Car service as a business and personal success. Your own car service from scratch - how profitable is it?

There are fewer and fewer people among us who prefer public transport to a personal car. The number of motorists is steadily growing, and with it the need for volumes of maintenance and repair of “iron horses”. The demand for car service services is always stable; even the most advanced modern cars invariably need them. In order to successfully open a car service and service station, you need a competent business plan. Its main task is to develop the optimal option for organizing a car service center designed to service passenger cars.

Car service market

The development of the car servicing market directly depends on the number of cars in Russia. Over the past ten years, the domestic vehicle fleet has more than tripled, and these figures are increasing every year.

The structure of the car servicing market currently includes:

Authorized car services that specialize mainly in servicing only a specific brand of car. Entering such a business is quite difficult, since official dealers and car manufacturers choose their partners very carefully.
Network car services that have their representative offices in a wide variety of regions. Currently, this market segment is not yet sufficiently developed.
Single car services. Such services do not have accreditation, but are in fairly high demand among car owners, since the price for the services of such car services is usually 20-30% lower.
Personalized car servicing. Such services can hardly be called a business, but in Russia they are in good demand.

Example of a car service business plan

If you don’t know how to open a car service center from scratch, then the ready-made service station business plan given below will help you organize this business.

Description of the enterprise

The success of an organized car service is determined by the following criteria:

range of services provided;
the target audience;
production area;
qualified personnel.

It is necessary to take into account the legislation, according to which the premises of a maintenance company are located no closer than 50 m from residential buildings and are equipped with a centralized sewerage system. Coordination with the traffic police, SES and fire service is required.

You need to know where access roads and competing service stations are located. 300 square meters is the optimal area for a car service center for passenger cars. It is important to analyze the work of competitors in advance and take into account the preferences of car owners regarding car brands. The key to successful operation of a service station is the qualifications and professionalism of auto repairmen. Form of organization - individual entrepreneur (IP), taxation - UTII.

Services provided

A car service business plan should include the provision of a wide range of services. The most profitable types of work: repairing the engine and gearbox, replacing the steering gear and clutch and other machine parts. Among the most unprofitable is repair of the brake system, but it must be included in the list of work performed. It is advisable to choose a narrow specialization for the service station: tuning, xenon installation, glass tinting, or others. You can also concentrate on servicing specific brands of cars.

Analysis of the car repair and maintenance market

A new car service has a great chance of success, because, despite the large number of competitors, in large cities there is a frequent problem with the efficiency of the services provided. In the service station business plan, you need to analyze in detail the work of neighboring competitors according to the following parameters:

list of services provided;
prices for services;
the target audience.

Thus, you can find unoccupied niches and weaknesses of operating car services.

Service station production plan

In addition to purchasing or renting production space, the future service station will need equipment, in thousands of rubles:

lift – 40-120;
diagnostics – 60-100;
tools – 100.

Depending on the list of services, other highly specialized equipment may be needed.

The characteristics of the service also determine the staff of the car service center. It is necessary to have 2-3 workers constantly working, which is ensured by hiring 4-6 people every day. The manager can be a hired employee, or maybe the owner of the service himself.

Car service financial plan

Expenses, in rubles:

Capital expenditures:

purchase of equipment, its installation – 2,000,000;
advertising – 30,000;
approval – 20,000.

Total: 2,050,000.

Current expenses:

rent – 150,000;
operating costs, consumables – 80,000;
salary – 200,000.

Total: 430,000.

Income, in rubles:

Revenue – 500,000 (per month).
Profit – 70,000.

Proper organization of a car service center will provide a stable profit, but it will take some time for capital costs to be recouped.

Basic business secrets

Purchasing spare parts and establishing relationships with suppliers. The necessary spare parts catalogs can be found on the websites of dealers and manufacturers. You can also visit specialized exhibitions and choose a supplier. It is better to prepare applications in advance, taking into account seasonal fluctuations in demand. It is very convenient to purchase auto parts with “reserve”. Although this option requires significantly higher costs, the necessary spare parts are always available. This scheme is most relevant for network car services, when every detail will be in demand in any case.
To obtain maximum profit, the owner of an open car service center from scratch should concentrate his efforts on the most cost-effective types of services, which include body repair, tire fitting, car painting, and car wash.
An increase in the profitability of an enterprise is associated with an increase in the number of customers and a decrease in costs. To this end, you can expand the range of services, reduce equipment costs by ordering certain work from specialized companies, reduce rental payments or reduce advertising costs.

Buying a car service

To save time on organizing and promoting a car service center, you can purchase a ready-made enterprise. The average cost of such a business is about 60 thousand dollars. When purchasing a ready-made car service, you need to pay attention to:

validity period and possibility of prolongation of the lease agreement with the owner of the premises;
maintaining an experienced team;
the presence of formalized relationships with suppliers of auto parts;
location of the car service, availability of convenient access;
quality of available equipment.

All these conditions significantly affect the price of the finished business.

Previously, during the so-called “stagnation period,” a car was considered a luxury. It was difficult to acquire, and people had to wait in line for many years.

Today, everyone, owning a certain amount of money, is able to purchase a car, both new and on the secondary market.

Now almost every average Russian family has a car. And owning a car means not only comfort and convenience, but also high-quality, systematic service. In this regard, many entrepreneurs are thinking about how to open a car repair shop.

The most pressing topic is car maintenance in big cities. That is why, if you open your own business related to car servicing, you can achieve great results in making a decent profit.

In order to organize an automobile service, the owner does not necessarily need to know all the intricacies of repairing automobile units and the structure of various car models. In this matter, it is very important to recruit a team of highly specialized workers who, due to their moral and business qualities, are able to work conscientiously for the benefit of an organized business. Their professionalism and sense of responsibility to the common cause are important.

How to open a car repair shop: equipment

To begin with, it is not at all necessary to acquire new equipment; it is possible to purchase high-quality used equipment. Consult a knowledgeable professional before selecting devices. An experienced professional will select the right model for you, which will ultimately save you money.

The professionalism of the specialists servicing their cars is very important for clients, since good technicians are very difficult to find. That is why it is necessary for such people to work in your company.

Take your time to purchase equipment. Before you purchase it, you need to prepare the premises. It will be better if the acquired area becomes the property of the owner of the company. If you rent a premises, it is not a fact that you will later acquire ownership of it.

How to open a car repair shop: locations

The choice of location for your auto repair shop is very important. A good option for choosing a site would be a territory located in an area where there are many houses, schools, kindergartens, colleges, technical colleges, etc. It is also important that there is a body of water from the place where the service center is supposed to be deployed. As a rule, in a densely populated area it is very difficult to find such a site. In this regard, you can find a site located next to the highway.

Returning to the topic of choosing equipment for a car service, it is better to purchase imported equipment, even if it is used. This advice is relevant for the purchase of devices for carrying out diagnostic work to identify problems, as well as tire fitting work and very frequently used spare parts.

How to open a car repair shop: repair zone

When equipping the repair area, pay attention to the location of the lifts. It is advisable to choose a place for them at the stage of building the premises.

Think over the trajectory for the movement of vehicles in the room, and then place the lifts themselves along the walls. The most acceptable width of the repair zone indoors is 18 meters. It can be divided into 3 equal blocks with a central passage and two lines of devices located along the walls. With this placement, the car is able to move freely indoors.

In the case of a small repair area, car lifts can be installed at an angle of 100 to 120 degrees to the driveway. In this case, the distance from the wall to the central axis of the device must be at least 350 centimeters, which will allow the repair of cars with a long body.

As a rule, the repair area contains 3-4 two-post lifts for passenger cars, as well as 1 four-post lift for special operations. Another option for small spaces is to purchase plungers, which take up little space but are significantly more expensive.

It is very important to know that if you offer new services, you will attract more clients. To do this, you will have to hire craftsmen of various specializations. With a well-established business, the costs of purchased equipment will pay off within six months. Good luck with your business!

The business of servicing and repairing vehicles is a niche that can not only not slow down during a crisis, but, on the contrary, gain great momentum. This is justified by the fact that motorization of the population and enterprises is actively growing, and any vehicle sooner or later ends up in a car service center.

According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB), the fall in sales of new cars, including commercial vehicles, in April 2016 was 8.5%, down by 11,200 cars year on year. April sales were the worst in 10 years.

In Russia, from January to April 2016, 75,500 fewer cars were sold than in the same period in 2015.

However, even such seemingly bleak indicators come to the benefit of car service owners, because the longer the car is in use, the more careful attention it requires in terms of maintenance, possible breakdowns, replacement of parts and other manipulations. And those who are just thinking about organizing a business in this direction have a question about how to open a car service that will bring a stable profit.

Car service as a business

Art. 12 of the “Federal Law on Licensing of Certain Types of Activities” establishes an exhaustive list of types of activities for which a license is required. Activities related to the maintenance and repair of vehicles are not included in this list. A car service license is not required.

What you need to open a car service, where to start:

selection and registration of organizational and legal form: individual entrepreneur or LLC;
choice of taxation system;
renting premises, purchasing equipment, tools, consumables, hiring staff.

In addition, it is necessary to decide on the format of the future service station:

an independent service station with a highly specialized or combined service aimed at providing one or more types of services (tire fitting, car washing, wheel alignment, body repair and others), the advantages here are that there is no need to share profits, as in the case of purchasing a franchise; completely independent business management, although this is also a disadvantage, since you need to develop a detailed business plan yourself, train staff, set up an advertising campaign, and organize the process;
network, this includes official dealer services that specialize in servicing one specific brand, as well as network service stations that provide a full range of services and conduct business according to rules common to all points; from some of the large networks you can purchase a franchise, the advantage of such a business is: full comprehensive support during launch and during the operation, but the downside: the cost of the franchise itself and the need to share profits with the brand owner (pay royalties).

Car service centers of the Pit Stop network (USA) wash the car, fill it with oil, fuel and other necessary liquids within 12 minutes. In this case, production lines with remote control are used. The productivity of such a line is about 150 cars per shift. And the cost of this range of services at these stations is 25% cheaper than at regular stations.

What and in what cases do car owners choose: dealerships or independent service stations? The analytical agency Autostat conducted a survey in August 2015 among 3,000 respondents-car enthusiasts (see Figure 1).

Rice. 1 Official dealer or independent service station
Source: AUTOSTAT

Survey data show that 77% of car owners whose cars are under warranty prefer to be serviced by an official dealer, while 24% turn to independent service stations for post-warranty service, the percentage of contacting dealers drops to 23. But as for specific types of work, then the dealer is more trusted to repair the gearbox 45% versus 41% for independent service stations, engine repair 43% and 39%, respectively.

For other types of work, surveyed motorists prefer to contact independent stations in a greater number of cases: repair of the car chassis 48% versus 22%; wheel alignment 67% and 22%; scheduled maintenance - 49% and 19%, repair/refilling of car air conditioning 62% and 19%, and body repair 51% versus 16%.

Prospects and trends

Car service is one of the most promising areas in the technology market: the car fleet is growing. Enterprises purchase new equipment without acquiring their own repair facilities.

The car service market in Russia is gradually moving away from amateur repairmen organizing a “business” in a garage to large network points, or is consolidating into larger formats.

At such points, customer service is organized - a waiting room where you can drink coffee, use free Wi-Fi, watch TV, and just relax while the car is being serviced. In addition, such companies provide club cards that offer a small range of free services (for example, oil changes or tire inflation), as well as additional discounts on basic services. All these points help turn a casual client into a regular one. It’s not for nothing that they say that a theater begins with a coat rack, and a car service begins with the customer area.

What is important for car owners when choosing a service point?

A survey conducted among motorists (see Figure 2), as well as enterprise owners of large and small vehicle fleets, showed that when choosing a car service center, the quality of work is of paramount importance, and for large fleets it is important by 52%, while for small and individual - by 34%, the cost of services, on the contrary, is more important for private car owners (34%) than for large fleets (25%); in third place are the timing of work, which are almost equally important (by 15% and 14%); such points as the services offered, the attitude of the staff, and meeting repair deadlines are secondary when choosing a service point, their importance ranges from 1% to 7%.

Rice. 2 Reason for choosing a service point
Source: Gruzavtoinfo magazine

Properly organized work of a car service can provide a key indicator of its demand - the quality of the work performed. And if an independent solution to this issue requires significant time and labor costs, then with a service station opened under a franchise the situation is completely different.

Review of network car services and the franchises they offer

Federal network Fit service

The company opened its first station in 2008 in Omsk. Since 2013 (by this time 8 more stations had been opened in Khabarovsk, Moscow and Novosibirsk), a decision was made to develop a partner network. The first franchise car service was opened in 2013. And two years later, the network numbered 55 stations in 23 cities of Russia.

The owners position joining the network not as a franchise, but as a partnership based on a win-win model. They offer to become partners in opening a service station in any of three formats (see Table 1)

garage - a simple format that allows you to achieve payback in a short time;
express - optimal format;
standard - full cycle auto service.

The Fit service franchise car service business provides an automation system: folding, cash and management accounting are collected in one program. Why is this convenient? The company provides all the necessary materials: from the building design with technical recommendations, job descriptions for each employee; as well as forms of support: advertising campaigns, marketing, call center services.

Databases are provided - catalogs and repair regulations with detailed descriptions and standard hours for all car models, any year of manufacture.

Fit service partners work directly with suppliers of spare parts, consumables, and auto chemicals, which provides discounts that single entrepreneurs are deprived of.

The company has developed a system of motivation, training and advanced training for staff in its own training center, which increases the prestige of working in the company for employees and reduces staff turnover.

Wilgood

The Vilgud car service chain was founded by the spouses Sherzod and Barno Tursunov in 2011.

The idea of opening a car service center from scratch came to businessmen who were previously involved in the trade of building materials, for the following reasons: firstly, this is a business that can be scaled, secondly, it has the potential for growth during a crisis, thirdly, it can be easily shared with partners. Their distinctive know-how was the Wilgood IS IT system, through which all work with the client is built. It prevents employees from stealing and motivates them to work. As the results achieved show, the considerations of the founders of the Vilgud network were correct.

So, according to data as of March 2016:

There are 28 car services from St. Petersburg to Khabarovsk, of which 6 are owned by owners, 22 are franchised;
the average bill for the Vilgud service station is RUB 8,000;
4,000,000 rub. - average turnover per month of a car service network in Moscow;
400 million rubles. - the total turnover of all points of the network for 2015;
in March 2016 - more than 8,000 car enthusiasts became Vilgud clients.

Franchise conditions and cost:

for Moscow and St. Petersburg - 2,000,000 rubles;
cities with a population of more than 1 million - 1,500,000 rubles;
other cities - 1,000,000 rubles;
royalty in the first year of operation of a car service is 3.5% of revenue monthly.

Dynamics of a working car service center in Troitsk with three lifts and one wheel alignment station. Before acquiring the franchise, I worked for 5 years. The graph (see Fig. 3) shows the dynamics over 18 months.

The Russian automobile market has positive potential for development. For the increasing flow of cars, it is necessary to have a developed infrastructure that will allow servicing and repairing transport. Along with new ones, used cars of domestic and foreign production are actively sold and bought.

Old cars need repairs and replacement of spare parts much more often, so there is no way to do without maintenance. But in order to find out how to open a car service, you need to start by studying the market, its participants and features. A plan that contains the main points necessary for opening a service station will help the novice owner with this.

Choosing an idea for a car service

The concept of a car service includes the implementation of a wide variety of car maintenance work.

It will still not be possible to cover all types of services at the initial stage. Therefore, you need to concentrate on those that are either familiar, or do not require too much investment in special tools, or do not require specific knowledge and skills.

Main types of services include:

body repair (straightening, painting, restoration, etc.);
repair of units (engine, chassis, carburetor, radiator, etc.);
electrics (on-board computer, headlights, double-glazed windows, central locking, light bulbs, etc.);
maintenance (lubrication, setting up the fuel system, checking the functionality of the ignition system, brakes, clutch, etc.);
installation of additional equipment (alarm system, radio, video equipment, speakers, etc.);
computer and hardware diagnostics;
changing oil, filters, brake fluid, etc.;
metalwork;
tire fitting, balancing and other types of work.

Before creating your own service station, you need to clearly understand what size and format is needed. And these points depend on what services will be provided and how much funds are needed for this.

Currently, car service centers specialize in specific car brands, for example: Skoda, BMW, Audi or Volkswagen. Such service stations can cover the entire range of services for only one or several brands of cars.

To choose your niche, it is worth considering the option of segmenting the car market by manufacturer. And although there are fewer competitors, there are also fewer potential clients. However, given the variety of models and manufacturers, the car service has plenty to choose from.

For work you can select one of the following formats:

Separate and independent service centers. They focus on the most popular services, although they try to cover the entire range of work as fully as possible.
Authorized centers. Imply cooperation with one or more regional dealers or manufacturers. In order to enter into such an agreement, the service must meet certain requirements.
Customized services. This applies to a greater extent to jobs that require high professionalism and extensive work experience. In this case, it is not necessary to have your own service station; it is enough to announce yourself, and clients will come and make an appointment.

Opening a car service in the garage

Some aspiring entrepreneurs want to know how to start an auto repair shop in a garage so that they can start with a small auto repair shop, thereby reducing the operational risk.

In the garage you can carry out minor repairs, simple body work and installation of additional equipment.

If an entrepreneur is well versed in cars and has a couple of reliable assistants, then you can open in this format, which has its advantages:

No rent (if the garage is personal property) or minimal cost.
Lack of wages for service personnel. In this case, an accountant, cleaner, helpers, and manager are not required.

Taking into account the above factors, prices for services in an auto repair shop in a garage can be significantly lower than competitors in large complexes, and the quality is much higher.

Documents for car service in the garage:

individual entrepreneur registration;
permission from the cooperative if the garage is located on its territory;
lease agreement, if the premises will be rented;
certificate of conformity (not necessary for individual entrepreneurs, but will be a motivating demonstration for clients about the reliability of the services provided).

Detailed video review about opening a car service in a garage.

Premises criteria

The size of the room depends on the complexity and number of services. Therefore, this value is determined individually, taking into account needs and capabilities.

To give a novice car service owner something to start from, the average figures are given below.

Four posts require a room of 250-300 m2.

This includes:

production room for maintenance 150 m 2 ;
space for tire fitting – 30 m2;
space for repair of individual units - 15 m2;
warehouse – 65 m2;
utility rooms (administration, locker room, bathroom, etc.) – 50 m2;
parking space – 20-50 m2.

Normally, at least 5 m2 should be allocated per worker.

Location

Location, although it influences the number of customers, is not a fundamental factor if the price-quality ratio is attractive.

To select a suitable location, you should pay attention to the following points::

next to a busy highway or road, from where a car service station is clearly visible;
near garages, gas stations, hypermarkets;
it should be convenient to get to the place.

Alternatively, you can use your garage.

Before planning how to open a car service in a garage, you should consider what work can be done there. Most often, minor repairs, simple body work and installation of additional equipment are carried out in such a room.

Required documents

First, you need to fill out and receive a package of documents.

List of required documents:

Registration certificate. You can choose individual entrepreneur or LLC. It all depends on the format of the future business and its scale.
Obtaining a TIN and registering with the tax authorities. Among taxation systems, UTII or a simplified system is most often preferred. Each type of tax payment is limited to the annual turnover and the number of personnel, so this point should be thought through in advance.
Concluding a contract for the rental or purchase and sale of premises where services will be provided.
Permission for fire services to operate.
Obtaining a conclusion from the SES.
Obtaining the necessary documents from the services responsible for water supply, electricity, sewerage, waste disposal, paintwork materials and rubber (conclusion of contracts, installation of meters, etc.).

Purchasing the necessary equipment

Once the issue of registering a car service center and the premises in which it will be located has been resolved, you can begin to search and purchase the necessary equipment and tools. Here you will have to choose between imported (more expensive, but also of higher quality) and domestic (cheaper, but less reliable).

Among the most famous and well-proven brands are the following: Nussbaum (Germany), Rotary (USA), OMA (Italy).

The list of required equipment depends on the services and work that the service station will provide, so there are no templates or standards.

It is worth remembering that it is very difficult to do high-quality work with a bad tool. To save money, you can rent the most expensive equipment.

Most often, a car service center needs the following equipment and tools::

lifts (best of all are two-stage ones from 4.5 to 5 thousand USD, but foot lifts are also possible from 5.5 to 30 thousand USD);
welding machine;
diagnostic systems (hardware scanners, motor testers, etc.);
equipment for painting and drying;
compressor;
milling and turning machines;
stands for checking sensors (power, fuel, exhaust, etc.);
electrical equipment;
tire changing and balancing machines;
additional tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, bushings, vices, covers, filters, drill, soldering equipment, screwdriver, air hammer, etc.);
consumables (rubber, lubricant, wires, soundproofing material, etc.).

Before you start purchasing the necessary tools and equipment, you need to clearly understand the technology and features of the production process. It is not enough to know what they will be needed for; you need to study all the nuances and specifics of the work.

Staff

Equipment and personnel are the main indicators of quality.

Finding an experienced and good worker is quite difficult, but it is necessary that the work be done efficiently and quickly. The number and specialization of employees directly depends on the list of services provided.

To operate a service station successfully, only experienced personnel are needed.:

mechanic (engine repair),
injector technician (repair and adjustment of the fuel system),
chassis (maintenance of chassis, transmission, suspension, etc.),
electrician (repair and installation of electrical equipment),
tire fitter (tire replacement, wheel repair, wheel straightening, etc.),
auxiliary worker (student or support person),
supplier (purchases equipment, consumables, tools, etc.)
storekeeper (keeps records and issues inventory, materials and equipment)
accountant (carries out all financial and economic calculations and payments),
manager (controls the work of the entire car service).

Employees' wages make up 40%-50% of the work performed, so these costs are not fixed. And the average monthly payment for office employees (supplier, storekeeper, accountant, etc.) is from 20,000 rubles each.

How much does it cost to open?

To open a car service center from scratch, you need to calculate all costs in detail to assess the possible profit and payback period. At this stage, you will have to use average or minimum values, which, as a rule, will increase further during the procurement and installation process.

Why are approximate and average indicators needed??

They allow you to navigate costs, that is, they show opportunities for savings and help you correctly distribute and control your budget.

Before you start your business, it is advisable to collect information about prices, suppliers and other organizations with which you will have to deal.

Equipment and tools

1 million rub.

Installation and installation of equipment

150 thousand rubles.

Renting premises

100 thousand rubles.

Salary (10 people, 20 thousand rubles each)

200 thousand rubles.

50 thousand rubles.

Registration and obtaining all permits

20 thousand rubles.

Consumables

80 thousand rubles.

Total:

1600 thousand rubles.

To compare the initial investment with the level of income, You can give an example of a simplified scheme for determining monthly income.

For 5 car service workers, you can determine the average revenue and profit per month. If employees repair 3 cars a day, spending 2.5 hours on each car, while working 25 days a month, then the total number of hours worked will be 937.5 man-hours (5 * 3 * 2.5 * 25). An hour of work at a service station costs 600-850 rubles. (on average 700 rubles). Revenue per month is 655,900 rubles. (700*937).

To determine how much of this money will remain with the owner, you should subtract rent, wages, taxes, payments for utilities, consumables, etc. On average, 100–150 thousand rubles remain.

Why are these calculations needed? They help to clearly see the productivity and efficiency of labor in monetary terms, which determines prospects for further development.

The payback period for a car service is 1-3 years. Profitability level from 20% to 50% depending on prices, equipment and tools used, level of personnel qualifications, number of services, etc.

How to promote your car service

The profitability of a service station depends on the number of clients, so it is necessary to pay special attention:

supply (carefully select suppliers and product quality),
advertising (billboards, signs, stands, signs, advertisements in newspapers, magazines, advertising on the Internet, etc.),
searching for partners (this can be sellers of spare parts and additional equipment for the car, as well as car washes, gas stations and car sales centers),
quality and speed of work and services (it is advisable to pay attention not only to high-quality equipment and tools, but also to staff training),
take into account the seasonality of various services (for example, in autumn and spring there is a high demand for tire replacement, and in the warm season there are more people willing to paint and tuning).

The right approach to these factors will help you promote your business and increase the influx of clients.

Additional services

In addition to the main list of works, you can add services that will bring additional income.

List of additional services:

sale of spare parts, components and accessories (clients will listen to the recommendations of the specialists);
preparing cars for sale (diagnosis, repair and replacement of spare parts to make the car more attractive);
condition assessment (when buying, selling or pledging a car);
opening a car wash (can be an independent service or included in the maintenance kit).

Promoting your business

A thorough market study will help you promote your service station. In addition to studying competitors, partners, and price levels, you need to pay attention to the characteristics of the target audience.

The Russian automotive market is characterized by the following features::

constant growth and increase;
more and more imported and more reliable and durable cars are appearing;
development of computer technologies for controlling all vehicle systems.
transition to innovative technologies closely related to the Internet;
increasing demand for tuning and installation of additional equipment (tinting, sound insulation, alarms, DVRs, TVs, etc.)

Video about opening a car service center from scratch.

Running a business is a serious alternative to hired employment, the opportunity to earn money independently and be independent financially and morally. Of course, at the same time you have to bear the burden of worries and risks associated with doing business, and the burden is not small. But freedom from someone else’s instructions and the full right to manage your time and independently decide what and how to do is too big a plus, which more than compensates for all the difficulties.

Before opening a car service center from scratch, let’s outline the relevance

Transportation of people, goods, mobility and the ability to move long distances in a relatively short amount of time are the main signs of the development and civilization of society.

Of all types of transport, the car is the most common and versatile. The number of cars on the roads is constantly growing, the role of vehicles in the economic system and in everyday life is increasing. Therefore, any business related to cars has high prospects and opportunities.

The most popular area in this area is the repair and maintenance of vehicles, due to necessity.

Any car service that performs work at a decent level has a constant flow of customers and is provided with work.

The increasing number of women driving to a certain extent increases the demand for auto repair services and increases the profitability and employment of workshops.

What documents are needed to open a car service?

So, what does it take to open a car service? Documentation. To officially register and launch a car service you will need license. To obtain it you will need:

statement;
list of types of services;
certificate and bank details;
lease agreement for a plot of land for a workshop;
charter of the enterprise;
certificates from SES, fire inspection, from the State Tax Inspectorate regarding registration;
orders to appoint persons responsible for TB to a security point;
order appointing someone responsible for repairs and maintenance;
a copy of a document certifying professional suitability and training;
certificate of compliance with GOST standards (not mandatory for individual entrepreneurs, but the presence of a certificate gives more weight in the eyes of clients).

A list of only the most necessary documents is provided; in each specific case, it may be necessary to provide additional documents.

For entrepreneurs, or summer as the most profitable season.

How can recycling unwanted tires become a successful business? our business plan.

Where to start opening a car service center? Of course, from the choice of premises

Garage

The most common option for locating a car service at the initial stage of work is a regular garage. If it is owned by the owner of the service, then maintenance costs are minimal, there is no rent, there is no risk of losing the premises at the will of the landlord - undoubtedly this pros.

In addition, garages are often united into cooperatives, which automatically advertises the opened workshop and provides clientele.

Cons limited work space and, as a consequence, the impossibility of expanding the business. The work is also seriously complicated by the lack of necessary communications - sewerage, water supply - which may cause complaints from the SES. Working conditions in winter are also not favorable.

Or rent a space for a car service?

Another option may be to rent premises from third parties. Pros Such a choice should be considered an opportunity to obtain a spacious room suitable for performing several types of work at once, with communications and convenient access roads. A significant advantage will be the location near major roads, making it easier to find a workshop and providing the opportunity to place effective advertising.

Disadvantage is high rent and short lease term, which threatens the success of the business.

What to choose?

From the point of view of large volume and long-term use, the most preferable option is to rent a plot of land and build a workshop on it according to an individual project. In this case, you can get the ideal service station according to your needs, taking into account all your plans and projects.

The disadvantage of this option is the time required for construction, installation of communications and all related administrative and permitting actions. In addition, this option requires a large one-time financial investment.

What you need to open a car service: equipment and tools

The choice of equipment is largely determined by the capabilities of the room. If you have an ordinary garage, then you won’t be able to use a lift in it - they make do with an inspection hole. Also, limited space can create problems in painting work.

If the occupied space is sufficient, then you should purchase equipment of the highest quality and reliability - you cannot save money on it. Basically, imported mechanisms and devices are recommended as the most accurate, reliable and practical. You need to be very careful when handling used equipment.— It is better to avoid purchasing such a tool.

If you have decided which tool is needed for a car service, then you need to make a list of devices needed for the planned work, choose a manufacturer, and decide on models and brands of tools. After that, you need to purchase everything you need. This approach to some extent guarantees the completeness of the equipment and eliminates the need to urgently purchase something later.

It must be remembered that the quality of work and, as a consequence, the income of a car service center depends on the quality of the equipment used, so the issue must be considered extremely seriously and responsibly.

Required personnel for car service

Finding a good specialist has always been a difficult task. All experienced craftsmen are usually in business, they are known, appreciated and tried to be retained. In no case should you hire random people who do not have the proper training and qualifications, since the specifics of the business are such that instead of income you can get losses, and quite serious ones. In addition to equipment damage, there is a risk of damaging an expensive car, for which compensation will fall on the shoulders of the workshop.

Ideally, it is necessary to attract professionals with specialized education, experience and experience. In practice, this is not always possible, but one should strive for it in any case.

Most often, small teams are used - one master and one or two assistants. With a high level of training of the master, his assistants gradually gain experience and skills, becoming masters themselves.

A wide-profile service may include positions as a mechanic, bodyworker, electrician, painter, motor mechanic. A receptionist will be required to contact customers when placing an order.

Organization of car service work

The work process is organized according to the usual rules for production teams, with minor amendments to the specifics of a particular area.

The main criterion for the effectiveness of the process is use of time. The quality and profitability of the car service depends on what it is spent on. It is necessary to constantly monitor the loss of time on paperwork, forced downtime for various reasons, searching for spare parts, smoking breaks, etc. At the same time, one cannot go to the other extreme - haste and haste are unacceptable, since they cause nothing but harm.

Constant process optimization helps reduce losses and identifies the most ineffective operations, which helps increase productivity and disciplines the team.

How much money do you need to open a car service? Is it profitable?

With proper organization of work and high-quality equipment, which is used by competent and qualified people, the success of a car service center is undeniable. If all the necessary conditions are met, the process is sure to be profitable. However, the situation is constantly changing and requires periodic intervention.

The economic situation in the country, exchange rates and seasonal factors - everything can have one impact or another and require a response. Therefore, you should remember that only the business you engage in is successful. No process works by itself.

Let's consider an approximate option expenses workshop. How much does it cost to open a car service center from scratch, and what is needed for this?

Receive documents - 20,000 rub.
Purchase of equipment - 2,000,000 rubles.
Advertising - 30,000 rubles (all available methods).

The cost part also includes:

rental of premises - 140-160 thousand rubles;
salary - 200,000 rubles;
purchase of consumables - 100,000 rubles.

Profit at such costs it will approximately be from 50,000 rubles monthly.

The profitability of a car service as a business is quite high and ranges from 20% to 50%.

Thus, payback STO can be completed within a period of 1 to 3 years.

It is necessary to take into account that these figures are quite arbitrary and reflect only approximate costs and income, but the order of financial movement is reflected correctly. We also must not forget that profitability at equal costs may differ significantly under different operating conditions of the workshop.

Don’t forget to draw up a business plan for opening a car service center

A detailed “How to open a car service center from scratch” should include specific figures based on the example of your region, market analysis and possible risks that you will have to face. In addition, do not forget to pay enough attention to activities responsible for how to increase the profit of a car service center.

Thus, a car service station is a promising and profitable type of business, which, given current trends in economic development, will constantly strengthen its position. The growing number of cars and car owners allows us to look confidently into the future and plan work for the years ahead.