Welcome back to Part II in our series on setting up your own mobile repair shop. Obviously, this is a large topic, and we want to make sure we get it right. Today, we will dig further into what it takes to make sure you get your business onto its feet and ready to go. The nation needs mobile repair shops more than ever. Will yours be one?
In Part I of our series, we introduced you to the concept of creating your own mobile repair shop. We talked about finances and ethics around doing a good job and running a respectable business. Today, we will look at what may arguably be one of the most important parts, if not the most important part, of running a mobile repair shop – your truck.
Examine Your Truck and Tool Setup
When you set up your truck you have two things to consider:
- Who is your target customer?
- How much inventory do you plan to carry?
Generally, mobile repair shops invest in extended cab pickups. Others prefer converted box trucks or large vans. In that instance you do have more space to move around within the vehicle compartment. Either way you go, a couple things you must have are decent mileage and a good bench seat. You will be spending a lot of time in the cab, so don’t take your comfort for granted. Do you like listening to music? You can get nice trucks set up with good sound systems.
After you have made your decision, it is time to evaluate the tool situation. Not every tool you will have in a typical repair ship will fit onto the truck, but there are some tools that are more important – common tools you will definitely need. They include socket sets, brake tools, a scanning tool and an impact gun.
It might also be a good idea to carry an air reel and air compressor and pumps with you. Many technicians have specific parts they use often to help them make a diagnosis. Customize the setup of our truck around the tools you intend to use.
The key is ensuring you do not have to waste time returning to home base if you forget a part or tool you needed while out on the job. It is recommended that you put a lot of consideration into the parts you want to keep close at hand and the kind of vehicle to support them.
What Will the Hours Be?
The good thing about being a business owner is that you can set up your own hours. If you want to work typical nine to five hours with weekends off, you can do that. Just make sure you consider the needs of your business. Also consider that working during much-needed evening hours can also be quite lucrative.
Night service fills a critical need. Many long-haul truckers run overnight and those trucks need some kind of maintenance. They need rescue the same as daytime runners do. And since there are less mobile repair shops operating at those hours, you have a critical revenue source at your disposal.
A lot of fleets actually prefer working with vendors who offer overnight service. In these cases, you will travel to a specific location and get whatever work you need done after end of day hours. Motor carriers often do this in concert with their preventative maintenance program. The clients benefit because they get the work done and you get steady night gigs and the ability to take more daytime hours off.
What Are the Pros and Cons?
As with any new endeavor, there are pros and cons. No one should open a business on a whim. It is a big investment in both time and hard-earned dollars. It is a commitment that must be taken very seriously. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of opening your own mobile repair shop.
First, the obvious pro is that many markets are not even close to saturation level. This is a nascent industry with a lot of potential for hard working newcomers who can make a splash in the market. Initially, you simply may not find much competition out there, which is great for you! You may even be able to charge slightly higher rates as a result. It is a simple matter of supply and demand.
If you want to work more regular hours, it is likely you can do that too. With far less market saturation, mobile repair operators starting businesses now can be the true masters over their own schedule and take the word they need when they want to take it. Being a business owner is in and of itself an obvious benefit.
There are cons, of course, as there are with anything. You must have a lot of investment ready to go and have the wherewithal to see your vision through. It can also be easy to forget a license or something important. You must have excellent safe driving credentials. But these are not even necessarily cons, but more hurdles to overcome.
What Will You Repair?
Consider that mobile repair units can repair just about anything. We have been talking about big rigs, but to be fair, they aren’t the only commercial motor vehicles that utilize mobile repair units. There is a lot of heavy-duty machinery doing work out there on our roads and highways – who services them? Mobile repair shops certainly can.
From farm equipment to warehouse and maritime equipment, there is a lot of heavy stuff out there that people would rather not try and bring to your shop should it break down. Logistically, it is just much easier for the shop to come to them. Going to them also saves the time and energy they must spend and helps you develop a stronger relationship with them.
Most heavy equipment operators and companies that utilize heavy equipment prefer to have a steady mechanic vendor partner who they can call whenever they need specific help. If you operate in an ethical way, charge fair market prices, and practice good customer service, you will make partners for a long time.
Also remember that you may need to specialize in a certain type of repair work. You can’t just drive down to the nearest marina or construction site and start doing work. You need to ensure you have the proper certifications and training. Plan on hiring technicians? They need to have the right paperwork in order as well.
Keep Marketing in Mind
Far too business owners put anything into marketing themselves. Sure, you may have a truck and the right paperwork, but how do you get people to know who you are? First, make sure you have a good website set up. List your hours, location, testimonials, and have a clear contact form so people can get in touch with you.
You also want to make sure you create and claim your Google Listing. This will allow you to be easier seen online. Also make sure to set up your social media channels and stay active in them. This will aid in your recruiting efforts as well, as it is very likely people will be evaluating your online presence before they even come to work for you.
There are also a lot of truck repair directories out there you can join. With many of these directories, you can even purchase advertising or find access to other services that you might need as a mobile repair shop owner.
Finally, don’t skimp on other tried-and-true marketing methods. Put your name and contact info on pens, magnets, shirts, and other items. Give yourself some schwag. You want to make sure you represent your company well while also giving yourself more opportunities to market your services. Put your business cards at restaurants and give them to people you meet.
With the Back Office in Mind
While you likely are technician because you don’t want to deal with back office needs, as a business owner, you will have to. There will be many times you have to deal with the administrative side of your business. Fortunately, technology makes that task very easy.
You can have your office set up in your home or in a small inexpensive suite in a commercial center. You could even have a small office set up in your truck, with a Wi-Fi hotspot and more. But really, you should have a separate space, especially if you want to scale and grow the business.
The fact is there is something exciting about the life of a mobile technician. With many fleets turning to these third-party vendors to help them stay running during road emergencies, now is the time to get into the business. We hope our two-Part series has helped you make the decision!