Transmission repair and rebuild shop

Local drivers, small businesses with work vans, and independent garages that don't do transmission work themselves.

Fixed or quoted price per job, covering labour, parts and a warranty. Smaller jobs like fluid services and diagnostics bring in steady work between bigger rebuilds.

• Hands-on transmission or automotive repair experience
• Diagnosing faults and reading scan tool data
• Clear, honest quotes for customers

• Trade certification rules differ by province (Red Seal automotive service technician), so check your provincial regulator
• Many provinces have consumer protection rules on written estimates and repair authorization, so check yours
• Garage liability and garage keepers' insurance for customers' vehicles
• Rules on disposing of used oil, transmission fluid and parts, which vary by province and municipality
• Winter can bring a rush of breakdowns, but cash flow can be uneven, so keep a reserve

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $150,000 CAD, depending on your rented bay, tools and diagnostic equipment, and how much parts stock you carry.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000 CAD, depending on job volume and the mix of fluid services, clutch work and rebuilds. Cash flow can be uneven, so keep a reserve.

Check trade certification rules in your province (Red Seal automotive service technician) with your provincial regulator, plus consumer protection rules on written estimates and repair authorization. Also check garage liability and garage keepers' insurance, and used oil and fluid disposal rules.