Small panel and paint workshop
Run a leased workshop that straightens, fills and paints damaged panels for car owners and insurers.
- A$30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small panel beating and spray painting shop. You assess damage, pull and straighten panels, fill, prime, colour match and paint, then polish the finished repair.
Your first three steps
- Confirm your trade qualification (such as Certificate III in Automotive Body Repair) or plan to employ a qualified tradie
- Price up a leased unit that suits workshop use, plus a second-hand spray booth and core tools
- Introduce yourself to local mechanics, tyre shops and dealers, and ask how to apply to insurers' repair networks
Who pays
Car owners paying directly, insurers and their assessors, fleet owners, and mechanics or dealers who pass work on.
How it makes money
A quoted price per repair job covering labour, paint and materials. Insurance jobs are usually agreed with the insurer's assessor before work starts.
Skills that help
- Trade skills in panel beating and spray painting
- Accurate quoting and colour matching
- Customer service and dealing with insurers
Watch out for
- Check your state's licensing or registration rules for motor vehicle repairers
- Check zoning and council approval for a spray painting workshop
- Paint fumes, dust and isocyanates need proper ventilation, protective gear and approved waste disposal; check with your state's work safety and environment bodies
- Public liability, property in your care (garage keepers) cover, and workers compensation once you hire
- Insurer repair networks can be hard to join, so early cash flow often relies on private customers
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: small panel and paint workshop
Researched with live web search for Australia: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to open a panel and paint workshop?
Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on your premises, equipment and spray facilities. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $75,000, depending on how much repair work you win.
What licences and rules should I check for a panel and paint workshop?
Check your state's licensing or registration rules for motor vehicle repairers, and zoning and council approval for spray painting. Also check ventilation, protective gear and waste disposal rules with state work safety and environment bodies, plus insurance.
What skills and time do I need to run a panel and paint workshop?
Useful skills include panel beating and spray painting trade skills, accurate quoting and colour matching, and customer service, including dealing with insurers. Estimates suggest at least around 35 hours a week, depending on workload.
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Photo: MertSabanci on Pixabay