

Marketing is important!

Marketing is as essential as the backbone is to a human.

So is the same for an auto repair shop.

Because let’s be honest. If you run an auto repair or mechanic shop or detailing shop, you would know that you can’t just sit around and expect potential customers to automatically visit you for vehicle service.

You need to prepare multiple auto repair shop marketing strategies and develop a marketing ecosystem around your business.

But how exactly do you build a marketing ecosystem?

As an industry expert in this field, having marketed over 100+ service garages, we know exactly how to grow an auto repair business.

Now, let’s start this from the very beginning. Let’s assume you’ve newly started an auto repair shop business. How do we start with marketing? How should your thought process be?

There are many marketing ideas for the automotive industry as a whole, but you’ll need to go more specific to match the aftermarket service side of this industry.

We’ll share everything with you in a step-by-step manner.

Step 1) Start by Establishing a Solid Market Presence

You’ve successfully set up your garage. All the physical aspects like tools and equipment are ready. But how will people know that you exist?

So, the first step is to establish your market presence

• First of all, list your garage on Google My Business (GMB).
• List your garage on every local yellow page.
• Put proper direction boards/signages near your workshop to let you people know your location.
• Put professional and attractive sign/display boards on your workshop to attract and impress potential customers. Come up with auto repair advertising slogans for your business.
• Create a beautiful website that showcases your brand voice and the services you offer. Make sure to add an online booking portal right on top of your website and adding a live chat option can do wonders for you.
• Create a business page on Instagram and Facebook. Twitter can be optional because, for garages, the first two mentioned social media platforms tend to work the best.

Step 2) Research and Understand the Market thoroughl

Now that your online presence has been set, it’s time to understand the potential customers around your garage’s location.

• Study the market and figure out the types of services and pricing that your competitors offer.
• The target market for auto repair shops is vast, so, analyse the type of people who broadly live in and near your area.
• Figure out which class of people would be the most suitable target audience for your garage (Middle class or Upper-class people or types of car and bike they own) and get additional insights on their behaviours, thought process, etc.

Step 3 ) Create Awareness in the Target Market to Generate Leads

Now that you have clearly defined your target audience, it’s time to shout loud and catch people’s attention. Just remember to target the right audience and don’t waste your time or efforts targeting everybody.

• It’s time to properly advertise the selling points of your garage.
• Get active on social media. Post-real-life pictures (infrastructure and employees, also you have to add) of vehicles undergoing services and talk about the services that you offer.
• Now, based on the selling points, run ads(lead/awareness) on Facebook by targeting your defined audience with your workshop images or videos and service offerings. (We recommend Facebook ads because  brand reach is better on this platform)
• Host events or even sponsor community events by which you get to mix and be a significant member of your community. Great awareness potential. (Due to Covid times, try digital platforms)
• This might sound unpleasant but try talking to the neighbouring garages and enter an arrangement with them where, if required, you both could suggest customers to check the other shop.
• Create flyers and banners and distribute them in your locality and nearby places as well. You can place banners on car windshields (target suitable cars).

Step 4) Create a well-defined sales process

If everything is done right, you should now be able to see some results. You’ll start to get inquiries and appointment leads on Facebook (through ads). But, you’ll need a clear cut sales process to ensure 100% conversion of these leads into your active regular customers

• We recommend you have a dedicated person to handle all the leads.
• Any leads generated from social media, ensure to contact them within 5 min. (before they lose interest and forget about you)
• Use a CRM like Hubspot. This will be useful in tracking all the leads.
• Most importantly, learn to develop your sales skill. Teach sales and proper greeting/ communication skills to your garage technicians.

Step 5) Give them an awesome experience to create an unforgettable first impression

• Most of the time first impression is the last impression so give proper attention to first-time customers
• Build a strong personal relationship from day1
• It is not just taking of them but also take proper care of their vehicles
• After a few days of the service check their satisfaction. Ask for service ratings and feedback through text mediums. Ensure to redirect them to give reviews on your Google My Business (GMB) listing.
• One of the better ways would be to take their video testimonials
• If in case you get a negative review, talk with them, understand their problem and fix it. Don’t ignore unhappy customers and address their problem sincerely and promptly
• A genuine and new reviews build a strong reputation and attract new customers easily
• Promote/post reviews and testimonials on your social media/website to capitalise on it

Step 6) Engage with your customers and retain them

This is yet another important step. Your goal should be to retain 90%+ of your new customers. For this, you’ll need to regularly engage with them. But how exactly do you do that?

• It’s simple! Just use social media to engage your customers.
• Post tips on vehicle maintenance.
• Conduct Quiz and create polls on Instagram to engage and teach your customers about vehicle maintenance.
• Create coupon and loyalty programs to acknowledge your loyal customers. This should help keep them hooked on your business for a lifetime.
• Use Email, SMS and WhatsApp to engage with customers. These text mediums are a great marketing tool for auto repair shops. Remind customers of their next service visit, share invoices and other service information.
• Sending promos and festive offers through them is a great way to engage.
• Ask for referrals and reward them for that, creating an auto repair shop referral program is a great way to grow your business.

(Bonus) Try Vlogging in the side

The benefits are numerous. Vlog on topics like “How to jumpstart your car”, “5 things every car owner needs”, “ Why you should avoid potholes on the road”, “How often should you change your brake fluid”, etc. These will vastly benefit your customers and can also help establish you as a domain expert.

How to manage funds for marketing?

If you’re newly starting out your business, the funds for the marketing budget works differently. You’ll have to set money from your pocket and your budget would entirely differ based on your business’ level and the type of market you’re establishing yourself into.

For the professionals who’ve already started off with their business, the best suggestion here would be to allot 5-15% (rule of thumb) of your profits for the marketing budget.

Keep in mind, the 5-15% invested should give at least 40-45% (although it could vary from business to business) in return (ROI).

This data can be used as a base point to evaluate the quality of your marketing efforts.

While it’s difficult to narrow down and be certain that the increase in sales is solely due to the marketing efforts, there are various benchmarks that can be used to determine the certainty. Comment down below if you’d like to read more on ways to be certain that your marketing efforts are paying off.

With these strategies, your marketing plans are good to go. All you have to do is work on the implementation, take care of the budget and keep tabs on the returns.

Talk to our support team and we’d be more than happy to help you out with your auto service marketing adventure.

There’s a chat icon to the bottom right side of the screen. Don’t be shy. Ping us and we’d get back to you in less than 5 min.

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How to do a MoSCoW Analysis and prioritise requirements in a complex environment?

How to do a MoSCoW Analysis and prioritise requirements effectively in a complex environment?

As a Business Analyst, the question of how to prioritise requirements may seem like an easy question to answer but it can also be wrought with a variety of complications and interesting complexities. Once you have overcome these potential complexities which can come with requirements prioritisation, the most relevant Business Analysis technique to apply is what is known as the MoSCoW Analysis.

This blog article will cover both how to apply the MoSCoW Analysis for requirements prioritisation as well as the considerations and complexities for a Business Analyst to understand about their environment before attempting to prioritise requirements.

So let’s start by talking about some of these complexities that can face a Business Analyst when it comes to requirements prioritisation.

#1: Different perspectives on what is important

#2: Lack of leadership

This factor walks hand in hand with the previous factor (and is most likely the cause of it!) where people have different perspectives on what takes priority. A lack of leadership in the project or initiative team causes confusion around what is important and this is when people will end up providing their own perspective around priorities rather than following business priorities or guidelines. This causes problems in various ways and can put the Business Analyst in a very awkward position. Sometimes this lack of leadership can mean that a stronger or more senior stakeholder might get the requirements prioritised according to his/her team’s preferences due to his/her position and level of influence in the organisation rather than it being the true priorities for the good of the organisation. This leads to requirement priorities which is not necessarily being implemented in the most valuable or efficient manner and consequently reflects badly on the project as a whole.

It is imperative for a Business Analyst to receive clear direction from their project manager or project steering committee about what are the clear business objectives (with their relative priorities outlined) that requirements must deliver against so that the Business Analyst can use these business objective priorities to guide the conversations when requirement prioritisation activities take place.

#3: Not prioritising requirements

In some organisations or projects there is simply no formal and explicit effort undertaken to prioritise requirements at all. This doesn’t mean requirements are not in some sort of priority, it simply means that the requirements are not prioritised in a structured and collaborative way. This type of approach can cause problems when expectations are not managed about what will be delivered by when but it can also be that prioritising the requirements are very clear cut in a particular type of project and hence this informal way works in those circumstances. So although the Business Analyst must be very careful when choosing to not formally go through a requirements prioritisation activity, it can be the most logical and suitable approach for certain types of projects.

#4: Priority levels are not well defined

The last complexity or consideration for the Business Analyst to pay careful attention to before embarking on requirements prioritisation activities are simply the definition of the priority levels and what each priority means. Many organisations have adopted a method or set of priority levels which they are used to using without it necessarily being the most effective way to prioritise.

So now that we have discussed some of the common complexities in projects and organisations that make requirements prioritisation somewhat tricky for the Business Analyst lets now look at the MoSCoW Analysis technique and how best it can be applied.

The MoSCoW Analysis Technique

The MoSCoW Analysis is a very common and effective requirements prioritisation technique because it allows not only for three clear priority levels but also covers the requirements that will end up not being included in the currently delivery or project at all. This works very well because it allows people to explicitly agree the different priorities including the requirements, which will be excluded or referred to a future release.

Let’s have a look at how this prioritization technique works:

MoSCoW is an acronym.

M = Must ‘Must’ level requirements are those requirements which will definitely be included to be delivered. There is no negotiation around whether they will be delivered and are considered mandatory requirements.

S = Should ‘Should’ level requirements are those requirements which should be included if at all possible. If the project have capacity and time and it will not jeopardise any of the “Must” requirements, then these requirements should be delivered or included in whatever the prioritisation is done for.

C = Could The ‘Could’ level requirements are the requirements which could be included if it doesn’t have any impact on any of the ‘Should’ or ‘Must’ requirements.

W = Won’t The ‘Won’t’ level requirements tend to be the requirements which will not be included to be delivered or implemented this time but are requirements that would be favoured for a future delivery or implementation.

In Conclusion

As a final point to make, it is important that although the Business Analyst uses a best practice requirements technique , the outlined complexities listed here should be addressed as much as possible prior to embarking on a requirements prioritization activity to ensure a successful and accurate outcome.

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Harris once wanted to ban fracking. Trump wants voters in energy-rich Pennsylvania to remember

Facing the need to win Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris has sworn off any prior assertion that she opposed fracking, but that hasn’t stopped Republican Donald Trump from wielding her now-abandoned position to win over working-class voters in the key battleground state where the industry means jobs.

FILE - Work continues at a shale gas well drilling site in St. Mary’s, Pa., March 12, 2020. Facing the need to win Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris has sworn off any prior assertion that she opposed fracking. But that hasn’t stopped Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump from wielding her now-abandoned position as to win over working-class voters in the key battleground state where the industry means jobs. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

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FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally, July 31, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa. Facing the need to win Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris has sworn off any prior assertion that she opposed fracking. But that hasn’t stopped Trump from wielding her now-abandoned position as to win over working-class voters in the key battleground state where the industry means jobs. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

FILE - Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd as he arrives to speak at a campaign rally, July 31, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa. Facing the need to win Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris has sworn off any prior assertion that she opposed fracking. But that hasn’t stopped Trump from wielding her now-abandoned position as to win over working-class voters in the key battleground state where the industry means jobs. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Facing the need to win battleground Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris is swearing off any prior assertion that she opposed fracking, but that hasn’t stopped Republican Donald Trump from wielding her now-abandoned position to win over voters in a state where the natural gas industry means jobs.

Last week, in his first appearance in Pennsylvania since Harris became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee, Trump repeatedly warned that Harris would ban fracking — a position she held as a presidential primary candidate in 2019 — and devastate the economy in the nation’s No. 2 natural gas state.

“She’s against fracking, she’s against oil drilling, she wants everybody to have one electric car and share it with the neighbors,” Trump told rallygoers at a Harrisburg rally on Wednesday, which was also his first appearance in the state since he was wounded in a July 13 assassination attempt in Butler County. “Harris has stated repeatedly that she supports, quote, banning fracking. I’ll ban fracking, I’ll ban it on my first day.”

Harris’ campaign, in a statement, insisted she would not ban fracking, and called Trump’s claims an “attempt to distract from his own plans to enrich oil and gas executives at the expense of the middle class.”

Still, Trump criticized Harris’ support as a senator and candidate in 2020’s presidential primary for a Democratic resolution to create a “Green New Deal,” a sweeping progressive effort to shift the country toward renewable energy. Trump called the platform — never fully translated into policy proposals — a “$100 trillion green new scam designed to abolish the oil, coal and natural gas industry entirely.”

While Harris considers choosing popular Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as a finalist to be her running mate on the Democratic ticket, Trump has made it clear that he won’t concede the swing state, part of the decisive “blue wall” along with Michigan and Wisconsin. Trump repeatedly has said his administration would “drill baby drill” and dismissed Harris’ change of position with these words of caution: “Remember, a politician always goes back to what their original thought was.”

Fracking is nearly always on the ballot in Pennsylvania. Formally named hydraulic fracturing, it has made the United States an oil and gas superpower over the past decade, along with horizontal drilling.

Republicans routinely attack Democrats over fracking to drive a wedge into the party’s fragile alliance between its left wing , which is hostile to fossil fuels, and its bedrock building trade union base, whose workers are building an expanding network of gas pipelines, power plants and processing facilities in Pennsylvania.

Republicans have used similar attacks in the past two election cycles, both unsuccessfully, against Joe Biden in 2020’s presidential race and against Sen. John Fetterman in 2022.

To attack Biden in 2020, Republicans seized on a series of confusing statements — such as remarks on the oil industry from a debate just a couple weeks before the election — to claim he intended to “ban” or end national gas extraction. That was not Biden’s official position, and if he intended to restrain the extraction method, it was hard to find evidence of it in energy production data during his first three years in office.

Biden has sought to slow down leasing on federal lands and emphasize conservation as part of a large-scale effort to slow global warming. But U.S. natural gas production and crude oil production have hit record monthly highs in the past year, according to federal energy statistics. The same thing has happened with gas production in Pennsylvania, which also has posted record monthly highs during Biden’s time in office.

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Harris has backed Biden’s plan to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But that plan never included a ban on fracking, and Biden has said he viewed those energy sources as necessary during the transition.

Trump, meanwhile, has heavily courted the gas industry in Pennsylvania and has ridiculed the science behind increasingly urgent warnings for immediate action to stave off the worst of climate damage by cutting fossil fuel emissions.

Oil and gas producers have opposed a range of energy policies under Biden, including tougher regulations on tailpipe emissions and vehicle fuel economy that they see as a de facto electric vehicle mandate, clamping down on leases on federal lands and delaying liquefied natural gas projects .

Energy companies want to know whether Harris will continue down those roads.

“It’s safe to say that we and a lot of other folks are eager to hear from the vice president,” said Dustin Meyer, a senior vice president at the American Petroleum Institute.

Attacking Harris over fracking is reminiscent of Republican efforts to turn union workers against Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016. In tenor and scale, Trump’s overtures to the industry have echoed the unfulfilled promises he made to save the coal industry during his first campaign.

Clinton was hammered for saying “we’re going to put a lot of coal miners and coal companies out of business” when describing her climate plan, a comment that was used to suggest she had declared war on coal.

Democrats in Pennsylvania — such as Fetterman, Shapiro and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey — have successfully run on getting tough on fracking through stronger regulation. They shun talk of a fracking ban, although they may not necessarily support every aspect of Biden’s energy policy if unions oppose it.

When Biden dropped his candidacy, the United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters, whose members work on pipelines and in power plants, quickly endorsed Harris in a unanimous vote.

Mark McManus, the union’s general president, pointedly noted that Harris “did have a previous position in a previous role in a different state,” but said she has been clear about her new position on fracking.

“And it’s a good position for the United Association,” McManus said. “She’s a nationwide candidate right now.”

McManus described Harris’ energy approach as being joined at the hip with Biden, a Pennsylvania native the union endorsed twice in his races against Trump, including this year’s campaign. McManus embraced what he described as an “all of the above energy approach.”

Still, in a heavily populated and heavily contested state where Trump won by just over 44,000 votes in 2016 and Biden won by just over 81,000, any marginal change is significant, campaign strategists and pollsters say.

Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion in Allentown, said fracking simply won’t be a decisive factor for most Pennsylvania voters because opinions on it are highly divided in the state.

The gas industry has flushed money into some local economies. But it has also inspired a backlash in other communities, most notably in Philadelphia’s suburbs .

The sweet spot for statewide candidates — such as Casey, Shapiro and Fetterman — has been not calling for a ban, but calling for tight regulation, clear disclosure about the process and limits on where it can be done, Borick said.

“It’s been successful for all of them,” Borick said, “and that’s where you see Harris going now.”

Follow Marc Levy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/timelywriter.

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Britain’s Violent Riots: What We Know

Officials had braced for more unrest on Wednesday, but the night’s anti-immigration protests were smaller, with counterprotesters dominating the streets instead.

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By Lynsey Chutel

After days of violent rioting set off by disinformation around a deadly stabbing rampage, the authorities in Britain had been bracing for more unrest on Wednesday. But by nightfall, large-scale anti-immigration demonstrations had not materialized, and only a few arrests had been made nationwide.

Instead, streets in cities across the country were filled with thousands of antiracism protesters, including in Liverpool, where by late evening, the counterdemonstration had taken on an almost celebratory tone.

Over the weekend, the anti-immigration protests, organized by far-right groups, had devolved into violence in more than a dozen towns and cities. And with messages on social media calling for wider protests and counterprotests on Wednesday, the British authorities were on high alert.

With tensions running high, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s cabinet held emergency meetings to discuss what has become the first crisis of his recently elected government. Some 6,000 specialist public-order police officers were mobilized nationwide to respond to any disorder, and the authorities in several cities and towns stepped up patrols.

Wednesday was not trouble-free, however.

In Bristol, the police said there was one arrest after a brick was thrown at a police vehicle and a bottle was thrown. In the southern city of Portsmouth, police officers dispersed a small group of anti-immigration protesters who had blocked a roadway. And in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where there have been at least four nights of unrest, disorder continued, and the police service said it would bring in additional officers.

But overall, many expressed relief that the fears of wide-scale violence had not been realized.

Here’s what we know about the turmoil in Britain.

Where arrests have been reported

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