subject: How To Effectively Advertise Your Local Automotive Repair Business [print this page] How To Effectively Advertise Your Local Automotive Repair Business
Business Presense
Starting an automotive repair business is probably one of the easiest and most profitable businesses to start, especially if you are a mechanic. Cars and trucks are always going to need service and repairs; making the automotive repair business a very lucrative and wise business investment choice. However, there's a little more to it than simply opening up a small garage and hanging a sign out front. Like any business it takes planning, investment, and an effective marketing campaign before an automotive business will bear fruition and profit.
The following describes the essential business and marketing components to get your automotive business on its way.
Business Components:
Nothing can be more important than being organized and prepared for the start of your new automotive repair business. Having the following components in place displays professionalism and the ability to effectively market your new automotive shop with a memorable presence.
Mobile Themes
Create a business plan
If your considering the idea of purchasing property for your automotive business site, be sure to exercise due diligence in researching the property before you buy it. Check local zoning and ordinances to see if it is permissible to run an automotive repair shop at the location.
Check the demographics. You don't want to open a shop in a geographical area where there are a lot of other automotive shops or an area that is difficult for people to access on the way to work or on the way home after work.
Finally, the business plan should include financing provisions and plans to pay the money back, if in fact, you do borrow money to purchase the property or get the business started.
Apply for necessary local licenses
Licenses may vary based on what state, county and city your automotive repair business is in. One of the best ways to find out this information is to call the local better business bureau or the taxing and licensing authorities in your city for a list of licenses you will need. Some of the common licenses associated with businesses include an occupational license, sales tax license and any licenses for the disposal of hazardous waste associated with your automotive repair shop.
Register the business with the state
Choose which entity you would like the business registered under, such as an LLC, Corporation, Partnership, or Sole Proprietor. You may wish to consult with an attorney or your accountant to choose the option that suits your business best. Once you make that decision, apply for and obtain an employer identification number (EIN).
Apply for and obtain business insurance
For the purpose of protecting your automotive repair & service business it is best to obtain a garage keeper's insurance policy. A garage keeper's policy is an insurance policy that covers the business should an employee or customer get injured on the job. It also protects the shop in the event a repair causes damage to a person or his vehicle.
Inventory and logistics
Make sure you have all the needed paperwork, including work orders and invoices. Stock any and all product inventory which you will keep on hand, such as oil, shop rags, fluids, and parts. Be prepared for a lot of customers and the need for supplies. Having extra inventory is always better than running out.
Mechanics
Any mechanics you hire and employ should be A. S. E. Certified. Certification not only makes your service reputable, but ensures that the mechanics are properly skilled and educated for most automotive service and repair tasks.
Mobile Themes
Marketing Your Business
When I began my recent endeavor to build a website and market an automotive service & repair business located in Wales, Wisconsin, there were certain things that were already in place; making my campaign an easy one. But not every marketing campaign is easy, and automotive businesses can be a rather challenging process to achieve good results in because there is so much competition. However, focusing on a couple of basics usually achieve desired results.
Advertising
Marketing your automotive repair business entails the application of proper advertising techniques and some basic marketing principles.
If your business is brand new, holding a grand opening advertisement which offers specials is one effective way of getting the business recognized. It is essential to advertise a grand opening event for at least one month before the actual opening day.
Business website
One typical mistake that many start-up businesses make is to spend thousands of dollars on build-outs, improvements, and equipment, but they fail to make an investment on promoting their business via the internet. Some business owners have the illusion that if they open-up and hang a sign on a busy street their business will prosper. This is far from the truth! Excuses like, , "I don't advertise because I have more business than I can handle", or I don't need to advertise because "It's to expensive, or it's doesn't work," is not uncommon. Ultimately they sit there and wait for people to show up with their automotive needs and most often it never happens because potential customers do not even know of their existence.
You must advertise your business, otherwise your business will either die, or if you're lucky profits may be just enough to pay the bills?
Website marketing
Most small and medium size businesses don't understand the importance of getting their name out there in front of people. The internet is probably the most popular and effective means of free advertising that is available in today's world. Recent studies show that 82% of all Americans turn to the internet to search for things such as products and local businesses to service their particular needs. As such, attaining a business website should be one of the primary goals in your automotive business marketing campaign.
With a seasoned internet marketing company, your website can attain free local advertising, inclusion in the major search engine maps, as well as a business page in popular social media venues such as Twitter and Facebook. The most effective of these three is through the utilization of the major search engine maps. Google, Yahoo and Bing all have local business listing options which include your businesses location on the map.
By having your business listing in one or all of the search engine maps you are able to geographically target your business area. An example would be like that in the instant case in which the target area is Wales, Wisconsin. As such, the primary target group would be Wales Automotive or even Waukesha Automotive because Wales is actually located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. But generalizing your geographical area is not recommended. It is more effective to specifically target the exact community that your business is located in order to have effective results for your business. Again, however, this entails some investment and application of a sound internet marketing plan.
Many large corporations devote entire departments to promoting their business. They spend a large percentage of their profits, usually 10-15% promoting their business either through agencies or in-house advertisement and/or internet marketing departments. They understand the importance of advertising and promoting their product or service. That is how they were able to become large companies.
As a small or medium size business you should adopt the same philosophy.
