If you’ve been working as a mechanic for many years, you may have considered opening your own garage at some point. If you have the skills needed and know how to reach your clientele, then you could have a successful business very fast. The car repair business is very tough and competitive, however, so you have to be ready for the challenges that come with it. But, if you prepare correctly and study your market thoroughly, you could find a way to make a space for yourself and thrive. Let’s take a look at how you can transition from mechanic to garage owner in four steps.

Learn About Permits, Licences, and Hidden Costs

Before you even think of starting a garage, you need to learn about all the permits, licences, and insurance you’ll need. Some of the licences you’ll need include a vehicle repair business licence, one to trade licence plates, and MOT authorisation. You might also have to get environment permits and premise-related permits like discharge of trade effluent, public space surveillance, and even licences to play music.

In addition to this, you will also need to start looking into motor trade insurance, even if you don’t intend to sell vehicles. If you want to compare motor trade insurance and learn more about it, you can use this site to find your cover. You’ll learn exactly why garages need motor trade insurance and you can compare motor trade insurance right on the spot. They have connections with all the top insurers in the country, so you should be able to find a great deal in no time.

Decide to Franchise or Not

One of the most important decisions you'll have to make when starting a garage is deciding to stay independent or join a franchise. It might be a good idea to start looking at franchising first. A franchise is usually the best option for someone who's just getting started since you’ll benefit from all the expertise franchisors have to offer. You'll also be able to get savings on supplies, help with marketing, and all the branding will already have been done for you.

Working independently can also work, but it is very tough if you don't at least have a partner that truly understands the business part of running a garage, so think twice before going that route.

Find a Location

When choosing a location, we suggest that you look for an area near a busy road or highway. You want as many drivers as possible to see your business. You also have to make sure that the area is not saturated with other garages. Industrial estates and city centre locations are also popular choices. City centre spots might be limited and cost more, however, so consider the other options first.

Start Hiring

Once you have everything in place, you can start hiring. You will need a strong team of specialists that can perform all sorts of repairs. 

As a new garage, you may have difficulty attracting seasoned mechanics, so we suggest you look at local trade schools and look for upcoming talent there. You will, however, need to have a few veterans on your team, so work hard to recruit someone with experience who’ll be able to guide younger workers on the floor.

This is all you need to know to start the process of opening your own garage. This could be the best decision you’ve made in your career, but it has to be carefully thought out so that you don’t end up burning yourself.