If you’re a Jeep owner and you’ve ever found yourself wanting to buy parts for your vehicle, you know it can be challenging to find a place to sell them. That’s because many companies don’t specialize in Jeep parts and accessories. They only sell parts for one vehicle brand or another. This is where having your own garage comes in handy to make some profit.
Not only are there more customers with Jeeps than any other vehicle but owning your Jeep garage also gives you a chance to build something unique in your community. As with any other kind of small business, building up a thriving Jeep garage takes time, effort, and willingness to learn new skills.
Understanding the Jeep Market
Before getting into the Jeep garage business, understanding the market is essential. According to Statista, the Jeep market share was almost 2.33% in the US in November 2022. This shows that the Jeep market is growing.
The Jeep market is also different from other markets in a few ways:
- It has a reputation for being high-value vehicles people want to own for as long as possible.
- Parts are expensive due to this demand, so shops like yours must have relationships with suppliers who can help you keep costs down while providing quality parts at competitive prices.
The market’s future also seems promising, as the plans for thriving in the EV revolution are already set in motion. According to recent news, Jeep plans to launch at least 4 EVs by 2025 in North America.
Building a Solid Business Plan
A business plan is a written document that lays out your company’s goals and strategies for achieving them. It also provides an overview of how you will run your business, including projected costs, revenues, and other financial details.
A well-written business plan can help secure financing for your startup Jeep garage by demonstrating to potential investors that you have thought through all aspects of starting and running this type of operation.
A strong business plan should include the following:
- A description of the industry in which you intend to operate
- How much money will be needed to start up the garage? How much do you need per month after launch? What are appropriate cash flow projections?
- An overview of what type of equipment will be needed, what kind of employees are required, how much space should be rented or purchased, etc.
Establishing Your Jeep Garage
Once you’ve decided to open a Jeep garage, it’s time to start thinking about the nuts and bolts of running your business.
- Location: Where do you want your garage? Do you have enough space for it? Is there adequate parking nearby or on-site? How close is it to public transportation, which could help employees get back and forth from work if they don’t live nearby?
- Number of Employees: This will depend mainly on how much work needs to be done around the clock. If only one person works during regular business hours, but three or four others come in after hours, then maybe having extra workers isn’t necessary until those shifts start happening more often than not.
Getting All the Tools and Equipment Required
Tools and equipment are expensive, and it’s not uncommon for a Jeep garage business to cost tens of thousands of dollars. You may need to borrow or get a loan to purchase the necessary tools and equipment. If that’s not possible, consider renting them instead.
While renting can be temporary, buying the tools and Jeep parts is best in the long run. You must also ensure that you are getting parts for all Jeep models. For instance, you will need parts for the following:
- Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Jeep Gladiator
- Jeep Wagoneer, etc.
You can look for suppliers for specific parts. You can connect with them and build a lasting relationship to order the parts whenever required. For instance, suppose someone comes in with a Jeep Wrangler EcoDiesel. In that case, you can simply communicate with the supplier to get Jeep EcoDiesel parts quickly. This will eliminate the need to purchase a lot of parts beforehand.
You can get parts like suspension, steering, wheels & accessories, axle, skid plates, etc. There are also many options to choose from for Jeep accessories. According to Diesel Power Products, the sky’s the limit for upgrades in any Jeep model. For instance, there are simple spacers to 3-link coilover conversions for suspension and steering.
Services and Specializations
You can offer a variety of services, such as:
- Collision repair. This is an obvious choice if you’re good at fixing dents and scratches. According to a Forbes article, 5,250,837 collisions happened in general in 2020. So, offering this service in your garage will allow you to generate revenue.
- Paintless dent removal (PDR). PDR uses suction cups and other tools to remove minor dents from vehicles without causing any damage to the paint job or paneling underneath. It’s quick, efficient, and less expensive than traditional bodywork, meaning more money in your pocket.
- Custom interior design/modifications. Whether you want to help people personalize their Jeep interiors with new upholstery or give them some ideas for upgrades, you’ll find plenty of clients who will gladly pay for these services if they need them done immediately.
- Maintenance services. These are also a vital part of any service bouquet of a garage. The thing is that any automobile, including Jeep, will require maintenance services. You can offer these services at your garage for an average of $634 per maintenance.
Marketing and Promoting Your Jeep Garage Business
Marketing and promoting your Jeep Garage business is the most important thing you can do. If you want to succeed, you must get your name out there, so let’s start.
- Know Your Audience: Before starting any marketing campaign, you must know your target audience and what they want from their experience with your business. If they’re looking for something specific, ensure those things are featured prominently on all your content channels.
- Build a Website: A website isn’t just another social media account. It’s an online home base where potential customers can learn more about what makes you unique before deciding whether or not they want to work with you.
- Create Social Media Accounts: Social media platforms are vital in today’s digital world. These platforms give you access to a vast audience base who are using social media.
Managing Finances and Operations
Your business finances are essential to your Jeep garage’s success. The money you make and spend can be a source of stress, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips for managing your cash flow:
- Keep track of all income and expenses in accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero. These programs will help you see where you’re spending too much money, which is especially important if there are any slow months when fewer customers come into the shop than usual.
- Ensure that all employees understand what items they should put on their expense reports so they can reimburse themselves later on.
Nurturing Customer Relationships
One of the best ways to grow your business is through customer loyalty. You want customers who love you and only buy from you, so they’ll keep returning for more. The most effective way to build loyalty is by providing excellent service, but there are other strategies as well if this isn’t possible:
- Stay in touch with past customers after they’ve purchased from you or had their vehicle serviced at your garage. Ask them how things are going with their Jeep and if anything else needs fixing or improving before they get back into it.
- Follow up on any feedback clients provide after they’ve left the shop. This allows them to tell others about their experience working with you.
Conclusion
If you want to get into the Jeep market and start a business, we hope this article has been helpful. We know it can be daunting to start something new, but we want you to know that there are resources out there that can help guide you on your journey. The most important thing is that when starting, don’t forget what makes your passion special, and don’t lose sight of why you got into this business in the first place.
