You like working with your hands and you’re good at finding problems and solving them, so you became a mechanic. Now that you have a few years of experience under your belt, you may consider branching out and becoming a business owner. Running your own auto shop is hard work, but it can be both lucrative and rewarding. Here are some tips on how to do it well.
Keep Equipment Working
Few things are more frustrating to skilled mechanics than shoddy equipment that slows down their productivity. When you maintain equipment regularly, you give the people you depend on something dependable in return. Maintenance can include anything from keeping machines well oiled to installing new Donaldson compressed air filters when needed.
Guarantee Your Work
Your customers are trusting you and your mechanics with their cars, so it’s important that they know their trust is warranted. Hire ASE-certified professionals so that you know you are getting expert technicians. Let customers know that if anything goes wrong after their car has been serviced, you will fix the problem at no charge. This leads to satisfied customers who return the next time they need a tune-up.
Make Employees Happy
No matter how much someone loves being a mechanic, there’s no rule that says he or she has to stay at one place. In fact, the better your mechanics are, the more in demand they are going to be. Offer incentives such as ongoing training, great benefits and competitive salaries to keep the team you assemble intact. Treat your employees well, and they will return the favor by representing you well.
If you are ready to take the plunge and open your own auto shop, you need to know more than just the basics of mechanics. By taking care of your equipment, your customers and your team, you can fun a successful business.