Everyone wants to be their own boss. The 9 to 5 office grind working for someone else can be wearying. For car lovers, starting a junk car business can be a dream career move. If you’re prepared to hustle for clients, you can earn a very comfortable income.
The business relies on slim margins. People with beat up cars don’t pay you to remove their vehicles, you pay them. You make money by stripping the car for useful parts. To succeed, you need to have a lot of knowledge about cars and good business sense. Junk car buyers are mostly automobile enthusiasts who know how to negotiate.
What You Need to Start
1. A tow truck
You can’t haul broken down vehicles without a reliable tow or flatbed truck. If you don’t want to drive the truck yourself, you’ll need to hire an employee.
The truck represents a major upfront expense but it can’t be avoided.
2. A receptionist
You need a way to organize your calls and emails. Arranging meetings with customers will be the primary focus of your business. Missing a call is the equivalent of missing a chance to make a sale.
3. A garage
You have to take your junk cars somewhere. You’ll need to rent or buy garage space so you can strip the cars in peace.
4. A marketing plan
How are you going to find customers? Think about your advertising strategy. You need a strong website and a solid social media presence.
5. A mechanic
Some of the “junk” cars that you find will still be salvageable. You’re going to miss out on a lot of money if you can’t spot those opportunities. Either you need to look over every car yourself, or you need to hire someone that you can trust.
Learn the Business
One of the easiest ways to learn something new is to watch someone else. Shadow other people in the junk car removal business until you learn more about the business. Even if you think you know what you’re doing, you might learn some new tips.
Write Your Business Plan
You’re starting a real business. That means that you have to have a business plan. The clearer you are about your goals, the easier it will be to attain them.
However, you don’t have to craft anything award-winning. A simple document is all that’s necessary. You’re not trying to impress anyone, you’re trying to define and organize your own thoughts.
Study the Competition
Before you decide which market to work with, take a good look at the competition. If there are too many sharks around, think about migrating to a smaller city or town. If you’re willing to stay and fight for customers, try to come up with something that sets you apart. Perhaps you’re willing to take calls 24 hours a day or maybe your team is incredibly efficient. Figure out what you do well and highlight it.
Think About Buying an Existing Business
Starting a business can be exhilarating. However, taking over an existing business sometimes makes more sense. A junk car business that already has customers and name recognition is easier to manage than a business that’s just been created. You can save yourself a lot of the hassles associated with running a start-up.
Should You Franchise?
You can also gain quick name-recognition by opening a franchise. You still get the thrill of starting your own business but you also get the comfort of having an established strategy to follow. The franchiser has already worked out the issues with the brand.
Most people want to be an entrepreneur but it takes a lot of work and dedication. It doesn’t matter how good your idea is, your business will flounder if you don’t take proper care of it. If you’re trying to start a junk car removal business, you need to be prepared to work at all hours of the day when calls are coming in. You might need to brush up on your mechanic skills. The more effort you put into the business, the more you’ll get out of it.
When you’re not actively working on a car, you should be trying to find clients. A business owner’s work never ends, there’s always something more to do.
If your business is successful, you can hire more employees and start delegating some of your workload.
A junk car business isn’t the right idea for everyone. But it might be a fantastic choice for you.
