How To Start A Body Shop – All You Need To Know Here On One Page
Body Shop Business Overview:
This type of business consists of repairing cars that have been in a collision and vehicles that need repainting, are rusted or need a full restoration.
Most of the time, you’re dealing with people who have had an accident. People who have had an accident are usually upset or shaken up.
One of your traits as a business owner is to have the ability and the patience to listen to all the stories. Listening to the stories builds strong customer relationships, which is a good opportunity for you.
One thing you could keep in mind with this type of business is, you must to stay on schedule. If you promise you’ll have the vehicle finished in two weeks, then it’s important that you follow through on that promise, because people are depending on that vehicle.
Skill Set and Traits:
- Attention to detail
- Giving accurate estimates
- Good measuring and part aligning skills
- Metal fabrication
- Metal straightening
- Tearing down areas for repair
- Installing new parts and aligning them
- Sanding and body repair
- Body preparation
- Paint skills
- Frame straightening
- List of common business skills
Employee & Job Consideration During The Start-Up Phase or In The Future:
- Auto body mechanic
- Metal Fabricators
- Painters
- Common staff positions needed to run some businesses
Approximate Daily Hours Needed:
This a usually a nine to five business, although you’ll find yourself working overtime to get some jobs done on time when you are busy.
Equipment and supplies during start-up phase or in the future:
- Air compressor with sufficient storage and enough power to keep you with your needs
- Air tools: air ratchet, air chisel, impact wrench, assorted air tools
- Frame and body straighteners
- Paint booth
- Spray guns and filters
- Dual-action sander
- Slide hammer
- Stud welder
- Dolly set
- A variety of clamps
- Specialty hammer set for auto body repair
- Suction cup dent pullers
- MIG or TIG welders
- Gas Torch
- Metal shaping tools
- Hoist — engine hoists
- Transmission jack, jack stands, floor jacks
- Diagnostic scanners
- Fender covers
- Air conditioning tools
- Battery chargers/jump starters
- Car dollies
- Creepers
- Headlight aimers
- Gear pullers
- Parts washers, pressure washers, parts handlers/stands, vacuums, floor fan
- Sandblasters
- Shop Presses
- Bench grinders, work tables and benches, storage shelving and bins
- Feeler gauges, assorted calipers, micrometers
- Assorted wrenches
- Assorted sockets set
- A complete set of regular tools e.g., hacksaw, hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, vise grips, allen wrenches, chisels, measuring tapes, rulers, files, troubleshooting lights, extension cords, etc.
- A wide variety of assorted specialty tools that you will purchase over time and as needed.
Monthly Expenses and Operating Costs To Consider:
- In addition to our list of common business expenses, your bodyshop, will require a budget for the ongoing cost of acquiring supplies, like paint, body filler, oxygen, acetylene, sandpaper grinding discs, drill bits, rivets, etc.
Licenses:
Marketing Ideas:
- Offer a loaner car for your customers, whether you make a deal with the car rental or you invest in some low-cost vehicles when your customer’s car is in the shop and they need a loaner to get by usually.
- Offer free towing for customers who get their cars serviced at your shop.
- Make a deal with local businesses — give them fliers or business cards and offer them a percentage of the repair for each referral they sent to you. On the card, offer the customer a discount on services
- Approach local tow truck business owners and offer them a percentage or a referral fee for every customer they bring you.
- Make a brochure for vehicle maintenance such as auto detailing. These types of packages are good for keeping the car looking like new and protecting it from rust. You may provide these services in addition to your auto body repair or you can contact local businesses and work out a deal where they refer your services and you refer their services.
Pros and Cons:
The Pros:
- Can be a profitable business
- Can gain repeat customers by doing great work at a reasonable price
- Stable business model
The Cons:
- Deadlines are hard to keep
- Working with a lot of problems
- Dirty work with a lot of dust, especially when sanding
- Painting gives off toxic fumes
- Most repairs are time-consuming
- Season affects business — For example, a cold, snowy winter will result in more collisions, compared to summer, which will have fewer collisions due to weather
Profitability and Revenue Considerations:
Profitability in the auto body repair business depends on a number of issues. Here are a few:
Start-up costs — If you started off with buying a building, top-of-the-line equipment, and have a lot of employees then you will have high monthly loan payments and expenses, which will cut into your profits.
If you can’t give accurate estimates, you’ll lose money or lose customers. You have to balance and make enough money to pay expenses and grow while giving your customers a good deal.
You need to have a strong customer base in order to keep up with expenses and payments.
When times are slow, you need to work as if you are behind, because if you get bad weather conditions resulting streams of collisions you will be overwhelmed with business and may have to turn business away. You need to be ready for a flush of business.
Start-up Cost Considerations:
Start-up costs depend on the how you want to start your body shop.
If you purchase top-of-the-line equipment. If you purchase or lease a building that is very expensive and you hire a lot of staff, you will have a lot more start-up costs than if you were starting with the tools you have in your own garage. Therefore, determining start-up cost is difficult before planning on how you are going to start.
Full-Time or Part-Time Business:
- This can be a full-time or part-time business, but keep in mind it’s difficult to do enough work when you are working part-time.
Home-Based Business:
- This can be a home-based business depending on zoning and restrictions from your local municipality.
Resources
Business Plans:
Automotive Repair Service Business Plan | Reference for business.com
A Sample Auto Repair Shop Business Plan Template | ProfitableVenture.com
Progressive Marketing Plan for an Auto Body Shop | Amazon.com
A Day In The Life of An Auto Body Shop Owner:
A Day in the Life of a Body Shop in 2035 | Autobody-review.com
A Day in the Life of an Auto Body Repair Technician | Auto Training Centre.com
Auto Body Shop Owners Interviews:
Interview With Auto Body Shop Owner, Patrick Sampoll | Collision Blast
Auto Body Shop Market Research:
Paint & Body Shop | Sbdcnet.org
Car Body Shops in the US Market Research | IBISWorld
Collision Industry Continues to Transform – CCC
Automotive Collision Repair Market | Industry Report, 2024
2016 Automotive Body | Trends, & Outlook | Anythingresearch.com
Opening An Auto Body Shop – Startup Tips:
Opening an Auto Repair Shop: 6 Things You Should Know | Advanced Technology Institute
How To Start A Body Shop Business | Startup Jungle
Body Shop Business | Body Shop Bbusiness.com
Opening a New Collision Repair Shop | Body Shop Business
How to Start an Auto Body Repair & Painting Business | Gaebler.com
Auto Body Shop Article Mix:
5 Tips for Choosing the Right Auto Body Shop | Edmunds.com
Choosing The Right Body Shop | Crash Repair Info.com
Body Shop Profit Tips – Body Shop Business
How To Tell if Your Body Shop Did the Job Correctly | Edmunds.com
7 Things Auto Body Shops Won’t Tell You | Consumerism Commentary.com
What Your Auto Body Shop Fails to Tell You | Diminished Value
The Auto Body Shop of the Future | Prnewswire.com
Marketing An Auto Body Shop:
5 Brilliant Auto Body Marketing Ideas That Boost Curb Appeal | Upserve
5 Marketing Ideas to Heat Up Your Business | Body Shop Business
Marketing Machine | FenderBender
Digital Marketing for Collision Repair Shops – CCC
5 Marketing Ideas for Auto Repair Shops to Increase Word of Mouth | Outboundengine.com
Auto Body Shop Marketing: What Works and What Doesn’t – Digital Dealer
Marketing Ideas for Auto Body Shops | azcentral.com
Training Tips & Resources:
Auto Body Training Program from Newgate School is Tuition Free | Newgate School
Professional Tips for Painting A Car | Autotraining.edu
Auto Body School Guide | Collision Repair Training
Auto Collision Repair & Refinishing Technology
Collision Repair Technician | UTI
Collision Repair Training | Lincoln Tech
Auto Body Schools | Matchcollege.com
Auto Body Shop Equipment:
Auto Body Repair Tools |Eastwood
Auto Body Tools & Shop Supplies | Auto Body Toolmart
Auto Body Repair | Northern Tool + Equipment
Auto Body Tools | Harbor Freight Tools
Buy Warehouse Direct at Wholesale Pricing! | Auto Body Depot.com
Automotive Paint Booths, Truck Booths, Industrial Finishing Equipment | Body Shop ESteck
Autobody Tools & Equipment | Steckmfg.com
#1 Auto body supplies & Auto body tools – Autobodynow.com
Auto Body Shop Supplies:
Products for Automotive Collision Repair | 3MCollision.com
Auto Paint Supplies & Auto Body Equipment Supplies – ReStockIt.com
Auto Body Repair Tools | Eastwood.com
Automotive Paint | Paint for Cars.com
Auto Body Shop Insurance:
4 Things To Consider While Insuring Your Auto Body Shop | Repairer Driven News
Body Shop Insurance | Business Insurance Usa.com
Auto Repair Shop Insurance: Coverage & Quotes | Farmers
Automotive Services and Repair Insurance | Nationwide Insurance
Garage Insurance | Progressive Commercial
Business Insurance for Auto Repair Shops | Netquote.com
Auto Service Center Insurance | Allied Business Insurance
Established Auto Body Shop Sites and Business:
Auto Body Shop In Hendersonville
Auto Body Shop News, Industry Publications & Popular Sites:
Auto Body Association & Collision Repair Industry News
Auto Body Shop Books:
The Complete Guide to Auto Body Repair, 2nd Edition
Auto Body Repair Technology: James E. Duffy
The Complete Guide to Auto Body Repair
Collision Repair and Refinishing
Auto Body Shop Glossaries:
Glossary of Autobody Terms | Rondex Autobody Shop Supplies and Equipment
Collision Repair Glossary | Crash Repair Info.com
Glossary of Auto Body Repair Terms at Cooper’s Collision Corner
Auto Body Shop Associations:
Trade Associations | Body Shop Business
Auto Body Shop Software:
Best Auto Body Software | Capterra.com
Collision Repair Software | CCCIS.com
Nexsyis Collision Software | Nexsyis Collision.com
Auto Body Shop Repair Estimating Software | Mitchell
Auto Body Shop Franchise Opportunities:
Automotive Painting and Body Repair Franchise Opportunities | The Franchise Mall.com
Auto Body Shop Businesses For Sale:
Auto Body Shop For Sale in California | Bizben.com
Auto Body and Repair Businesses for Sale | BizQuest
Auto Paint, Body Repair and Wash Franchises for Sale | BizBuySell.com
Auto Body Shops For Sale | MergerNetwork.com
The Latest Auto Body Shop Related Videos:
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