Servicing & repairing cars for a living
Discussion
My current line of employment is fast losing it's appeal and I'm beginning to think about doing something a bit different. Just thought I'd see if anyone has done anything similar on here.
A bit of background first, I'm in my 40's, got a reasonable amount of savings and the house and cars are all paid for. SWMBO has a good steady income and is tired of seeing me brassed of with the every day grind at the office for a team of directors that just seem to be killing their own business. I'm not looking to get rich, just a bit of cash for a days work with me in control of the situation.
The plan is to get a small business unit and do car repairs and servicing which is something that I already do a fair amount of over the weekend and evenings. I do not have any qualifications in this area but do already have a good number of people that trust me with their vehicles.
Has anyone had the same idea and managed to scrape any kind of living from it. What are the pitfalls, do I need any qualifications or should I just sit at my desk and keep dreaming of job satisfaction.
A bit of background first, I'm in my 40's, got a reasonable amount of savings and the house and cars are all paid for. SWMBO has a good steady income and is tired of seeing me brassed of with the every day grind at the office for a team of directors that just seem to be killing their own business. I'm not looking to get rich, just a bit of cash for a days work with me in control of the situation.
The plan is to get a small business unit and do car repairs and servicing which is something that I already do a fair amount of over the weekend and evenings. I do not have any qualifications in this area but do already have a good number of people that trust me with their vehicles.
Has anyone had the same idea and managed to scrape any kind of living from it. What are the pitfalls, do I need any qualifications or should I just sit at my desk and keep dreaming of job satisfaction.
also if you get some sort of speciality sideline for instance skimming heads or some service where you can help out the normal garages then that can be steady income, what about specialising in coupe-cabriolet repairs, those things are always going dicky, but its only a mechanism, bit of electrics etc, once you know what your doing, you'll be loved nationwide on owners forums etc.
I used to be a mechanic, it's a s
t job.
Unless you are going to specialise in classic cars you'll need to constantly keep up to date with new technology, you'll be severely limited to how much work you can do without some diagnostic equipment (which also needs constants updates) and a pile of special tools you might use once (again, not an issue if you specialise).
If you are interested in working on classic cars, being able to weld and fabricate parts will help a lot. I don't think there is enough work out there to make a living from servicing and routine repairs.
Being self employed you'll have to deal with customers, suppliers, legal disposal of waste and gypsies too - which is almost a full time job on its own.
EDIT - Technically you don't need qualifications, but those without learned by doing the job full time for several years.
t job. Unless you are going to specialise in classic cars you'll need to constantly keep up to date with new technology, you'll be severely limited to how much work you can do without some diagnostic equipment (which also needs constants updates) and a pile of special tools you might use once (again, not an issue if you specialise).
If you are interested in working on classic cars, being able to weld and fabricate parts will help a lot. I don't think there is enough work out there to make a living from servicing and routine repairs.
Being self employed you'll have to deal with customers, suppliers, legal disposal of waste and gypsies too - which is almost a full time job on its own.
EDIT - Technically you don't need qualifications, but those without learned by doing the job full time for several years.
Edited by EDLT on Thursday 15th November 20:39
Keep it as a hobby. As a job its crap. I have 15 plus years in the motor trade. From main dealer service reception to apprentice monkey in a very small backwards backstreet garage.
I Rent a Unit and do my own fleet as a hobby. But I would rather set fire to my own pubes than do it as a self employed sole trader
Duncan
I Rent a Unit and do my own fleet as a hobby. But I would rather set fire to my own pubes than do it as a self employed sole trader
Duncan
Edited by duncancallum on Thursday 15th November 20:52
Steer well clear. I am just coming out of it after 20+ years in the motor trade and I do not care if I never pick another spanner up in my life. I cant think of any mechanic I know that enjoys it or even likes it, its a very highly skilled and very undervalued job, constant ball ache getting the right parts (wont go into why but trust me) everybody has stupid Diesels with all their stupid and expensive problems, your physical health can suffer, the hours are long, the list could just go on and that includeds as already mentioned the miriad special tools and diag you need. Dont do it!! Anyone who states they like or enjoy it are lying or they do not do it for a living.
I am a qualified mechanic and it isn't easy to make money from repairing cars. If you are in a unit on your own you will need tools, insurance, ramp, compressor and be able to convince owners that they should let you do the job. You will then need a helper for doing clutches etc where you need a hand, so suddenly you are an employer more hassle.
I looked at this years ago and concluded to keep it as a hobby and do other work for a living.
I looked at this years ago and concluded to keep it as a hobby and do other work for a living.
but thanks for the input so farAvoid. I had several years as as spanner monkey and worked my way up to a technician expert in the trade. It's a cold dirty miserable job that'll eventually ruin your health
Nobody appreciates what you do or the level of skill you need and nobody enjoys spending money on repairing cars. The risk and reward of the job and grief you get from the average car owner running a shagged out piece of crap they have paid a small fortune for is really not worth the effort or investment you'll have to put in
If you have usefull practical skills then why not get qualified in a much more rewarding trade such as plumbing or electrical work, or do something people actually are happy to pay for such as carpentry or painting and decorating. I finished my working life as a decorator and earned more in a week doing that than I was paid in a month for fixing and maintaining cars
Nobody appreciates what you do or the level of skill you need and nobody enjoys spending money on repairing cars. The risk and reward of the job and grief you get from the average car owner running a shagged out piece of crap they have paid a small fortune for is really not worth the effort or investment you'll have to put in
If you have usefull practical skills then why not get qualified in a much more rewarding trade such as plumbing or electrical work, or do something people actually are happy to pay for such as carpentry or painting and decorating. I finished my working life as a decorator and earned more in a week doing that than I was paid in a month for fixing and maintaining cars
My Dad has been a mechanic for over 30 years now and although he owns and runs a very successful garage, he fking hates it. With the way technology is going the small independent workshops will be a thing of the past within the next 15 years as only main dealers can afford the expensive diagonstic equipment.
In summary I wouldn't want to be getting in to it now. Although if you really want to try and join a franchise dealer group who can support you.
king hates it. With the way technology is going the small independent workshops will be a thing of the past within the next 15 years as only main dealers can afford the expensive diagonstic equipment.In summary I wouldn't want to be getting in to it now. Although if you really want to try and join a franchise dealer group who can support you.
I wouldn't. When I first moved here and had a garage I serviced a few neighbour's cars and people from my work and my reputation spread. Great I thought. But then a job like head gasket or a cam belt comes along. I'm fine with those kinda jobs, but trying to explain to totally not-understanding people what might happen is very difficult.
As said above I tended to get people who were keen to save money, which invariably ended up with people who totally neglected their cars until MOT time or a fault develops, then the car is "rubbish" cos it's a 12 year old Vectra that's had no love in the last 4 years and needs the oil topping up every week, when it's very obvious it's pissing out the rocker cover and needs a £6 gasket to fix. For example.
In short people are stupid and you have to deal with them.
As said above I tended to get people who were keen to save money, which invariably ended up with people who totally neglected their cars until MOT time or a fault develops, then the car is "rubbish" cos it's a 12 year old Vectra that's had no love in the last 4 years and needs the oil topping up every week, when it's very obvious it's pissing out the rocker cover and needs a £6 gasket to fix. For example.
In short people are stupid and you have to deal with them.
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