Small collision repair workshop
Rent a unit and repair accident damage for insurers, local garages and private owners.
- £25k-100k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
What it is
A workshop with a spray area that handles panel repair, respraying and collision repairs on cars and light vans, from small jobs to full accident repairs.
Your first three steps
- Check the trade qualifications you or your staff hold, and plan any training needed
- Find suitable units and ask the council about planning use and spray booth requirements before signing a lease
- Approach local garages and independent insurers' repair schemes to ask what they need from a repairer
Who pays
Insurers and their approved networks, private owners paying themselves, local garages, dealers and small fleets.
How it makes money
Per job, based on labour hours, paint and parts. Insurer work is usually agreed on their rates, while private jobs are quoted individually.
Skills that help
- Panel beating, welding and spray painting, or the ability to employ people who have them
- Estimating repair costs
- Managing jobs, suppliers and customers
Watch out for
- Planning permission and the unit's permitted use, plus landlord consent for spraying
- Environmental rules on solvent paints, extraction and waste disposal, check with the council and the Environment Agency (or the equivalent in your nation)
- Employer's liability, public liability and garage keeper's insurance
- Insurers may require approved repairer status, which can take time to obtain
- Health and safety for welding, spraying and lifting equipment, including servicing checks
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: small collision repair workshop
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a car body repair shop?
Startup costs are typically around £25,000 to £100,000, depending on the unit, spray area and equipment, and whether you buy new or used. Insurance and extraction needs also affect where you land in that estimate.
How much can a body repair workshop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £8,000 to £40,000, depending on the volume of insurer, garage and private work you win. Insurers may require approved repairer status, which can take time to obtain.
What rules should I check before opening a bodyshop?
Check planning permission, the unit's permitted use and landlord consent for spraying. Also check environmental rules on solvent paints, extraction and waste, employer's, public liability and garage keeper's insurance, and health and safety for welding, spraying and lifting equipment.
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Photo: MertSabanci on Pixabay