4 Advantages of Running a Car Repair Franchise

Elliott Fudge, writer

Published at 23/10/2021, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min

4 Advantages of Running a Car Repair Franchise — Photo © 4-Advantages-of-Running-a-Car-Repair-Franchise.jpg

When it comes to working in an industry with constant demand, you can’t do much better than working in car repairs. With cars needing routine repairs and maintenance, car repair franchisees are always busy and on the lookout for new customers. There are lots of advantages to running a car repair franchise, and here are some of our favourites.

With as much as £21.1 billion spent on car repairs and maintenance every year [SMMT], drivers in the UK know that they’re getting value for money. The UK auto repair sector is massive and growing all the time, making it one of the largest repair sectors in the world.

You really can’t go wrong when you’re a part of this industry. There are countless advantages to running your own franchise, whether it’s being your own boss or reaping the rewards of this profitable sector, so here are some more advantages to running your own car repair franchise.

With more than 42,500 vehicle service and repair locations of all types, the UK aftermarket is a huge, diverse and highly competitive industry. With a strong franchised dealer network and the largest share of work carried out by independently owned businesses in Europe at 64%, it offers consumers a wide choice of where and how they have their cars serviced – and how much they spend. - SMMT

>> Read more:

Advantages of running your own car repair franchise

1. Development

When it comes to developing your own skill set, franchising can be a great way to learn new skills and gain new experience. Lots of franchises don’t require you to have had specific previous experience in car repairs or sales to get started.

What matters just as much as your existing skills is your attitude and your determination to succeed. Ask any major franchisor and they’ll tell you that having some of the following skills can make the ideal franchisor:

Being driven
Having the determination to succeed
Having the right work ethic
Knowing when to ask for help, either from a franchisor or other franchisees
A commitment to continuous development and progression
A good business sense, if not prior experience

And, even beyond simply just starting up your business, your development will continue into the years ahead. Make the most of your franchisor and franchisee network to expand your skills and become the best franchisee you can be.

2. Cost

Franchising is generally seen as one of the safer business models to operate and, for that reason, lots of franchises can be started at affordable rates. Both you and the franchise will be taking on less risk when it comes to starting a business together, so where the average cost of starting a franchise is around £42,200 [British Franchise Association], there are lots of affordable car repair franchises to choose from.

Franchises such as ChipsAway and Revive! Auto Innovations require minimum investment of only £15,000 and £14,000 respectively. While there are franchises with slightly steeper total investments, getting financing support is also possible.

As franchising is seen as a safer business model, lots of high street banks are prepared to lend up to 70% of your start-up costs, depending on your credit history. So, if the ideal franchise for you doesn’t seem affordable at the moment, consider how else you could finance your franchise and seize the opportunity.

3. Job security

Franchise businesses are known for having a lot more job security than smaller or independent businesses. In what is a challenging time for lots of businesses, as a franchisee, you can rest assured knowing that your business has the best possible chances of survival. Of all closing franchise businesses, only one percent cited commercial failure as the reason why [British Franchise Association].

Starting and running your own business always brings some risks, but when you operate as a franchise, you know that the support, training and guidance you will receive will be amongst the best in the industry.

>> Read more:

4. Being your own boss

One of the biggest appeals to running your own car repair franchise is the freedom and satisfaction of being your own boss. As you’ll be running your own car repair business, you can look forward to enjoying some of the following advantages:

Great profits
Varied working patterns
Flexibility
Job satisfaction
Future automation to reduce your labour costs
Good networking opportunities

Why start a car repair franchise in 2021?

Running a car repair business in 2021 has two great advantages. First, cars always need repairs and maintenance and, with so many automobiles being static and unused for so long, there is a lot of pent-up demand for repairs. You will be able to ride this wave of demand long into the future as your services will always be needed. With around 40 million vehicles on the roads in the UK, every day will be different.

Second, this is one of the few industries where you can be absolutely certain online competitors won’t replace you. Your services can only be accessed in-person, so there’s no room for concern on online competitors undercutting you.

Start a car repair franchise today

There’s a lot to like about running your own car repair franchise. From the various business advantages, to the knowledge that online competitors can’t undercut you, there are lots of reasons to get stuck into this busy and competitive industry.

If car repairs aren’t quite right for you, but you still want to work in a practical sector, you could try pursuing opportunities in the home improvement industry. You will still have all the benefits of being your own boss, and you can look forward to working in a sector making a big comeback. For other opportunities, try the UK franchise directory.