Quick oil change garage bay

Local drivers, commuters and small fleets who want a fast, fairly priced oil change without booking days ahead.

A flat price per oil change by oil type, plus extras such as cabin and air filters, wipers, fluid top-ups and seasonal tire changes. Reminder texts or emails bring customers back every few months.

• Automotive mechanical skills
• Customer service
• Managing stock and suppliers
• Running a small team

• Zoning, municipal business licence and fire code requirements for a vehicle service shop, so check with your municipality
• Environmental rules for storing and disposing of used oil, filters and spills, which vary by province
• Check with your provincial regulator whether oil changes need a certified technician, and who must be on site
• Commercial general liability, garage keepers and property insurance
• WCB or WSIB coverage once you hire staff (rules differ by province)
• A lease and equipment make this a larger commitment, so test demand and cash flow before signing
• In Quebec, check French-language rules for signs and customer documents

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on the unit, lease terms, lift or pit, and equipment. A lease and equipment are a larger commitment, so test demand and cash flow before signing.

Things to check: zoning, municipal business licence and fire code requirements; provincial environmental rules for used oil, filters and spills; whether a certified technician must be on site; insurance; WCB or WSIB once you hire; and French-language rules in Quebec.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on location, pricing and how many customers you serve. The estimate assumes at least about 35 hours a week, and rent is a fixed cost to plan for.