5 Considerations When Owning a Car Garage

Owning a car garage can be a lucrative business. Getting to work with cars, dealing with people and focusing on making a profit can be a dream for some people. It does, however, come with some responsibilities that can be hard to get right.

If you are thinking about opening your own car garage, you will have to do some research first. Here are five considerations you will need to think about.

Acquiring new stock

The car trade primarily revolves around buying vehicles and selling them at a profit. This is all about getting the timing right and learning how to read the market. This will come with time and experience.

Getting quality stock is a huge consideration for car garage owners so you need to be strategic. You could look at private sellers, trade-ins or even car auctions – it is all about getting the best price possible.

Workshop and maintenance services

You may want to diversify your offerings and not just be a buying/selling business. Being able to offer comprehensive repair and maintenance services will help to attract local customers who will hopefully remain with your business.

With the way the car market is headed, consider training in specialised services such as electric vehicle (EV) services as well as other eco-friendly options. This could be your niche and attract like-minded clientele.

Technology and tool investment

Setting up a business can be expensive, but you need to think about the long-term plan. Investing in the best technology and tools early on will give you the reputation of wanting to do the best job and being able to deliver that message.

Having access to cutting-edge diagnostic equipment will allow you to work on even the latest EV models. Remember to train any staff in the use of these tools too. The more trained staff you have, the more customers you can help.

Regulatory compliance and environmental considerations

There are many requirements that garages face that are legally required. From health and safety considerations to environmental standards, make sure you understand your responsibilities.

Health and safety regulations are designed to keep you, your staff, your business and the public safe. Failure to comply could result in fines, legal action and damages to your reputation.
Make sure that any services you use, such as hazardous waste disposal, are legitimate and follow the rules too.

Customer service and reputation management

A business can be made or broken by its reputation and managing customer service is an essential part of this.

Make sure you have a strategy for clear communication. Every interaction with customers should result in them feeling confident in your skills and timescales. The same goes for pricing – buyers won’t sign contracts if there are hidden fees or clauses.

Curating a strong reputation for excellent customer care and high-quality cars will ensure your garage has repeat customers and a lengthy career.