Full restoration workshop for classic and damaged cars

Enthusiasts, collectors, owners of muscle cars and vintage vehicles, and people restoring family heirloom cars.

Fixed or estimated price per project with staged payments, plus labour hours and parts. A few larger jobs on the go at once keep cash flow steady.

• Panel beating, welding and mechanical skills
• Project management and costing
• Managing customer expectations over long jobs
• Building trusted supplier and specialist contacts

• Check your state's licensing for motor vehicle repairers and any trade qualifications needed
• Spray painting needs proper ventilation, extraction and waste handling, check with your state environment authority and council
• Public liability, plus insurance for customers' vehicles while in your care (a motor trade policy)
• Workers compensation insurance if you hire staff or apprentices
• Long projects can run over budget, so use written quotes, staged payments and signed approval for extra work
• Registering and roadworthy requirements for rebuilt or modified vehicles vary by state, check what applies before promising road-ready results

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $20,000 to $100,000, depending on the unit you rent, the equipment you buy and how much you can already do in-house. Long projects can run over budget, so staged payments help.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on the number and size of projects, your pricing and your specialist network. Expect a full-time commitment of about 35 or more hours a week.

Check your state's licensing for motor vehicle repairers and any trade qualifications needed. Spray painting needs proper ventilation, extraction and waste handling, so check with your environment authority and council. Also check insurance, workers compensation if you hire, and state roadworthy and registration requirements.