BusinessHABPanel Beating Services: It is normal for car owners to carry out body works on their cars.
Whenever they are involved in minor and major accidents.
Auto body work business is a thriving and profitable business.
And if you are interested in starting an auto service-related business.
Then one of your options is to open an auto body repair workshop.
Please note that you would need to learn the trade before you can successfully launch this type of business.
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1. Panel Beating Services Business Background
Maintaining your vehicle may seem daunting at first glance.
It may help to think of your car or truck as a collection of simple mechanical devices.
That work together to get you from place to place.
Instead of looking at your vehicle as one extremely complicated machine.
Try to focus on each function of the car and what is required to maintain it.
Proper maintenance will significantly prolong the life of your vehicle.
And reduce the headaches of repairs in the future.
2. Get the meaning
Panel beaters, also called smash repairers, are people who repair cars and other vehicles after a collision.
A panel beater can return your car to its pre-accident condition.
The panel beating process involves removing, repairing and replacing damaged panels.
As well as spray painting, chassis alignment, and refitting body hardware.
Typically, a panel beater is a specialism of car repair.
In which the job is to beat out the bodywork of a car or other vehicles.
Many times, this is referred to car body repair, but is more specific to the damage done to the car’s body.
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Panel Beating Services
3. Define your goals.
Do you want financial independence, eventually selling your business to the highest bidder?
Do you want something small and sustainable.
That you love doing and from which you want to derive a steady income?
These are the things that are good to know very early on.
4. Create a working name.
You could even do this before you have an idea for the business.
And if the name is good, you may find it helps you define your business idea.
As your plan grows, and things begin to take shape, the perfect name may come to you.
But don’t let that hinder you in the early phases.
Create a name that you can use while you plan and don’t hesitate to change it later.
- Always check to see if the name is being used by somebody else before selecting it.
- Try to create a name that is simple and memorable.
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5. Create a business plan.
A business plan helps to define what you think you need to launch your business, large or small.
It summarizes the sense of your business in a single document.
It also creates a map for investors, bankers, and other interested parties.
To use when determining how they can best help you.
And to help them decide whether or not your business is viable.
Panel Beating Services
6. Come up with a pricing model.
Start by checking out your competitors.
Know how much are they selling a similar product for.
Can you add something to it (add value) to make yours different and hence make it a more enticing price?
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7. Know the Costs
The cost of panel beating all depends on two factors:
Firstly, the extent of the damage on your car’s body.
And secondly, the cost of labour.
If the damage is only a small bump in the corner of your car.
8. Know the Process
There are many skills which a panel beater specialist uses to fix up a car’s body from damages.
A couple of these have been described below:
Planishing – Planishing is one of the most common forms of panel beating which is a metalworking technique.
This is done by finishing the car’s surface by smoothly shaping a sheet of metal.
A planishing panel hammer is the main tool used to carry out this metalworking technique.
Welding – Welding is also one of the most common metalworking techniques.
And it done by fusing metals together in order to restore the car’s body back to its full glory.
This is done if the damage to the car’s body is more extensive to fix in simple planishing.
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9. Know the tasks involved
There is a huge amount of work that goes into repairing a vehicle after an accident.
Cars are more complex and carry more technology than ever before.
So repairing them requires expert training and processes.
The tasks involved in panel beating include:
- Removing, repairing, and replacing damaged panels
- Repairing dents and scratches with specialty fillers
- Filing and sanding the bodywork to ensure a smooth finish
- Replacing damaged parts with genuine parts from the vehicle manufacturer
- Installing body hardware such as door locks and sensors
- realigning the chassis and body frame
- Repainting the vehicle and matching the original colour
10. Meet the requirement
To become a panel beater, you need to complete a Certificate in Automotive Body Repair Technology as well as an apprenticeship.
Training and qualification can take up to three years.
If you’re interested in becoming a panel beater, Sheen is the best place to do your apprenticeship.
They use the latest and greatest panel beating technology and processes.
And they provide training through industry leaders I-CAR.
Get your career started on the right foot with Sheen.
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11. Develop your service.
Once you have the business all planned, financed, and have your basic level of staffing, get going.
Whether that’s sitting down with the engineers and getting the software coded and tested.
Or getting materials sourced and shipped to your fabrication room (aka “garage”).
Or purchasing in bulk and marking up the price.
The building process is the time during which you prepare for market.
Panel Beating Services
12. Secure start-up costs.
Most businesses require capital to start.
Money is typically required to purchase supplies and equipment.
As well as keep the business operational for the period before your business becomes profitable.
The first place to look for financing is yourself.
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13. Decide how to accept payment.
You will need to do something to get payment from your clients or customers.
You can get something like a Square.
Which is great for small businesses since it requires the minimum amount of paperwork and the fees are minimal.
However, if you feel uncomfortable with technology.
You can inquire about a more traditional merchant account.
Panel Beating Services
14. Secure space.
Whether it’s an office, or a warehouse, if you need more space than your garage or your spare bedroom, now’s the time to get that.
- If you don’t generally need an office beyond your home, but may occasionally need meeting space, there are often places that can address those needs. A quick Google search on “business meeting rentals [your city/state]” will deliver plenty of rental options in your area.
- Be sure to contact your local municipality about zoning laws. Some types of small businesses cannot be ran out of a home, and it is important to ensure your business is operating within its proper zone.
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15. Hire the right people.
The first impression is critical for a new small business.
And unless you’ll be doing all the work yourself.
That impression will be made at least in part by the people you hire.
Panel Beating Services
16. Consider a “soft” opening.
There is no rule that says your first day of business has to also be your Grand Opening.
Give your business a chance to work out the kinks before announcing itself to the world.
Open officially for business without great fanfare.
Maybe for a week or two before your (well-advertised) Grand Opening.
Customers will probably just trickle in.
But that will make it easier to practice getting things right before the hopeful rush of customers to come.
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17. Launch your service.
When the product is all built, packaged, coded, online, and ready to sell.
Or when your services are fully worked out and ready to go.
Hold a special event to launch your business.
Send out a press release, announce it to the world.
Tweet it, Facebook it, let the word resound to all corners of your market—you have a new business!
Panel Beating Services
18. Start early.
Don’t wait until opening day, or even until you know when opening day will be.
Be proactive in establishing brand awareness and generating anticipation.
A “coming soon” sign on your in-preparation storefront is a good start, but not enough on its own.
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19. Establish a marketing budget.
The run-up to opening and first few months of operation may very well make or break your new small business.
So make sure you give your initial marketing push a strong effort.
20. Use traditional media.
If your marketing budget allows, consider using traditional media like radio or newspaper.
If you can manage television advertising as well.
It is always a good idea to diversify your ad presence.
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21. Use social media.
Even if you don’t know your tweets from your tags.
Or assume that your tailor shop doesn’t need a social media presence.
Make use of all avenues to spread the word about your business.
Some 80% of your fellow small business owners are using social media, particularly for marketing.
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22. Involve the community.
Establish your connection to the local community from the very start of your business.
Let people envision your business having a positive community impact for years to come.
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