Opening my own Workshop

[Hayden]

My mechanic has an enitire wall in the waiting room dedicated to showing certificates and awards of his own and those who work for him, things like yearly catch-up courses on LPG install or Fuel Injection Tuning to his qualification certificate which is dated 1974 lol.

Another suggestion, put as much info on your website as possible, to avoid a lot of window shoppers calling. I personally don't understand why prices aren't displayed on everyones website. It's not like someone will buy something expensive just because they called you, and won't buy it if they see the price on the internet. They're either going to buy it or not, regardless of how they found the price.

This is a brilliant idea! It shits me when I go to look up a business and there's yellowpages ad listings, but no company website. That'd be your major tool for attracting new customers, perhaps list a general service price that is a little bit cheaper than competition in the area for a little while, also specials on parts, packages, even sponsor deals, you may get in a bulk load of say.. brembo's for dirt cheap because a supplier is trying to get rid of them, so you do 10%+ off, i suppose this comes down to doing your research and maintaining good relations with your supplier(s).

In my opinion I like to walk into a workshop in which the mechanics and owner respect themselves, therefore i know they're going to respect my property.

Anyway man, goodluck with everything .

[Duffman]

thanks for all the comments guys, some great stuff in here. plan is to open 1st week in july. be open thurs, fri and sat for now. address will be 21 Kennett ST kadina i believe.

think il go by A.X.E performance

[Dumpsta]

Hope this goes well for you mate, I like the whole "Axe Performance" thing minus the pics of the axes... Maybe a battle axe I reckon?... not a couple of hatchets whatever.

I just took the step myself earlier this year to start my own business etc. The job satisfaction at the end of the day is incredible, I dont have to pay the rent for a shop or other jazz like that but I recommend keeping all your paperwork in top order etc.

I reckon the office can make or break a business.. I like to see modern and comfortable, hate mechanics with a cluttered office with mounds of paperwork, no where to sit and a computer that looks ancient. Keep it spacious and tidy..

Stickers for customers cars would also be a sweet touch.. Good luck with it.

[Duffman]

http://www.facebook.com/pages/AXE-Perfo ... 82?sk=wall

mail order parts and tunes guys. hit me up

[misk]

i dont think luke will have any issues with the workshop looking like shit or poor workmanship or customer service.
i think once word gets out that you've made the jump to operating as a business things will go fine.

i've only ever been in the office of a few mechanics shops and barely took any notice to be honest lol.
as long as the area for customers to pay bills and do office shit is practical and clean then its all good.
display info about the services you offer and whats involved and as has been mentioned, have a large 'display' style poster with details of what the workshop performed and also a separate board or a book of some sort for other cars from smaller jobs with what was performed by the workshop and a breakdown of prices to give people an idea of costs for some more popular mods.

[nothin suss]

Stickers for customers cars would also be a sweet touch.. Good luck with it.

I hate (and I know alot of guys think the same) workshops that put stickers on your car.
Offer the customer a sticker or magnet/keyring/stubble holder but don't slap it on their car.
I don't visit workshops much being a mechanic but the last exhaust place that put a sticker on my car had a removed sticker left in their driveway and a non returning customer. There wasn't a sticker or fingerprint on the car when it came there, why should it leave looking like a grubby $250 VN Commodore?

[Duffman]

Stickers for customers cars would also be a sweet touch.. Good luck with it.

I hate (and I know alot of guys think the same) workshops that put stickers on your car.
Offer the customer a sticker or magnet/keyring/stubble holder but don't slap it on their car.
I don't visit workshops much being a mechanic but the last exhaust place that put a sticker on my car had a removed sticker left in their driveway and a non returning customer. There wasn't a sticker or fingerprint on the car when it came there, why should it leave looking like a grubby $250 VN Commodore?

could not agree more! stickers will be available at request only

[InfernalTyrant]

I'd put a heap of stickers at the office desk, and tell customers they can take one if they want.

[iCER]

here is a tip for you.


Go apply on those deals websites to promote your business.

EG: deals.com.au (there are a fair few now for melbourne)

THEWORKSHOP in cheltenham and also BRIDGESTONE have things on there every now and then.

Instead of me explaining, just check one of their ads:

http://www.cheapcheapdeals.com.au/daily ... e-on-cudo/

Client supplies all the oils/parts, you just do the labour.

Good way to get a new business up. The way it works is with every 'ticket' sold on the website, they get like 5$ or some sort of commission.

GL with it all.

[Duffman]

thats pretty interesting icer

[NUT347]

thats pretty interesting icer

Lol for once.

[NUT347]

I'd put a heap of stickers at the office desk, and tell customers they can take one if they want.

Don't do this.

Otherwise bogan shit talking kunts will take stickers and plast them all over there rusted up VN with grinding brakes.

When i got my BA tuned at chiptorque, they gave me a little folder with my invoice inside, what they did to my car and how I could improve it next time around... And a little sticker.

[Avanti]

Personally I find it really annoying when mechanics don't clean the mess they made on my car

Yet to come accross such a mechanic

and we all should know how hard it is to get rid of those black finger marks on the car if they aren't wiped up straight away, especially if you own a white car!

[thebeast.]

My mechanic washes every car that is serviced or any car that has a bit of labour on it.

Full wash. wheels and all including quick interior clean.

[BROCKYB8]

I'd put a heap of stickers at the office desk, and tell customers they can take one if they want.

Don't do this.

When i got my BA tuned at chiptorque, they gave me a little folder with my invoice inside, what they did to my car and how I could improve it next time around... And a little sticker.

i agree with this .

[galapogos01]

Now listed on my site too Luke.

[sdoylie]

everyone has said the basics and essentials, and ill probabaly go over a few.

ok here's what i have learned over the years from different workshops i have worked in. this is going to be a long one. haha.

my first workshop in canberra (where i did my apprenticeship) was the most successful for alot of reasons.
my bosses favourite quote was 'customer satisfaction'.
attention to detail is the key. even though the car might just be in for a lube. customers like to see that workshop have actually done something to the car, not just replace the lube sticker (or put the new sticker over the old one, which i have seen )
a quick clean of the windows and some tyre shine goes along way. as some people have said, a full car clean inside and out is great for cars that have been in the workshop for a while and have gathered alot of dirt and dust. oh and definitly check for accidental finger prints on the guards and inside the car, before it goes out.

our office was immaculate. clean, comfy lounges and tv, complementary expresso and muffin for all customers.
our receptionist was a previous mechanic who worked with us, but just got sick of the tools. knows a stupid amount about all types of cars. perfect for the job. no need to pull the boss off his job to talk to a customer about a run through on a new lpg system.

out the back, we had painted floors, workshop full of equipment, mechanics had clean overalls everyday.

all in all, the quiality of work was great, service was incredible, the workshop as a whole just works.

they started the business from scratch and had to work a few jobs at the start to keep the place afloat. but it has paid off and is now one of the most successfull privately owned workshops in canberra.

just found their website. http://mitchellservicecentre.com.au/

ok that was more detail than expected. wont go on with the crappy workshops, you know how they work, or dont work for that matter.

listen to people who have tried and tested ways of owning and running a successful business.

good luck mate. hope all goes well. remember, its the little things that count.

[SNR]

attention to detail is the key. even though the car might just be in for a lube. customers like to see that workshop have actually done something to the car, not just replace the lube sticker

This.


One of the many training courses I have done through work mentioned another similar example - you replace transmission fluid? Adjust/clean/tighten the shifter so it FEELS like it's been serviced straight away