"How To Start Your Own Auto Tune-Up Shop Business"

The marketing principles outlined within this report 
emphasize the money-making potential of an independent 
auto tune-up shop in any part of the country. One of 
the secrets of success in this business is the 
specialization. No longer do auto owners expect their 
neighborhood service station to keep their cars tuned-up 
and running smoothly.

There are several reasons for the demise of the local 
"do-it-all" auto mechanic: first, there are very few auto 
mechanics running service stations anymore. A good 
journeyman auto mechanic can earn much more, without the 
responsibility, by hiring out to big-time auto 
dealerships. Most service stations today are simply gas 
and tire selling outlets operated by the major oil 
companies who advise you to take your mechanical problems 
elsewhere for repair. When you do find one with a mechanic 
on duty, the prices are such that only the very rich can 
afford them.

There's also the problem of unethical operators. Although 
many state legislatures have enacted licensing and consumer 
protection safety measures, the rip offs continue. The crux 
of the problem is that most auto owners do not realize 
they've been taken until after the fact, and then it's too 
late. After being taken once or twice, among consumers turn 
to "do-it-yourself" auto repair until they run into 
technology and advanced electronics of the ignition system 
on today's cars. That's when they'll be needing your help.

It really doesn't take any special education or training to 
set up and independent auto tune-up shop. Any automotive 
repair experience you may have will help, but a simple 
knowledge of basic tune-up procedures is all that's really 
necessary. In fact, the important prerequisites will be a 
strong business sense and an old fashioned "down-home" to 
get along with people.

Remember this fact: In staring and operating this business, 
it's not mandatory that you be a qualified auto mechanic; 
but your success will depend  upon your ability to "serve 
others," and upon having a genuine desire and ability to 
do a good job.

This means remembering  faces and names; addressing 
customers by first names as you get to know them; and 
listening to them; interacting with their problems and 
achievements. The best way to explain the kind of "people 
empathy" you need for success in any kind  of service 
business is to think of all your customers as close friends.

You can start this business in your garage--and even on 
a part-time basis. Run an ad in your local paper:

    QUICK IN & OUT AUTO TUNE-UPS...Low cost guaranteed. 
    We pick up and deliver...Call Jim at 123-4567

Place a similar ad or notice on all the bulletin boards in 
your area. To drum up business and get the ball rolling, 
you could even solicit customers via phone. Simply start 
calling people out of the phone book. Tell them that your 
shop is offering a change-of season special on auto tune-
ups--in and out in less than an hour for $5, plus parts, 
which usually run less than $10, and then ask them if 
they'd like for you to pick up and deliver their car 
this afternoon or evening.

Another way of managing, building and promoting your 
business is via the service stations and auto parts stores 
in your area. Have posters or signs painted, advertising 
your "quick in-and-out" tune-up service. Take them around 
to all the service stations that don't handle auto repair, 
and to the auto parts stores, and ask them to put your 
signs in their windows.

The next thing would be to hand out your business cards 
wherever you go and to everybody you meet. Give a handful 
to your friends, and ask them to write their name on the 
back of the cards and hand them out for you. You could 
promise them a dollar or two for every customer who 
brings in a card with their name on it. You'll be quite 
pleasantly surprised at how fast your business will grow 
when you take advantage of these promotional methods.

Still another idea is to have advertising circulars made 
up. Pay some junior high school students to hand them out 
at busy shopping centers on weekends, especially after 
the first cold snap or hot spell of the year. If you live 
in a large metropolitan area, leave off stacks at your 
downtown parking lots and get the lot attendants to hand 
them out as the people pay their parking fees.

You should be able to trade tune-up work for free radio 
advertising, especially after or during any change in the 
weather. This kind of advertising should work very well for 
you, so plan on it and use it at those times when people 
are most likely to be thinking about a tune-up.

You can set this business up very simply and operate it 
according to the sophisticated time-saving methods of the 
highly capitalized franchised operations.

This means an electronic check of the ignition system and 
scientific diagnosis of the engine. Check with the auto parts 
and tools distributors in your area. They should be able to 
steer you onto the national manufactures or suppliers of the 
equipment you need.

Here's how to buy the equipment: Decide upon a supplier and 
explain your business plan to him. Tell him you want to 
finance the cost of the equipment through your local bank 
with him as your co-signer. Get the bank to draw up the 
papers, make a layout of your shop and equipment with the 
help of your supplier, and that's all there is to it.

After you've electronically checked the ignition, the next 
step in your quick tune-up procedure is to replace all parts 
that aren't operating properly. This usually means points,
condenser and plugs. In some cases this may include a new 
rotor, distributor cap, fuel filter, air cleaner and maybe 
spark wires. Be hesitant to suggest extras beyond the basics 
until your business is established. Spray some chemical 
cleaning fluid into and on the carburetor, start the engine, 
set the timing, make any necessary adjustments--and the job 
is complete. You charge the customer about $10 for parts, 
(according to your cost) plus $5 for labor, and you should 
be on your way to a good income.

As you become established, and as your customers gain 
confidence in your work, you'll be able to suggest and sell 
them such things as new batteries, battery cables, starters, 
voltage regulators, alternators and sometimes even generates
--when these parts are not working properly and need 
replacement. It's important that you don't sell, or even 
allow your customers to buy parts from you that are not 
really needed for continued trouble-free operation of their 
vehicles. Another thing: when you do replace a major piece 
of equipment on a customer's auto, always schedule the 
replacement work for a time when you're not handling regular 
in and out tune-up customers. In other words, you might 
schedule the replacement of a generator for Monday, after 
advising the customer of the need on Friday. Suggest that 
he leave the car with you all day, and pick it up on his 
way home from work. Or he could stop by on his way to work, 
and  you take him to work, replacing the generator during 
the day, and pick him up after work.

The charge for replacing a major engine components such as 
suggested should be $10 plus the cost of the replacement 
part. It's also very important that whenever you contract 
to do this kind of work, you have the work done and the car 
ready for your customer at the time promised him it'll be 
ready. No one likes to wait around for the completion of 
work that was promised to be done at a specific time. By 
completing the work on time, and having your customer's car 
properly serviced as promised, you'll build more long-term 
loyalty than any fancy advertising, "come-on" gimmicks or 
rock-bottom prices ever offered.

So the thing to do as you organize your business is to 
established accounts---sources of wholesale priced parts--
with the major auto parts distributors in your area. You'll 
want to maintain a general supply of new parts on hand, and 
not have to worry about paying for them for at least 30 days. 
In other words, you'll need a cash-flow system that works to 
your advantage.

Your profit will come from developing a standard routine that 
allows you to move at least four cars through your shop every 
hour. Some automotive purists may argue that you're only 
providing a "pep-up" instead of a tune-up, but let them beat 
their gums. Give each car the same procedure: and electronic 
check, new points and condenser, then an engine diagnosis, 
and collect your fee.

Talk with your customers. Get to know them and allow them to 
get to know you. Then when your engine diagnosis indicates a 
valve job or a new carburetor you can recommend it to them and 
they'll trust your judgement.

You, as the operator of a quick tune-up shop, should not 
volunteer any major mechanical work. Suggest someone whose 
work you trust. Your customer will appreciate your suggestion 
and concern. And he'll remain loyal to your for not taking his 
money and attempting to give him a repair job in an area where 
you don't specialize.

After all, you're tune-up specialist---the guy who knows all 
there is to know about a car's ignition system---the guy who 
keeps cars running smoothly. By specializing in a particular 
area of auto repair, and recommending other specialists as 
needed, you'll be able to quickly dispel the skepticism many 
car owners have for independent auto repair shops in general.

An assembly line in-and-out operation will reduce the 
necessary investment for tools, enable you to hire low-cost 
workers, and greatly increase your profit potential by 
eliminating wasted motion. Keep it simple, routine and 
according to a definite procedure on every car.

Once you have your business established and a regular 
following of people who bring their cars to you for regular 
tune-ups---usually every six months--you can begin thinking 
about expansion. It's best to hire college students, or 
"car-crazy" high school students, to work alongside you. 
Give your customers a chance to recognize and know your help. 
When you find one who seems to be especially mechanically 
inclined, take him aside and offer him the title of assistant 
manager of your shop.

Teach this young man how you want the business to operate; 
explain where the profit comes from; and assign more of the 
actual responsibility to him. Leave him on his own to run the 
shop for longer periods of time. Be patient; compliment him 
on his work; and if you want him to stay with you, give him 
a raise now and then, and eventually, a percentage of the 
profits.

Offering him a percentage arrangement will result in even 
greater profits for you, plus a very strong local image for 
your business. Because you're "giving him" a part of the 
business, he'll promote your business to his friends, and 
through him and his friends, a long line of new customers 
and a chain of loyalty that could become more valuable to 
your business than any amount of advertising you could buy.

When you're ready to expand your operation from your garage 
to a regular commercial location, look for a vacant service 
station. One of the larger facilities built by a major oil 
company, located on a strategic corner, will be your best 
bet.

So long as you operate out of your garage and on a small 
scale, you probably won't have to worry too much about 
licenses. That is, providing you get along well with your 
neighbors, don't clutter up the street with 5 or 10 cars 
at a time, and don't erect any kind of sign indicating 
you're doing business in a residentially zoned neighborhood.

However, once you move into a commercial location, you'll 
need to register the name of the business with the appropriate 
local government authority. In most states, this is the 
office of the county clerk.

If your state has a sales tax, you'll have to check with the 
state tax commissioner's office to learn the rules on how to 
collection system operates.

All these licensing offices are in reality offices for tax 
collecting. Basically, they know nothing about your business, 
and usually could care less. Their main reason for existence 
is simply the collection of money for the administration of 
government in your area. If they should ask you questions 
relative to the worth of your business, or how much money 
you will be taking in, always estimate a much lower figure 
than either the true worth of those you anticipate. Most 
license fees are based upon the investment of the entrepreneur 
and his anticipated income from the new business, and you 
certainly don't want to start off paying excess taxes.

A good eye-catching sign is vital to the success of any 
business in a commercial location. The most important 
requirement for you is visibility. Your sign should be 
big enough and tall enough for people to see it from 
several different directions at a distance of at least 
a half block away. Check with your city ordinances for 
the sign limitations in the location you select.

Secondly, your sign should immediately state the service 
you're offering. Hence, a sign that clearly and simply 
announces "Auto Tune-ups" fits this requirement. However, 
in order to attract customers into your shop, your sign 
should "promise" a benefit. It should describe an added 
benefit to the reader. So, your sign should read: "Rapid 
Auto Tune-Up!"  

Basically, that's all you'll need for a sign, but to "fill 
it out" you might come up with a special logo or business 
motto. You can probably get an art student at your local 
college to design something for a little more than the 
privilege of including it in his or her portfolio. For a 
business slogan or motto, something along the lines of 
"Better performance from your car, at a price you can 
afford," is the kind of thing you want to come up with, 
and that will do you the most good.

Remember, fast, efficient service and low prices, coupled 
with a personality that makes the customer feel you're 
his friend, are the keys to your success. Organize 
yourself; start slowly and build your customer loyalty; 
instill these principles in your employees, and you'll 
be on you way. Study this report again, then act on 
the recommendations given there.
 

The Internet Marketing Center-The Secrets of an Internet Millionaire (Interview with Corey Rudl)
Secret of Success-Secrets to Their Success -Affiliates Earning $600,000/yr
How And Where To Get Money For A Franchise Idea
How To Make Executive-Level Earnings With Giftbaskets
How To Set Up And Operate Your Own Videotape Rental Store Business
How To Start And Operate Your Own Bartering Club or Service
How To Start And Operate Your Own Firewood Supply Business
How To Start Your Own Auto Tune-Up Shop Business
How To Start Your Own Carpet Cleaning Business
How To Start Your Own Credit And Debt Counseling Service-Business
How To Start Your Own Day Care Center Business for daycare
How To Start Your Own House And Apartment Cleaning Business Service
How To Start Your Own Paper Recycling Business
How To Start Your Own Successful Window Washing Service Business
How To Write A Job Winning Resume That Puts Yours On Top
Money-Making Newsletter:How To Achieve Success With Your Own Money Making Newsletter
How To Succeed With Your Own Money-Making Ad Sheet
Start Your own Business-How To Reorganize Your Time To Accommodate A Home-Based Business
Money to Start a Business-How To Raise Money For Starting A Business
Starting a Home based Business-How To Start A Profitable Home-Base Business
Corey Rudl-"The Secrets of an Internet Millionaire" Interview
Work at home ideas-Home Business Guide To Easy Money
Click Here for More Ideas on how to make money
How to start a day care center business for child daycare
: Affiliate Program Software - Starting an affiliate program

Back to Starting your own Business -Home Base Business: MLM Secrets : Home Business Classifieds : Sales Letter Writing Home Base Internet Business tips

Looking for some cash? The following web site offer loans and mortgages online:
Home Loans, Mortgages, Refinance and Consolidation Loan Deals for USA residents