Mobile bumper and panel repair

Car owners paying out of pocket to avoid an insurance claim, used car dealers, rental fleets, property managers and small business fleets.

Fixed price per repair, quoted by photo or on arrival. Dealer and fleet contracts give repeat work at agreed rates.

• Filling, sanding and paint colour matching
• Careful, tidy hand work
• Quoting jobs honestly
• Customer service

• Check whether your province requires trade certification (collision repair is a Red Seal trade) to do or advertise this work
• Check municipal and provincial rules on spraying paint outdoors, solvent use and waste disposal
• Cold weather affects paint curing, so plan for slower winter months or an indoor option
• Commercial general liability insurance, plus cover for customers' vehicles in your care
• Insurers and public insurance bodies (such as those in BC, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) may only pay approved shops

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on your van, tools, paint equipment and materials. Treat this as an estimate and price out your own setup before committing.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on how many jobs you take and their size. Expect at least about 12 hours a week. Cold weather can slow paint curing in winter.

Check whether your province requires trade certification, since collision repair is a Red Seal trade. Also check municipal and provincial rules on outdoor spraying, solvents and waste disposal, commercial general liability insurance, cover for customers' vehicles, and insurer approved-shop rules.