How to Choose a Car Repair Franchise That's Right For You

When it comes to tapping into a busy and in-demand sector, you can do much worse than working in the car repair sector. But in an industry where there are plenty of different kinds of car repair franchises, how can you find the right one for you?

The franchising business model stands out for two main reasons: first, you’ll be able to immediately take over the running of a trusted national business and, second, you’ll be doing it while facing fewer risks to your job security. When it comes to starting your own car repair franchise and cashing in on all the advantages of the franchising business model, you need to pick the right franchise for you. 

1. Bricks and mortar car repair franchises

Very simply, this is your most commonly recognised car repair business. These franchises operate at a fixed premises, with highly-trained, well-qualified and experienced employees all on-hand to help carry out specialist repairs. You can find these garages all over the country, but particularly in high footfall locations such as:

• Shopping centres
• Industrial estates
• City centres
• Near car washes 
• Urban and suburban locations

Where there are car drivers, there is always a need for a local car repair franchise. You’re never too far from a car repair business, so there is a wide range of different options for you if you want a fixed-location business. 

How to choose the right bricks and mortar car repair franchise for you

There are lots of options for you if this sounds like your ideal business opportunity. The key here is to pick the right franchise that supports your needs. If you’ve already worked in car repairs and have some practical experience that you can bring to bear, you won’t necessarily need a lot of additional support.

But if you’re new to this sector, you would be best suited to a franchise business that is prepared to help train and scale your skills up. Besides just this training, consider how much of the following you need. Some franchises offer:

• Dedicated tutors
• Extensive franchisee networks to interact with
• Beneficial financial rates, subject to status
• Great survival rates
• Attractive and affordable start-up costs

2. Mobile car repair franchises

Often, it’s not even possible to take your car to a shop. If your vehicle doesn’t start, why pay for a tow truck to take it somewhere when a mechanic can come to you? It just makes sense for our technicians to come to you, not the other way around.
- Your Mechanic

Operating in the polar opposite fashion, mobile car repair franchises do exactly what they say on the tin. Rather than having to bring your car to a location it might not even be able to get to, mobile technicians can instead come to you. 

Carrying with them all the tools and equipment they need, mobile car repair businesses are van-based and work in an operational area instead of from a fixed location. As a franchisee, your labour costs will be lower, your monthly outgoings will be lower, and you’ll have much more independence and autonomy when it comes to deciding where you work.

How to choose the right mobile car repair franchise

There are lots of van-based car repair franchises on Point Franchise, and because this is such a busy sector to work in, many of them are always on the lookout for the right franchisees. If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, consider to what extent you have the following skillset:

• Determination
• Ambition
• Commitment to developing a long-term business
• Willingness to go the extra mile
• The ability to lead a team
• A basic knowledge of how to recruit the right employees

One of the biggest advantages to running a franchise business is the amount of training and support you will get. So, if you don’t have all of the ideal skills down to a tee, it isn’t necessarily a problem as you can look forward to developing your prospects as you progress. But a solid grounding in many of these skills will put you in a great position to start your own business.

3. Hybrid car repair franchises

With all of us forced to stay home for so long, it’s inevitable that many businesses have had to adapt to survive. This is where hybrid car repair franchises come in. Whether it’s carrying out virtual appraisals, diagnostics and viewings, or dispatching parts and the technicians to install them, there are lots of new ways of working for ambitious franchisees to consider.

Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because there is always demand for car repairs, this is a stationary industry. There are always new ways to go about carrying out this service, so when it comes to finding the right franchise for you, make sure to ask about their working flexibility and what scope there is to explore.

How to find the right hybrid car repair franchise

The best way to find a flexible car repair franchise is to carry out extensive research. Go through the resources and pages on Point Franchise, for instance, to find a comprehensive list of car repair franchises and find out how willing they are to experiment with many of these new ways of working. Also consider: 

• The initial and ongoing investment costs
• Whether you will be expected to run a single- or multi-unit franchise
• What financing options are available to you
• How much working capital do you need to start the business
• Do you need to pay for your own vehicles, or are these included as part of the franchise package?

Start a car repair franchise today

From windscreen repairs to car repairs more broadly - vehicle repair is big business in the UK. For the right business person, there is a lot of room for personal development and company profits. So if you’re ready to take the next step and find the car repair franchise for you, start your franchising journey on Point Franchise.

Or, if you want to explore other options, consider the UK franchise directory as a good place to start. From different sectors to other businesses, you’re sure to find the right opportunity for you.