Organization of car service Step-by-step instructions: how to open a car service for an individual entrepreneur

16.10.2019

But if you still want to do it yourself - we offer you step-by-step instructions from the expert of the company "Vilgud" Barno Tursunova.

Barno Tursunova

co-founder of the Wilgud network

We started with a loss-making car service. Having studied all the pitfalls and reasons for the unprofitability of a service station, we developed the WILGOOD IS IT platform based on cloud technologies, which fully technologized and automated processes within the service station, and established work with customers. So we were able to develop a single unprofitable service station into a fast-growing federal level network.

Before you start opening a car service, you need to decide which cars you will repair. The network of car services "Vilgud" works with foreign cars no older than 10 years. It's all about the statistics and the target audience of car services.

As a rule, clients of independent (non-dealer) service stations are owners of foreign cars aged 2-10 years or Russian cars. About 70% of them are men with an average income.

For beginners, it will also not be superfluous to study which car brands are the most popular. In general, Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, Renault, Ford, Kia, Hyundai are leading in Russia; in Moscow - Nissan, Hyundai, Kia, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Lada. But in some other regions the situation may be different.

Having decided on the portrait of a potential client and the most popular cars, you need to understand what services you will provide. Our main services are locksmith repairs and maintenance. At the same time, we are not engaged in aggregate repair and installation of additional equipment. We came to the formation of such a concept after long experiments to attract customers.

Often there are car services that have a narrow specialization, for example, they deal only with electrics or perform only body work. Such a service, as a rule, gives a higher rate of return. But you need to consider that the main thing in it is professionals.

I compare auto services of a narrow specialization with gourmet restaurants.

And in those, and in others, skill is the main condition for success, it must be at the highest level. If you do not have high-class masters, it is better to choose a broad specialization. The same path is worth choosing if you do not intend to be limited to only one car service. At the start of our business, we immediately knew that we wanted to make a network, and therefore we chose a more mass segment. Working in it, you can easily check compliance with standards.

Investment size

It is believed that a car service can be opened right in the garage by installing a lift and purchasing a basic set of tools. At the same time, the volume of investments will be ridiculous. However, such an enterprise is an institution of a completely different level in comparison with a professional car service, which brings stable income and customers, but it also costs more at the start.

Barno Tursunova

Co-founder of the Wilgud network

We invested 18 million rubles in our first car service. Then we bought a ready-made business. The opening of the next two service stations cost us about 5 million rubles. Over the course of 1.5 years, we had to invest another 4 million rubles in each technical center in order to test and implement the WILGOOD IS IT platform, as well as purchase new equipment and attract customers.

Now the opening of each service station costs the Wilgud company and franchise partners 5.5 million rubles without additional financial investments in the development of information and management systems, since the system has already been created and tested at the first three service stations. Improvements are made every 2 weeks, but this does not require global financial support.

What will they go for initial costs?

How to cut costs?

Most of the costs (about 40%) are the cost of purchasing spare parts. You can optimize these costs by negotiating with suppliers about discounts and about the return of unused parts. Since Wilgud is a network of car services, it has large volumes, which means it receives significant discounts on spare parts and enables its car services and franchise car services to buy parts at a reduced cost.

In order to spend less on renting premises, "Vilgud" prefers to be located not on the "first line". The company does not need high-traffic places, since customers are attracted via the Internet and they do not have to pass by the service every time to remember the sign.

Step-by-step instruction

When opening a car service, first of all, you need to decide on the target audience and the concept of your business. After that, it will become clear to you what kind of equipment you will need for work. When compiling a list of necessary equipment and tools, one must not only proceed from the set of services that are planned to be provided, but also take into account the necessary degree of process automation and productivity.

The minimum set of equipment and tools includes:

Lifting equipment - lifts. They are practical and easy to use. When installing them, it will not be necessary to equip inspection pits;
Wheel alignment equipment: stand, four-column lift;
Tire equipment: balancing stand, tire changer, tire flanging machine, tire inflation compressor, tire washing tanks, movable jack, set Supplies(elastic bands, nipples, lubricants, weights);
Diagnostic equipment: scanners for determining vehicle malfunctions;
Washing equipment: high-pressure washers, which are used to clean the body from dirt, as well as to clean parts that require repair;
Refueling equipment: various systems for oil change, air conditioning systems, pumps for pumping liquids;
Autotool: tool trolleys with lodgements, including wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, pullers, etc.

Additional purchase of equipment is expected depending on the expansion of the range of services provided by the car service.

The necessary consumables when opening a service station include:

ICE oil;
Auto parts for maintenance: filters, candles;
Brake fluid;
Antifreeze;
Measuring containers;
Autochemistry: detergents, cleaners, lubricants, engine additives;
Autocosmetics;
Protective covers in the car;
Car accessories: useful little things that can come in handy in various situations.

How to choose a supplier?

When selecting potential suppliers, the following criteria should be followed:

Experience of the company in the market;
Cost and quality of products;
Geographic location of the supplier;
Established and flexible logistics;
Estimated delivery time;
The breadth of the range;
Terms of payment;
Terms of warranty, return and exchange of defective products.

When choosing a supplier of equipment, the main selection criterion should be warranty and post-warranty service on his part.

The supplier of spare parts, first of all, must be located in sufficient territorial proximity to you, have a wide range of parts and a flexible delivery (pickup) schedule. Choosing according to these criteria will allow you to quickly deliver the necessary spare parts for car repairs, and will also allow you to maintain a minimum stock.

When choosing suppliers of technical fluids (engine oil, gear oil, antifreeze, etc.), it is better to give preference to distributors. Working with them guarantees the quality of the supplied products and saves you from possible vehicle malfunctions due to the use of low-quality or counterfeit oils, which, alas, the market is oversaturated with.

The beginning of cooperation should always be accompanied by the signing of a supply contract, which specifies all the conditions and agreements reached at the time of negotiations.

Staff

Since the search for new employees is time-consuming and costly, Wilgud has developed its own personnel search system. At the first stage, she simply weeds out the wrong people.

Barno Tursunova

Co-founder of the Wilgud network

To become part of our team, the master must fill out a long form on the Internet for several pages. If he fills it out to the end, we see that the person is interested in working with us.

In addition, in order to fill out this form, a person needs to follow clear instructions. So we see that the candidate can work within the given algorithm, and this criterion is one of the main ones for us. If the candidate has filled out the form to the end, following all the instructions, we invite him for an interview.

"Vilgud" does not hire car service managers from the outside, but grows its own. The leader must be systematic, progressive, ready to learn, full of desire to develop and tuned in to long-term results.

Personnel is one of the main pillars of a business. It is important not only to correctly select employees, but also to be able to control their work and give them motivation.

The lack of an effective accounting system allows unscrupulous employees to serve customers "past the cash register".

Service station employees often steal new parts, install old ones, use poor-quality oil when replacing, and often do not comply with the stated deadlines for car repairs. In this case, the client is not satisfied, and the owner loses profit.

Barno Tursunova

Co-founder of the Wilgud network

After analyzing the situation, we realized that two main components would help us put the business “on a new track”: complete digitization and automation of all business processes and a new personnel motivation system.

On the basis of cloud technologies, the WILGOOD IS IT platform was specially developed, in which algorithms for all actions of employees, as well as a system for responding to them, were prescribed. In other words, a reward point system was introduced that takes into account each employee's action within the workflow. For following the algorithm, employees receive points, for deviating from it they lose.

Points are a kind of internal currency of "Vilgud", and the workflow in the company resembles an exciting business game, where each move brings a profit or loss to the player, which stimulates him to play better. Points are awarded immediately in real time, and the employee can easily track the effectiveness of their own actions. According to the results of the month, points form a significant bonus. Also, on their basis, ratings of the effectiveness of the work of personnel are compiled.

Many try to open a service station in a conspicuous place in order to provide themselves with traffic due to motorists passing by, who pay attention to a bright sign and sooner or later call in for repairs. But practice shows that the location in the first line near the highway is an optional condition. If you focus on promotion on the Internet, only “ready-made” clients will come to you, and you won’t need to be in a conspicuous place. This will also save on costs.

If the location requirements may not be so strict, then things are different with the car service room itself. Remember that placing such objects in residential buildings strictly prohibited, so you have to find a separate building. It should be modern and well-appointed.

Important requirement-the height of the repair area, which should be at least 4.5 meters. This makes it possible to install from 3 to 6 lifts.

The area depends on the type of work performed and dimensions. Vehicle that will be repaired. In general, the standard is as follows - at least 5 sq.m per employee, excluding equipment.

According to the norms, the room must be equipped with ventilation, heated in winter and have a natural light source. The walls must be finished with moisture and oil and petrol resistant materials.

The car service also requires a client zone, where motorists can calmly resolve issues with the administrator, draw up documents, etc. The area of such a zone is not less than 10 sq.m. In addition, there must be parking for at least three cars.

Of the documents, the owner of a car service must have a contract for renting a room with seals from SES and fire supervision.

Documentation

In order to open a car service, no licenses are needed, although other information can be found on the Internet. But in accordance with the current Federal Law “On Licensing Certain Types of Activities”, car repairs are not subject to licensing. Therefore, you only need to register your company.

You can register your business both as an individual entrepreneur and as an LLC. Which option to choose depends on the personal preferences of the owner.

As a type of taxation, it is better to use the USNO if you are going to open in Moscow. For other cities, UTII is great. According to OKVED, a car service passes as “Repair and maintenance of motor vehicles” (50.2).

If you are well versed in technology and are an experienced auto mechanic, then it would be quite reasonable to open own business in this domain. A private car service or car repair shop is a great option, as car repair and maintenance services are always in demand. But even taking into account the huge competition, you will very soon be able to acquire a decent base of regular customers who will guarantee you a stable good income. The main thing to focus on is the high quality and variety of services that you can provide.

Auto repair shop: basic principles and features of business

The number of cars in cities and towns is constantly growing, which means that the demand for their repair or maintenance is also increasing. Despite the fact that car services, as it may seem, are found at every turn, this market niche lacks quality services at a reasonable price, because authorized services for the majority of the population simply exorbitant numbers.

In this case, a small car repair shop in the garage comes to the rescue. As a rule, they learn about it from friends, neighbors or relatives who repaired their cars there and were satisfied. Therefore, if you treat cars like “you”, and also feel the potential and desire to create your own business, feel free to proceed to the first stage: sit down to write a business plan.

Where to start

Before you open a car repair shop, it is worth analyzing the existing service market, that is, finding out exactly what car services exist in your city, what services they provide; pay attention to their advantages or disadvantages, etc. In large cities, this business is presented in several forms:

large complex car services (they are authorized and often specialize only in a particular brand of car). To become a partner of such a business, you will have to try hard, because for official automakers or dealers, the issue of partnership is a matter that requires temporary and financial costs not to mention your good name in this area;
however, authorized car services increasingly have their own representative offices in different cities or regions, so you should pay attention to such a possible solution to the issue;
single private car services, as a rule, do not have accreditation, but there is a high demand among the population for their services, because the pricing policy at such service points is much more adequate and acceptable;
you can also provide just individual car repair services, that is, equip a workshop in your garage or any other place. Such a business also has certain prospects and opportunities for expansion and growth.

So, assess the current situation in your city and your capabilities. If you have enough free funds at your disposal, then you can open your own car service, which will provide a whole range of different services. However, being financially constrained, it is better to think about how to open a small auto repair shop from scratch. Then you do not need to immediately spend money on the purchase of expensive equipment or invest large sums in rent / purchase of premises for a full-fledged service station. And after working for some time and having acquired a decent base of regular customers, it will be possible to think about expanding.

Proper activity planning

Define your niche in the auto business and deal with the legal and financial aspects of the issue.
Find an appropriate place to open, depending on what services you plan to provide to customers. Coordinate the choice of premises with all legislative bodies that give permission for your work.
Based on the previous paragraph, purchase the necessary equipment (materials, inventory) and equip the workshop.
Find like-minded people or hire additional staff if you see that you cannot handle the work yourself.
Make yourself minimal advertising and open up.

Working step by step with a business plan, you will be able to assess in advance all the risks or difficult moments that require special attention. This will allow you to approach the matter as competently and thoughtfully as possible.

How to register a business

In order for everything to be correct and honest from the point of view of the law, and you can work calmly, you need to properly formalize your business. Having decided on the scale of activity and the range of future services, register a workshop: for a small car service center, the IP () form is also suitable, and if you intend to open a full-fledged car service with a wide selection of various services, then it’s better (a company with limited liability). You can choose the form of taxation either, or (simplified). When planning a non-cash form of payment, you should take care of opening a company bank account.

Having decided on the types of proposed work that you will carry out at your enterprise, submit applications to certification bodies in order to conclude contracts for your services, in accordance with GOST standards. Among the main types of work required by licensing, the most common can be identified: repair work(brake system, steering, engines, etc.), control or diagnostics, tire fitting or balancing, welding and others. Get ready for regular checks to confirm the quality of your work. However, for IP certification is voluntary.
After registering with the tax office and registering the form of the enterprise, you will need to complete a full package of documents to obtain a special license from the Transport Inspectorate (they will need to provide permission to conduct activities and approval of the selected premises from other organizations).
One of these documents should be a contract confirming your right to a specific piece of land or structure (lease agreement or contract of sale). In addition, the sanitary and epidemiological service and the State Fire Supervision Service will have many questions about the premises. More about this:
- many are interested in whether it is possible to open a car repair shop in a private house? Unfortunately, you most likely will not succeed in this option, since, based on the norms and requirements of the fire service and SES, a car service cannot be located not only in residential premises, but also near residential buildings or reservoirs (at least 15 m), and if there are any children's institutions nearby, then the distance should be even greater (from 50 m);
- to the room you need to make an eyeliner for water supply, sewerage and install there supply and exhaust ventilation(calculations of its system must be performed in accordance with the norms of SNiL);
- if you plan to open a large service and hire employees, you must calculate the area so that each person has about 5 square meters. m. (excluding equipment);
- additionally, contracts are concluded with various companies for the collection, removal and disposal of waste (garbage and solid waste), in addition, the Gossanepidemnadzor authorities must give you permission to place and operate all equipment, plus - to carry out the planned technical processes (according to your project documentation);
- your workshop should be explosion-proof artificial lighting, and only moisture and oil and petrol resistant materials can be used for finishing walls and floors. For walls in this case, oil paint or tiling is taken (2/3 of the height). The floors can be covered with metlakh tiles, and for finishing the inspection pits, you will have to choose ceramic;
- do not forget that in the car service enterprise, according to the requirements of the SES, there must also be a bathroom and a shower. It would be nice to put special lockers to store clean overalls and tools. personal protection for respiratory organs, eyes and skin of hands (gloves, goggles, respirators).

As you can see, there is a lot of work to be done. Experts do not advise starting such a business if you yourself do not understand it, since even your own employees will be able to deceive you or work “in a slipshod manner”. But even without taking into account this factor, you still have to prove your professional suitability (provide a copy of your diploma or work book) in order to obtain a license from the Transport Inspectorate. You will also need to either take responsibility for yourself, or appoint one of the employees officially responsible for health and safety (point and safety).

Where to open a workshop

In order for your business to be profitable and pay off quickly, you need to choose the right place for the location of the future enterprise. It's one thing if you decide to open a car repair shop in the garage: in this case, you will not need too much investment, because a small private service station will not need a full range of services (you simply cannot place them there). That is, for a garage workshop, you can first choose some narrow profile. For example, services such as computer diagnostics of cars or tuning have become very popular recently.

If you are planning a full-scale car service, then plan the project right away so that you have a paint, body and locksmith shops, as well as a pit, a tire fitting and balancing site, and at least another place for electrical work. To accommodate at least 4 work posts, a small office and a spare parts warehouse, you will need at least 300 sq. m area. Ideally, there should be 2-3 times more space.

It is very important for you to have a constant flow of people, so as to attract the maximum attention of potential customers. The best way would be to open a workshop:

near a major highway;
close to a gas station;
near large transport hubs (with good access to you);
in sleeping densely populated areas (but away from the residential sector).

Even for the smallest amount of work, you will need a fairly spacious room. Think for yourself: in the garage you can only service one car, but what to do with the queue or what to do with repaired cars? All these questions must be answered in advance.

Equipment and services

If you rent a room, then all changes should be made only after agreement with its owner. Of course, building your own enterprise is a very long-term and difficult project, which will require a lot of money. But on the other hand, you can immediately embody all your desires in it.

It will be possible to select and purchase equipment only after you decide on the relevant areas of work. You should not chase cheap or used appliances, because in this way you risk being in a double loss. For you, the main criterion should be quality.

Since the equipment is very expensive, you should not immediately buy everything that may not even be useful to you, since there is no demand for this service. Take your time and act wisely. But only by betting on the full range of various profitable or popular services, you can beat the competition or find an unoccupied niche in this business.

Here is a rough list of what you need to open an auto repair shop:

a large number of various small tools (repair kits, keys, hammers, hacksaws, vise, pliers, etc.);
diagnostic system (depending on the direction of your activity, that is, what kind of machines you are engaged in);
lift (at least one two-column), but ideally there should be several. Equipping a post with a four-post lift (large load capacity, which reaches 4 tons) is not affordable for everyone;
wheel alignment stand;
compressed air compressor;
installations for various kinds works (flushing the fuel system, changing the oil, straightening or welding, painting equipment);
balancing and tire fitting machines;
transmission (rack) and jacks.

This is the minimum necessary equipment for a good auto repair shop, which is able to provide a wide range of different services for the repair and maintenance of machines. In addition, you can organize a store on the basis of a service station and sell spare parts to customers (buying them from trusted suppliers) or other automotive products, prepare cars for sale, even open a cafe or car wash nearby - this business has a lot of prospects.

Recruitment

Just like quality equipment, good staff is essential to the success of your workshop. To find real professionals and experienced workers, you will have to try hard. Some owners lure specialists from other workshops, because clients usually come for the master. But this, of course, cannot be considered correct.

Skilled workers are expensive. But if the most complex and “unsolvable” problems are fixed in your service, then the client base will begin to replenish very soon.

You can train professional mechanics yourself by teaching beginners and keeping them as apprentices. But this option is acceptable if you are ready to take the brunt of the work on yourself.

How much and whom to hire - look at the situation. For a full-fledged service station, you will need: several repairmen and auto mechanics, good auto electricians, painters (if there is painting), a welder, a bodybuilder, a tire fitting specialist. With large-scale activities, you will have to hire security guards, an administrator or dispatcher, a warehouse worker or a seller, etc.

Promotion or advertising

So that your discovery does not go unnoticed, it is worth spending money on good advertising. Hold at least minimal events that will tell potential customers about you:

advertising on radio or local media;
big outdoor advertising(luminous signboard, navigation, big board, etc.);
cooperation with parking lots, shops or offices (business cards or leaflets can be distributed among organizations);
posting ads.

conclusions

To calculate the payback period and profitability of this business, try to paint your list of planned expenses and income. Statistics say that a private car repair shop can pay off as much as possible in 3 years (minimum - in a year and a half). Despite the fact that this business has a fairly high entry threshold (due to the cost of equipment and tooling), its profitability can even reach 50%.

Approximate costs (prices are in rubles):

Now you know how much it costs to open a car repair shop. If you immediately focus on the most profitable services or offer something new and popular, then very soon you will be able to not only get a profit, but also receive a stable high income. As the number of clients increases, your costs will decrease. By setting the right prices and organizing quality work, you will gradually earn a good name for yourself and be able to expand your business in all directions possible for it.

Doing business is a serious alternative to hired employment, the possibility of independent earnings and independence financially and morally. Of course, along with this, you have to bear the burden of worries and risks associated with doing business, and the burden is rather big. But freedom from someone else's instructions and full right managing your time and independently deciding what and how to do is too big a plus, which more than compensates for all the difficulties.

Before opening a car service from scratch, let's designate the relevance

Transportation of people, goods, mobility and the ability to travel long distances in a relatively short amount of time is the main sign of the development and civilization of society.

Of all modes 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 economic system and increases in everyday life. Therefore, any business related to cars has high prospects and opportunities.

The most demanded direction in this area is the repair and maintenance of vehicles, due to the need.

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

Increasing numbers of women behind the wheel to some extent increase the demand for auto repair services and increase 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. For official registration and launch of a car service, you will need license. To get it you will need:

statement;
list of types of services;
certificate and bank details;
lease agreement for a land plot for a workshop;
company charter;
certificates of SES, fire supervision, from the State Tax Inspectorate on registration;
orders for the appointment of persons responsible for TB, for the security point;
order on the appointment of a person responsible for carrying out repairs and maintenance;
a copy of a document certifying professional suitability and training;
certificate of compliance with GOST standards (it is not mandatory for individual entrepreneurs, but the presence of a certificate gives more weight in the eyes of customers).

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

For entrepreneurs, or summer as the most profitable season.

How to dispose of unwanted car tires can be successful business? our business plan.

How to start opening a car service? Of course, with the choice of premises

Garage

The most common option for placing a car service on initial stage work is an ordinary 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 - this is undoubtedly pros.

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

cons become limited workspace and, as a result, the impossibility of expanding the business. The lack of necessary communications - sewerage, water supply - also seriously complicates the work, which can cause criticism from the SES. working conditions in winter time are also not favorable.

Or rent a room for a car service?

Another option may be to rent space from third parties. Pluses such a choice should be considered the opportunity to get at the disposal of 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, which makes it easier to find a workshop and makes it possible to place effective advertising.

disadvantage is a high rent and a short lease term, threatening the success of the business.

What to choose?

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

The disadvantage of the option is the need for time for construction, supply 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 possibilities of the premises. If there is an ordinary garage, then you won’t be able to use the lift in it - they manage viewing hole. Also, limited space can create problems in paint work.

If the occupied area is sufficient, then you should buy equipment of the highest quality and most reliable - you can’t save money on it. Basically, they recommend imported mechanisms and devices as the most accurate, reliable and practical. Be very careful with used equipment.- it is better to avoid buying such an instrument.

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

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

Required personnel for car service

Find a good specialist has always been a difficult task. All experienced craftsmen are usually in business, they are known, appreciated and tried to keep. In no case should you hire random people who do not have 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 damage to equipment, there is a risk of damaging an expensive car, the compensation for which will fall on the shoulders of the workshop.

Ideally, it is necessary to attract professionals with specialized education, experience and seniority. In practice, this is not always possible, but it is necessary to strive for this 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 the positions of a mechanic, bodybuilder, electrician, painter, minder. You will need a receptionist to contact customers when placing an order.

Organization of car service

The organization of the work process is carried out according to the usual rules for production teams, with slight amendments to the specifics of a particular direction.

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

Constant process optimization helps to reduce waste and identifies the most inefficient operations, which increases productivity and disciplines the team.

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

At proper organization labor and high-quality equipment, which is used by competent and qualified people, the success of a car service is undeniable. If all the necessary conditions met, the process is necessarily 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 or another impact and require responses. Therefore, it should be remembered that only the business that is engaged in is successful. By itself, no process works.

Consider an approximate expenses workshop. How much does it cost to open a car service from scratch, and what is needed for this?

Get documents - 20.000 rubles.
Purchase of equipment - 2.000.000 rubles.
Advertising — 30.000 r (all available methods).

The cost 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 per month.

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

In this way, payback SRT can fit within a period of 1 to 3 years.

It should be borne in mind that these figures are rather arbitrary and reflect only approximate costs and incomes, but the order of financial movement is reflected correctly. Also, we must not forget that profitability at equal costs can differ significantly under different operating conditions of the workshop.

Do not forget to draw up a business plan for opening a car service

A detailed "How to open a car service from scratch" should include specific numbers using 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 the activities responsible for how to increase the profit of a car service.

So the station Maintenance automobiles is a promising and profitable type of business, which, given the current trends in the development of the economy, 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 years to come.

The idea of opening your own car repair shop can be visited by an investor who wants to profitably place his capital, as well as an experienced mechanic who is a professional in the field of car repair. Both of them first of all have a reasonable question, how to open a car repair shop and not burn out?

Is this type of business profitable, how much time and money will be required to establish it, will it cover the efforts expended with a good profit, is it worth starting?

The demand for this type of service can be traced by the steady increase in the number of cars not only for a particular city, but also for one family, where 2 cars are no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity. Machines tend to break down and require timely repair or maintenance. And despite the fact that the number of car repair shops is increasing in proportion to the growth in the number of cars, the demand for this service is very high. And the competition created in this niche only improves the quality of service.

This type of business is intended, most likely, for businessmen with good initial capital. After all, you see, the full functioning of a car service is possible only with sufficient investment. To open your own decent car service, you need to invest more than one million rubles.

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"Garage Business"

But what about a professional auto mechanic who really wants to open his own auto repair shop, but is short of money? How to start everything from scratch? Here it is worth thinking about opening a small workshop in an ordinary garage. How much investment will be required? In any case, a car repair shop in a garage will not require astronomical costs, as in the operation of a full-fledged service station. Unlike a well-known car service that provides a full range of car repair and maintenance services, it is preferable to choose a narrow low-cost profile of services provided in a garage car repair shop.

For example, you can carry out pre-sale preparation of a car, which includes the inspection and removal of minor imperfections, such as scratches and chips. Painting cars or parts will also be appropriate, you can also repair engines and gearboxes. Or you can purchase special equipment for computer diagnostics of a car and use it to troubleshoot. It is not so expensive, and the demand is high. Car tuning service is in high demand. The purpose of tuning is to make your car different from the rest, to distinguish it from the crowd. For Russia, this is still a new direction and not very mastered, so here you will open up a vast field of activity. Almost no car can do in our time without modern gadgets that not everyone knows how to install. Heated mirrors and seats, installation of alarms, video recorders, electric locks and so on is also in demand. Which direction to choose is up to you.

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Business must grow and prosper

If you notice that you are missing "hands", do not look for professional mechanics. It is better to find a couple of smart young guys who are versed in technology and teach them the craft. Hiring experienced mechanics will be expensive at first. There are few customers, but you need to pay. The main thing is that you be a pro, then your students will learn to masterfully cope with the case.

How much can you earn in the "garage" business? If you are a first-class specialist, then over time a queue of clients will line up for you. And here everything will already depend on your diligence and skill. Many novice businessmen are scared away by the thought that there simply will not be customers.

At the first stage, this is quite possible, but over time, word of mouth will work, and this is the most effective advertising. And most likely, in a year or two, you will already be working closely in the garage. During this time, you will study all the "pitfalls", learn how to manage your business, "unwind" it. You will have regular customers who will bring their friends and relatives to you. A clear business plan will form in your head further development, and you will no longer be afraid to take a loan to expand your business. After all, all great things start with small achievements. The main thing is to have professionalism, hard work and believe in yourself.

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

According to the Association of European Businesses (AEB), sales of new cars, including commercial vehicles, fell by 8.5% in April 2016, 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 cars were sold less than in the same period in 2015.

However, even such seemingly bleak indicators fall into the hands of the owners of car services, because the longer the car is in operation, the more attentive the attitude in terms of maintenance, possible breakdowns, parts replacement and other manipulations it requires. And for those who are just thinking about organizing a business in this direction, the question arises of how to open a car service that will bring a stable profit.

Car service as a business

Art. 12 " federal law on Licensing Certain Types of Activities” establishes an exhaustive list of types of activities for which a license is required. Vehicle maintenance and repair activities 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 the legal form: individual entrepreneur or LLC;
choice of taxation system;
rent of premises, purchase of equipment, tools, consumables, hiring of personnel.

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, alignment, body repair, and others), the advantages here are the absence of the need to share profits, as in the case of acquiring a franchise; completely independent business, although it is also a disadvantage, since you yourself need to develop a detailed business plan, train staff, set up an advertising campaign, organize the process;
network, this includes official dealer services that specialize in servicing one particular brand, as well as network service stations that provide a full range of services and conduct business according to the rules common to all points, you can purchase a franchise from some of the large networks, the advantage of such a business is: comprehensive support at launch and in the process of activity, and a minus: the cost of the franchise itself and the need to share profits with the brand owner (pay royalties).

Car services 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. The productivity of such a line is about 150 vehicles per shift. And the cost of this complex of services at these stations is 25% cheaper than at ordinary stations.

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

Rice. 1 Authorized 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 authorized dealer, while 24% apply for post-warranty service to independent service stations, the percentage of requests to dealers drops to 23. But as for specific types of work, the dealer is more trusted to repair the gearbox 45% versus 41% for independent service stations, the engine 43% and 39%, respectively.

For other types of work, the surveyed car enthusiasts prefer to turn to independent stations in a larger number of cases: repair of the running gear of a car 48% versus 22%; wheel alignment 67% and 22%; scheduled maintenance - 49% and 19%, repair / refueling of the car air conditioner 62% and 19% and body repair 51% against 16%.

Outlook and trends

Car service is one of the most promising areas in the technology market: the car park is growing. Enterprises acquire new equipment, while not 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, a 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 at the service. In addition, such companies provide club cards that offer a small set of free services (for example, oil changes or tire inflation), as well as additional discounts on basic services. All these moments help to turn an occasional client into a permanent one. It is not for nothing that they say that the theater begins with a hanger, and a car service starts with a client area.

What is important for car owners when choosing a service point

A survey conducted among car enthusiasts (see Figure 2), as well as enterprises owning large and small fleets, showed that when choosing a car service, the quality of work is of paramount importance, and for large fleets it is important by 52%, while for small and individuals — 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 terms of work, which are almost equally important (by 15% and 14%); such moments as the services offered, the attitude of the staff, the implementation of the terms of the repair are secondary when choosing a service point, their significance ranges from 1% to 7%.

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

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

Overview of network car services and the franchises they offer

Federal chain Fit service

The company opened its first station in 2008 in Omsk. Since 2013 (by this time another 8 stations were 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 consists of 55 stations in 23 cities of Russia.

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

garage - a simple format that allows you to reach payback in a short time;
express is the optimal format;
standard - full cycle car service.

The Fit service franchise car services business provides for an automation system: in one program, a warehouse, cash and management accounting are collected. Why is it convenient? The company provides all necessary materials: from the design of the building 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 regulations for repair with detailed description and standard hours for all car models, any year of manufacture.

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

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

Wilgud

The Wilgud car service network was founded by the spouses Sherzod and Barno Tursunov in 2011.

The idea to open a car service from scratch came to businessmen who were previously involved in the trade in building materials, for the following reasons: firstly, this is a business that can be scaled, secondly, it has the potential to grow in a crisis, and 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 show, the ideas of the founders of the Wilgud network were correct.

So, as of March 2016:

there are 28 car services from St. Petersburg to Khabarovsk, of which 6 are owner-owned, 22 are franchised;
the average check of STO Vilgud is 8,000 rubles;
RUB 4,000,000 - 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 customers of Wilgud.

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;
royalties in the first year of operation of a car service - 3.5% of revenue monthly.

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