Radiator repair and recore shop

Vehicle owners with overheating or leaking cars, independent garages, towing companies and small fleets.

Price per job: leak repair, recore, pressure testing and flushing. You can add margin on replacement radiators, hoses and coolant.

• Soldering, brazing and general mechanical skill
• Knowing how cooling systems work
• Quoting jobs and dealing with customers and garages

• Commercial general liability and garage keepers insurance, as you hold customers' property
• Used antifreeze and solder waste are usually regulated, check your provincial rules for storage and disposal
• Fumes from soldering and cleaning chemicals: check ventilation, WHMIS training and WCB or WSIB rules by province
• Check whether your municipality or province requires a business licence or automotive repair registration, and any written estimate rules
• Fewer old-style copper-brass radiators are made now, so check how much recore work you can realistically get versus replacement

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $90,000, depending on your workshop, equipment and stock. Monthly revenue is estimated at roughly $8,000 to $35,000, depending on how many drivers and garages you serve.

Check commercial general liability and garage keepers insurance, since you hold customers' property. Also check provincial rules for used antifreeze and solder waste, ventilation, WHMIS training, WCB or WSIB, and any municipal or provincial business licence or repair registration.

You need soldering, brazing and general mechanical skill, a good grasp of how cooling systems work, and the ability to quote jobs and deal with customers and garages. Also check how much recore work you can realistically get versus replacement.