I've started my own business

[veedubin]

Well after being unemployed for a while, and getting tired of job hunting, I've started my own business. Before I go to much further with this; Mods I hope this is in the right section of the forums. I and my wife have founded Coffman's Autowërks. A full service mobile auto repair service. To my knowledge and after much research the only mobile repair service in Pennsylvania. Check out our website, and let me know what you think.
www.coffmansautowerks.com

So far this is still a small operation, but it is growing very rapidly. I have recently aquired a Dodge Ram Van to work from, and in the next few weeks will be purchasing a retired Snap On tool truck to use for my mobile shop. Once that is in my possesion, I'll be able to run at full capacity. My advertising budget is very small, so I am resorting to non conventional methods of advertising. Oh and for those not located in PA, going door to door passing out flyers in this below freezing weather, SUCKS!!

So please let me know what you think of the website, and keep in mind, it is still a work in progress.

Thank you to everyone who reads this. And for those supramania members in my area, a special discount will be applied to any service bills.

 

[7Mboost]

Hope you did your research, starting a business is a big venture. Customer service will do you wonders in the automotive industry, build up on customers so they keep coming back, if you do a good job, keep customer informed, and treat them respectfully, no matter the cost, they come back. That's what I've learned at my shop.

 

[veedubin]

Hope you did your research, starting a business is a big venture. Customer service will do you wonders in the automotive industry, build up on customers so they keep coming back, if you do a good job, keep customer informed, and treat them respectfully, no matter the cost, they come back. That's what I've learned at my shop.

Well i've got a good advisory board backing me up with all my plans. I just need to get on the ball and get this business into an LLC or a subchapter S corp.

 

[sparkplug619]

nice website, not too plain.. good luck, i always wanted to do what you are doing but dont have the experience (or any certificates or degrees) or dont even know where to start when it comes to opening a business. hope it goes really well

 

[buckshotglass]

Cool idea. I had a mobile detailing trailer back in the day.
More personal info is needed to know what is best, but most of my stuff is LLC and I am in Pa as well.
Good luck.

 

[ForcedTorque]

I was once responsible for a fleet of 11 company vehicles, and I used a Mobile service (located in Mobile too BTW) to take care of them. The guy was very competitive, and he did the work wherever the vehicle happened to need it. I called, he came, and I never had to wait behind all the cars sitting outside of a shop. I loved the convenience of his service, and his prices made me look good at the same time for keeping the maintenance costs down. Good Luck!

BTW... The website looks really good.

 

[LilMissMkIII]

Congrats mate! Looks like you may have found a niche.

Just be sure to service it well.

A good motto for a business is to always under-promise and over-deliver.



One quick thing though re the website, the following paragraph does not read well at all:

"What Does Affordable Full Mobile Repair Service Mean?

We bring the garage to you, so you will never have to drop off, or pick up your vehicle at a garage again, or pay outrageous garage bills again."

Too many "agains". There are also way too many commas (imo).

 

[Oppie1]

Wow, what a great idea. Good luck man. I am envious of anyone who is their own boss. Corporate jobs are FTL.

 

[ForcedTorque]

Since you are in PA, there is a certain black Supra you should drop by and see if you can make run!

 

[Who]

Here are my thoughts from a customer point of view who uses a mobile mechanic.
I have a mobile mechanic that comes to my house. How did I find him. Word of mouth. The guy has no internet site, no ads, nothing. Neighbors telling neighbors gets you bonus points in my book. My guy comes by the house once before he does the job. I show him what I want to do, he checks it out and then we schedule a repair time. Don't get in over your head. If you think the job is going to take too long or you don't have all the right tools be honest and say I want to help you but I can't do it. Nobody wants their car in pieces for days or weeks when they thought it would be a weekend job and you can't afford to bump all your other customers. The mobile mechanic I use has told me flat out " I can't do the job here. I don't have the right tools or facility's " I respect the fact that he didn't waste my time and he didn't waste his time as well. Easy jobs completed quickly with no returns for a second repair will get you more bonus points than big expensive, long jobs. Remember people tend to remember, and tell others about their bad experiences before their good ones.
The corporate stores have the added advantage of the warranty and you think you can file a complaint and get your problem resolved. Would I rather give my hard earned money to a guy and his family than to the local corporate store. Hell yes, but I want to know that he will come back and fix any mistakes or get me out of a jamb.
Be careful what you charge for parts. Customers are savvy to what parts can cost and complain frequently about the shops over charging them. My mechanic lets me buy my own parts. It works for us because I buy top of the line parts and when in doubt I go to the dealer. I know you can't waste your time with cheap parts supplied by the customers but I am just trying to make you aware that.
Best to you and your dreams.

 

[veedubin]

Thanks to everyone who took some time out to give advice or to comment on the company. Your thoughts have been taken into huge consideration. And also, what black MKIII in pa needs worked on? I hope that was not a dig on mine ( black 87t in peices.)

Thanks again.

 

[buckshotglass]

And also, what black MKIII in pa needs worked on? I hope that was not a dig on mine ( black 87t in peices.)

Thanks again.

That would be me. I have it under control, they are just bustin' my chops.

 

[rtrdpenguin]

Very nice! There are a couple of mobile mechanics in my area and they seem to be pretty successful. The website is nice too, the only thing is I get a sort of unrefined feel from it. Like it doesn't really look as professional, it sort of looks like someone's personal homepage or something. I don't really know how to describe it haha. The header and navigation are image-heavy and pretty flashy looking and the rest of the site is mostly blocks of text with a few pictures (simpler look) and the logo is also simpler (no shading/reflections/etc like the header), making it look a bit unbalanced. I'm not trying to bash your site or anything, it gets the job done well

 

[suprahero]

That would be me. I have it hid away in the back of my garage,they are just bustin' my chops.

FTFY


Good luck with the new business and your website looks pretty good. Maybe pictures of the wife would make it feel more like a family business..........:naughty:

 

[tekdeus]

One way to get a bunch of customers is to join your local Trade or Barter exchange company. These are usually very large groups of business owners who buy and sell each other's services using a virtual, legal, taxable currency called trade dollars.

For example, I run a mobile DJ service. When I joined, the company sent out my email ad and info to the entire network. I soon booked a few $645 jobs on trade, because there are a lot of people with surplus trade dollars in these groups that are eager to spend them. I later used it to pay for advertising from companies that accepted trade dollars. Also my dentist and my auto detailer accepts them too This will at least get you a few customers with the possibility of future word of mouth referrals. You can also offer the first repair labor on trade only for first time customers, if you want cash payments in the future.

 

[iHartSupra]

Sounds like you found a good niche, congrats man and good luck. If only everyone could feel the (most of the time) satisfaction of being self employed people would be a hell of a lot happier.

Random question, but what business form are you? Sole, partnership, c corp, s corp, llc, llp, etc etc?

 

[veedubin]

Sounds like you found a good niche, congrats man and good luck. If only everyone could feel the (most of the time) satisfaction of being self employed people would be a hell of a lot happier.

Random question, but what business form are you? Sole, partnership, c corp, s corp, llc, llp, etc etc?

Sole prop. Soon going sub. S

tekdeus:
Very nice recommendation, I've often thought of a system like that, but never new one existed.

suprahero:
This coming from a guy with 2 flies f*cking for an avatar.... she's mine! :biglaugh:

rtrdpenguin:
Thanks for the thoughts on the site. It's a work in progress. So much to do, and no exact order or any time to do them in.

buckshotglass:
If your car is not running, I WANT IT!!!! :aigo: it's further along than mine and looks a whle lot nicer than mine.

 

[tekdeus]

I would guess your business should do well, considering how few mobile mechanics there are in my area, and how inconvenient it is to have to leave your car at a shop. The one guy I did know who was mobile got tired of lying on driveways and now all his customers come to his shop