Every element of your team is critical, from the technicians who complete the repairs to the service writers who assist customers and keep repair orders flowing through your shop management system.
They’re the people who are responsible for directly communicating with guests or working on vehicles. They're the core of your everyday operations, ensuring cars are brought in, estimates move along, and repairs are completed on time.
It is absolutely critical for great shops to start with great talent!
With the power of cloud-based shop management systems, auto repair shops can build the best team possible with the right mindset, culture, and approach to hiring and retaining the best talent.
But Isn't There a Technician Shortage?
We know that there has been some discussion across the industry regarding a technician shortage -- whatever it is, shops feel like it's harder than it's been in the past to find the best talent possible to help them make their great shop even better.
What's interesting though, is that when we look at the numbers, there seems to be a bit of a different story.
For example, according to the 2024 Auto Care Association Fact Sheet, automotive technician employment increased by 3.5% in 2022 alone. Meaning, that there are now 915,000 men and women working at general repair shops, vehicle dealerships, and gasoline service stations.
The reality is, there are even more technicians! And the beauty is, there's no sign of slowing down within the aftermarket auto repair industry, just as we saw in our latest Auto Repair Industry Index.
1. Maximize Employee Compensation
Shops should structure their team and payroll operations to, of course, maximize labor profit margins. But it's also critical that shop owners ensure employees are paid adequately for their work.
Now, shops have the ability to pay different roles in different ways. When we dug into Tekmetric-specific data, we saw shops around the country utilizing different pay structures:
But more importantly, what we really noticed was how Tekmetric makes it possible for shops to find and retain the best talent. In fact, we found that on average, Tekmetric shops can pay their technicians almost $5 higher than the national average from 2022.
The best way to show your team how much you value their hard work is to compensate them well for the work they do. And of course, owners need to ensure the lights can stay on while running a business. That's why a cloud-based shop management system is so critical in maximizing the value of the work you already do.
1. Create an Open-Door Policy
You don’t want to create a situation where your team members feel like it’s required for them to keep you in the loop and ask for your permission before doing anything on their own; they still need to maintain a level of independence, so that they can complete their work, and you can tackle high-level business operations.
But an open-door policy is a great way to balance your team’s need for independence with your need for input.
When your auto repair team members know they can ask you or other members of the management team for help when they need it, they are more likely to speak up when they run into challenges.
By doing so, problems will be less likely to spiral out of control because you and your employees can work together to find solutions.
2. Hold Regular Team Meetings
By holding regular meetings, you can bring your technicians, service advisors, and the rest of your auto shop team together to share ideas and make improvements.
When your auto shop team members start discussing various processes and happenings at your shop, they’ll be able to brainstorm creative, effective solutions—solutions that they might not have come up with on their own.
“In the morning, when I used to go through residency, we would have breakfast in a room of 25 students, and we would discuss cases… It was like a puzzle. One person would discuss a patient, and everybody has to figure out the problem that patient had.
I did the same thing at Motorwërks. I would have breakfast provided, and we would sit in a room and discuss a car that would have a noise or leak and figure out what was wrong.”
What Sunil found was that the practice of daily meetings instilled confidence and camaraderie in his team.
By holding daily or weekly meetings with your entire auto shop team, you can quickly identify and solve problems while strengthening your team.
Use Tekmetric to Hire and Retain the Best Talent
With Tekmetric, your service advisors and technicians can work alongside each other as one unit.
Scaling your business and bringing in even more revenue for your shop doesn't have to rely on finding new customers.
Rather, shops can utilize the features of cloud-based shop management systems to help them maximize profit margins on the work they already do.
With a modern platform like Tekmetic, shops can not only get the most value out of the work they do, but hire the best talent to provide the best service possible.
We’re excited to announce that Tekmetric, the leading cloud-based shop management system for automotive repair shops, is joining forces with Shopgenie, the leading auto repair shop CRM, to provide a comprehensive all-in-one solution that optimizes operations and drives growth for auto repair shops. This combination is set to combine the best of both worlds, offering shop owners smarter tools, seamless integrations, and enhanced features to optimize operations and drive growth—all from a single, unified platform.
So, what does it mean for our partner shops? Here’s a few of the benefits you’ll see in the coming months:
Streamline your operations: Managing your shop requires balancing internal processes while delivering top-notch customer service. With the addition of Shopgenie, we’re not just expanding our platform—we’re creating a true all-in-one solution that addresses the real-world challenges you face every day. Soon, you’ll have one platform, one login, and one phone number for all customer communication, simplifying your workflow and reducing complexity.
Enhance Customer Engagement: Keep your customers informed and engaged with automated marketing tools, text reminders, and follow-ups. With integrated communication tools, you’ll deliver exceptional service that strengthens relationships and boosts customer loyalty.
Increase Efficiency & Profitability: Benefit from seamless integrations with CRM, booking, and marketing tools that reduce manual work, streamline operations, and ultimately increase profitability. Plus, you’ll continue to have the flexibility to use Tekmetric’s 70+ integrations in our robust ecosystem, with Shopgenie continuing to build and support integrations with other shop management systems.
Here’s what our leadership has to say:
“This combination sets a new standard for efficiency and customer experience in the industry. At Tekmetric, we are committed to providing shop owners with best-in-class tools to manage and grow their businesses. Similarly, Shopgenie’s ability to solve real-world challenges with intuitive technology has earned it the trust of shop owners nationwide,” said Sunil Patel, Founder and CEO of Tekmetric. “Together, we are building an all-in-one platform that empowers shop owners to attract, retain and serve customers more effectively, driving long-term growth.”
“Tekmetric’s relentless pursuit of innovation and passion for creating products that make shop owners’ lives easier could not be a more perfect fit for Shopgenie and our customers,” said Kieran O’Brien, CEO and Co-Founder of Shopgenie. “Our combined strengths will create a more complete, powerful platform that sets a new standard for auto repair software solutions.”
At Tekmetric, helping shops measure up is at the core of everything we do. With this combination, we’re building a seamless, all-in-one solution to manage every aspect of your shop more effectively. Together, we’re setting a new benchmark for the industry and aim to take your shop to the next level. Learn more at https://www.tekmetric.com/shopgenie.
Let’s start off by laying down the foundational launching points for starting your original shop: you found your niche, you got the right advice, you started with the right branding, and you impressed your customers by providing exceptional customer service. But there are four key factors that become extremely important as you go from being a single shop owner to a multi-shop owner.
You’ll want to:
Stay organized as you scale
Create consistency across your locations
Test the performance of each of your locations
Leverage an automotive repair software that will support your team as you grow across multiple locations
To select the management tools that will catapult your multi-shop owner journey, you’ll first need to weigh the pros and cons of each of your shop’s processes and procedures.
From there, you can find a system that will uphold and scale the processes that made your shop so successful in the first place, but now across multiple locations. Later in this article, we’ll specifically dive into automotive repair software like Tekmetric and discuss how it supports you, your team, and your customers as you go from a single shop owner to a multi-shop mastermind.
Here’s how to choose an automotive repair software that makes it possible to grow and easily manage multiple shops.
Unlike traditional auto shops, mobile mechanics travel to their customers to provide automotive repairs and services at the clients home. This service is attractive to older clients who may not want to travel as much or for young professionals who are to busy to wait for their car at a shop. Another major perk is that mobile mechanics can often perform services at a cheaper price because of having lower overhead costs.
Mobile mechanics are not able to perform every repair that a brick-and-mortar shop can as they have to transport all of their tools and supplies with them. However, they can still provide these common repair services:
Oil changes
Diagnostics
Tire rotations/replacements
Filter replacements
Batteries
Spark plugs
Alternators
Brake service and more.
How profitable is a mobile mechanic business?
Mechanics can charge whatever they would like but most repairs fall in the $20 - $125 per hour range. Like any business, you have to consider your startup costs, advertising expenses, number of expected clients, and how much your services are worth before determining if your business will be profitable. Overwhelmed yet? Dont worry, we will explain everything in detail below.
6 Steps to become a mobile mechanic
While you may not need a college degree to be a quality mechanic, you will still have to invest in tools, licensing, marketing and other business needs. We have outlined everything you need to start your business below.
Develop a Business plan
Starting with a quality business plan for your business is the first step in making sure you start off on the right foot. Outlining who your competitors are, setting goals and solidifying your financials may seem outdated but they are the foundations of your business. Here are nine steps to creating your business plan:
Write an executive summary
Describe your shop
State your business goals
Describe your products and services
Do your market research
Outline your marketing and sales plan
Perform a business financial analysis
Make financial projections
Create a plan for growth and expansion
Tek-Tip: If you want to jump start your business, consider joining a mobile mechanic business like Wrench.
Gather necessary licenses and certifications
Once you have created your business plan, it is time to start working on your business license. Not every state requires you to acquire a license but some do. Do your research for the state you plan to work in and make sure you are legally ready to open your auto repair shop.
ASE certification: Also known as the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Being one of the largest accreditation organizations, ASE is commonly recognized throughout the auto industry.
Manufacturer certification: Mechanics may elect to gain additional certifications from specific manufacturers (Honda, Toyota, etc.) to add to their credibility. These certifications are also recommended if you only work on certain types of cars.
Refrigerant certification: If you plan to work on MVAC (motor vehicle air conditioners), the EPA requires you to obtain certification in proper refrigerant handling according to Section 609 regulations from the Clean Air Act.
Also, don’t forget to register your business and form the appropriate legal entity (partnership, sole proprietorship, limited liability, or corporation). Each entity has pros and cons, so consult with a legal professional to make sure you are ready to file taxes with the IRS and open your own business.
Set your pricing structure
Your cost per hour or per repair should be reflective of your years of experience, geographical location, types of services performed and competition. Doing some competitor research will help you determine how much clients are willing to pay in your area.
Some mobile mechanics can charge more if they offer premium services or more complicated repairs. If you are new to the area, it may be beneficial to keep your costs low until you have a solid client base. Don’t forget that you can also make money off of part markups.
Lastly, remember to account for inflation, sales tax, parts, and gas for your vehicle. Depending on your payment options, you will also need to account for credit card processing fees. Auto repair can be a seasonal industry (especially in certain states), so make sure to stow away some revenue for slower months.
Insurance coverage
If you are going make an investment in your mobile auto repair business, you need to protect it with the proper insurance coverage. Some of the common insurance plans you should consider include:
Liability insurance
Comprehensive coverage
Fire and theft insurance
Road risks insurance
Lastly, decide if you will be offering any warranties on your services/parts and how that will impact your bottom line.
Invest in quality equipment
Tools: A reliable power source, jack or portable car lift, drain pans, safety equipment, scanners, cleaning sprays, diagnostic equipment and gloves are all important to have on hand. Also, don’t forget a proper lighting source.
Parts: Having commonly needed auto parts in your inventory will save you time rather than waiting for parts to be delivered to you. However, you should also determine how much inventory space you have and how to maximize it.
Software: A cheat code for mobile mechanics is adding cloud-based auto repair software that can help you keep track of inventory, invoices, billing, inspections, marketing, and more all in one place.
Vehicle: Reliable transportation is critical for mobile mechanics. Select a vehicle that has enough storage to accommodate large parts and good fuel economy for longer trips. Lastly, don’t forget to bring shelter in case of inclement weather so you can continue to work in the elements.
Tek-Tip: If you need help coming up with a mobile mechanic business name, we have developed a guide to the best auto repair business names. In addition, we developed an AI-powered name generator tool that can also help with logo creation.
Marketing and advertising
You can offer the best mobile mechanic service in your state but without a proper marketing strategy, customers may struggle to find you. Here are some common marketing efforts that will help you build a strong customer base.
Website: A strong website is the glue that holds all of your marketing efforts together by providing a central location to find prices, services, phone number, and more. Make sure your website reflects what makes you better than your competition. SEO (search engine optimization) is another important factor to include in your website to ensure you are visible to those searching online for your services.
Tek-Tip: Not tech savvy? Tekmetric Marketing can help by offering website building, online scheduling, review management, and more.
Paid advertising: Strategize where your target audience is located and how you can leverage paid advertisements to attract more customers. Possible opportunities include Google ads, social media ads, local event sponsorship and more.
Social media: Social media is a great place to highlight customer testimonials and engage with your audience. Experiment with varying content types until you find what resonates with your customers.
Traditional marketing: Mailers, business cards, flyers, billboards and direct mail can all be impactful marketing tactics for local businesses. Considering adding a QR code pointing users to your website or adding coupons to incentivize customers.
Referral program: Testimonials go a long way for word-of-mouth marketing. Consider offering a discount on future services for each new customer they refer to your business.
Email: Email marketing is a great way to retain existing customers by offering incentives or coupons to ensure your car repair business stays top of mind. Another impactful email marketing tactic is to send oil change reminders to existing clients.
Closing Thoughts
Starting a mobile mechanic business can be intimidating but the flexible working hours, independence and profitability make it worthwhile. Being a small business owner is not for everyone, consider starting out as part time and move into full time as your profitability grows. Don’t forget to utilize your network to learn industry trends and new tactics to grow your business.
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