Do you want to know how to start a car repair business in Nigeria? If yes, then you should continue reading this article. There is so much potential in the auto bodywork industry.
Each year, thousands of motorists experience vehicular accidents that require the unique skill of professionals in the auto bodywork industry, i.e., collision and paint stores.
Professional car repairs require training and proficiency and could be a little challenging for new starters. With the right start-up capital and experience coupled with the proper steps, you could get started with your auto body store.
In this article, I have highlighted the following steps on how to start a car repair business.
1.Acquire the Training and Certification
If you are interested in starting a car repair business, you will first have to acquire the necessary training and certification if you have already not done that. It would help if you learned as much as you can about everything relating to car repair works and the painting of cars.
Most likely, you will need to sign up for a vocational or technical repair program. You should gather enough work experience by working in another car repair business for a particular period.
To give you an edge in the industry, it would be highly beneficial to learn as much as possible from somebody who is already in the business. Get advice and wisdom from people who have already established a car repair business to help you get started on your auto body store.
This is the best step to take on how to start a car repair business in Nigeria.
2. Choose a niche for your car repair business
Getting started on your car repair business in Nigeria would become much more rewarding to specialize in a particular car repair business niche. Although most garages offer general repairs and services, you should increase your business by focusing on providing niche repairs that your competitors may not provide.
Some niche repairs include repainting, detailing, and collision repairs. Determine which niche to start.
3.Franchise or Independent
Planning to start a car repair business store would require you to buy a franchise or form an independent auto body store.
You should note that irrespective of your choice, you will have to face the pros and cons as you get started with your car repair business.
Starting a car repair business could be very challenging than most service businesses. If you have very little knowledge about how to go about creating your auto body store, I would strongly recommend you consider buying a franchise.
4. Write a Business Plan
You should never forfeit this step if you are keen on starting a car repair business in Nigeria. The benefits of writing a perfect business plan far outweigh the stress and efforts you would put in.
Amongst many of the benefits of writing a good business plan for your car repair business are the ability to secure funds and loans from investors and banks, respectively.
Your business plan should clearly state your auto body store’s purpose, financial projections such as your business revenue and expected expenses, and a detailed analysis of the competition in your desired location.
5. Get a Good Location
I would not tell you that location is the most important thing to consider when starting a car repair service or any business. Still, I would say it is a crucial thing to consider because it goes a long way towards determining the success of your business.
Get a perfect location where the competition is not too stiff to crumble an upcoming auto body store like yours. Most importantly, you should choose a location where your car repair services meet your target customers’ needs. Key locations you should look out for are areas that have very high traffic.
6. Get Registered and Obtain Business Licenses and Permits
As with every other business, you must get legally registered and obtain the necessary licenses and permits if you plan to start an auto body store. Choose a very catchy business name and proceed to the relevant authorities in your country to get your auto body store registered. Corporate Affairs Commission is best known for this visit their homepage here https://www.cac.gov.ng/.
You will have to obtain a business license, property use permits, tax structure, and ID number, amongst many other charges.
7. Get Funding for your Car Repair Business
According to most business plan estimates, start-up capital for car repair businesses ranges from about #1million and #5million or more. Aside from your actual storage space and land, your highest cost would be repair equipment. If you are serious about starting your car repair business, you must not underestimate the above figures.
To get started, you should decide how to get funds for your car repair business in Nigeria. If you consider securing loans from banks, you need your business plan to secure loans from banks.
8.Hire the Right Employees/Apprentices and Equipment
Car repair works are not so easy; they are tough. You will need to hire the right employees and apprentices. Your new auto body store can establish a long-term, fruitful working relationship with a skilled mechanic trained by your experts by employing apprentices and certified mechanics.
Also, it would help if you got the necessary equipment you will need for your car repair business. For a start, the following are important ones you must bring: tools, lifts, and the initial parts inventory.
9. Market and Promote your Car Repair Business
If you are interested in starting and taking your auto body store to the next level, you can never go wrong by reaching out to others about your auto body store.
It does not hurt to get a business card (keep it simple). Reach out to family and friends. You should have a website for your auto body store. Have an online presence by promoting your auto body store on social media like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
It would help if you considered advertising your car repair services on the radio and television. It would help if you ever considered offering coupons and discounts to your customers; it is a perfect way to start.
Now, this how-to start car repair business in Nigeria. This should give you a head-start
