Car air conditioning workshop
Run a small workshop that diagnoses, repairs and recharges car air con for drivers, fleets and garages.
- A$25k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
A small leased workshop with a hoist or bays, recovery and recharge machines, leak detection and a parts supply. You handle full repairs such as compressors, condensers and evaporators, not just regassing.
Your first three steps
- Get the required ARC licence and some hands-on experience, ideally by working in an air con or auto electrical shop first
- Check council zoning and lease terms for a small industrial unit, and get quotes for equipment and a parts supplier account
- Meet local mechanics, tyre shops and fleet managers to line up trade work before you open
Who pays
Local drivers, businesses with vehicle fleets, and other garages that send you air con jobs they do not want to handle.
How it makes money
Diagnostic and regas fees, plus labour and parts margin on bigger repairs. Trade work from garages and fleets gives steadier income.
Skills that help
- Automotive air con diagnosis and repair
- Quoting and basic bookkeeping
- Managing customers and suppliers
Watch out for
- Refrigerant handling licence and business trading authorisation requirements. Check with the Australian Refrigeration Council
- Council planning approval for your premises, and rules on waste oil and refrigerant disposal. Check with your local council and state EPA
- Public liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
- Lease and equipment costs are fixed, so cash flow can be tight in cooler months
- Hiring and training staff takes time, as qualified technicians can be hard to find
Deep research report · Australia
Everything you need to start: car air conditioning 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 start a car air con workshop?
Startup costs are typically around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on your premises, equipment such as recovery and recharge machines, and parts supply. These are estimates, so get quotes and check lease terms before committing.
How much revenue can a car air con workshop make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $10,000 to $40,000, depending on your location, the repairs you handle and staffing. Lease and equipment costs are fixed, so cash flow can be tight in cooler months. It assumes at least about 35 hours a week.
What licences and approvals should I check for an air con workshop?
Check refrigerant handling licence and business trading authorisation requirements with the Australian Refrigeration Council. Also check council planning approval for your premises, waste oil and refrigerant disposal rules with your council and state EPA, and insurance.
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