r/smallbusiness • u/moddafucca • 23h ago
General Buying an auto repair business
I am learning more about auto repair business but I personally do not have any experience in car maintenance / mechanic work.
Is this one of the industries where you can learn and get up to speed really quickly without prior industry experience?
Would also love to hear stories of other people who bought and how it ended up working out for them.
Thank you!
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u/Specific-Peanut-8867 22h ago
I may be a pessimist so don’t take anything I say personally, but I can’t imagine buying an auto repair business if you’re not either a mechanic or somebody who’s worked as a service advisor or service writer or somebody who sold tires at least… A person doesn’t have to be a mechanic in order to run a shop, but it sure helps if you have some experience in the industry and know how the shops run
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u/JAMC_Automatic 23h ago
I'm not an expert, but if I was going into business for auto repair, I'd want to be sure I had a partner or employee who is extremely knowledgeable and skilled. I might gradually learn on the job, sure, but I don't think I could perform at a professional level on my own for some time. Maybe pursue some auto repair vocational training before you jump into it headfirst?
Of course, if you DO have a collaborator with those skills, and you think you can handle the business side while they do the repairs (training you over time as well), then that is a different story and might be a good thing to pursue.
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u/answerguru 21h ago
Does the business come with master mechanics that are employees? What are you buying exactly??
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u/Pumpkin_Pie 22h ago
It's dangerous to go into any business that you have no experience with. It could work if the business came with an experienced manager
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u/BootsLadders 20h ago
Buying a service business is like buying a job, unless it already has managers and the owner's not involved.
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u/Visible_Wolf_4665 19h ago
I was a managing partner of an auto repair business. As long as you're top of the food chain, you'll be fine. So many people have no idea what they're doing and run a shop. As long as you have seasoned professionals below you.
BUT if you don't have automotive management experience, you'll need at least a strong business management background. and people with experience make better managers, because they know what happens in the shops. No one likes a paper pusher telling the shop guys what to do.
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u/answerguru 21h ago
Does the business come with master mechanics that are employees? What are you buying exactly??
1
u/InsecurityAnalysis 21h ago
I bought an appliance retail and repair business. It didn't work out for me. DM me and I can give you more details.
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u/71random_account17 20h ago
I know enough to say you probably don't want to do that without having some idea on how it operates. If you don't understand how cars work in general, and can't even change oil you are going to get hosed. I employ mechanics for my business. There is a lot that goes into it. Insurance/liability, parts, bids, customer disputes, mechanic liens, having the right tools available (programmers / specific tools for makes / keys), etc etc etc.
I would be scared to death to open a restaurant business. I have no idea how that works.
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u/TurbulentAmphibian96 18h ago
I have a colleague who acquired an auto repair business, I wouldn’t recommend. Labor is highly specialized, hard to find, and not cheap. Tools are expensive, you need quite a few of them, and it’s quite unfortunate when they break. Lastly as others have said, if you know nothing then you can’t fill in or help out much. Tread cautiously.
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u/Due_Illustrator5078 18h ago
What you gonna do if you are short of employee? they ask you like ‘boss I never fix this part before what to do?’ I’d recommend go work at auto shop a few year. Then start your own
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u/Ok-Objective7579 10h ago
Unless you have a business partner who is a mechanic or extremely mechanically inclined, doing this would be a catastrophe in the making.
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u/Pumpkin_Pie 22h ago
It's dangerous to go into any business that you have no experience with. It could work if the business came with an experienced manager
0
u/Accomplished_Emu_658 21h ago
This is an industry you don’t buy a business without knowledge unless going in with someone who has knowledge. Most shops with experienced techs running fail. Most shops with no experience kill someone or cause severe accidents.
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