If you are looking to run your own auto repair shop someday, then it’s never too soon to start planning for it. Not only will you need to acquire the skills necessary to oversee a variety of mechanics and technicians working on every conceivable vehicle system, you’ll also need the business savvy to manage the back end, including personnel issues and coordinating with your administrative personnel. Luckily, there are a few tips to run car repair shop operations.
First and foremost, know the plan, but don’t try to follow each individual operation too closely. You want to be available as an extra resource when people need you, and you will probably also want to take on jobs yourself, so micro-managing every repair brought in should never be a priority. The same thing goes for your back end operations. You’ll need to understand the budget and the books, but finding the personnel you can trust to make solid recommendations without worrying you with unnecessary details is going to be integral to your success.
On top of delegating your authority, other tips to run car repair shop activities day-to-day include customer service skills, because you will need to be available to advise and educate people as they choose repair options, and also dispute resolution skills to help your technicians communicate when the actual repairs needed and the estimates diverge from one another.
Overall, this business involves a lot of give-and-take, because people are trusting you with one of their most valuable investments. To show that you have what it takes to bear that trust, a repair shop manager needs to be knowledgeable, patient, fair, and most of all, organized. Presenting those qualities will help your customers trust you, leading to a better back-and-forth during the process and setting you up for both regular business and a quickly growing word-of-mouth reputation.
