How To A Start Auto Shop Business In The Philippines: According to Statista, there are currently 1.1 million registered cars in the Philippines. These data points exclude all other automobiles, such as jeepneys and motorcycles. So we know there is a market within the gap, but is there a gap within the market?
Today we will be specifically exploring the process of how to start an auto shop business in the Philippines for complete beginners.
Table of Contents
How To Start Auto Shop Business In The Philippines
1. Build A Robust Business Plan & Strategy
The first stage of any great idea is creating a plan and strategy. The plan is essentially what you are aiming to do with your business. For example, earn 100K Pesos a month or serve 10,000 customers. A strategy is how you will get there, and this is why these two elements are fundamental when starting an auto shop business in the Philippines.
Several robust auto shop business plans can be downloaded; however, if you are looking for a business plan specifically for the Philippines market, we have a free downloadable business plan and financial template that can be used when starting a new business in the Philippines.
You will also find that a business plan comes in very handy in the future. Not only will this help you determine your location, budget, and operations, but it will also help you differentiate. Most importantly, you will see if this business model is profitable for you.
2. Research The Auto Industry In Your Area
Previously, we explored the process of market research in the Philippines and why this is so important. To summarise, market research can save you a great deal of time and money when looking at how to start an auto shop business in the Philippines.
Here are some documents to get you started –
- Auto industry expands 23.8% in Jan.-Oct.
- Automotive industry in the Philippines
- Philippines Automotive Market
- Automotive industry in the Philippines – statistics & facts
- Toyota holds 44% market share in market 30.9% below pre-pandemic levels
As we know, the term auto shop can fall under several categories. For example, some specialize in auto repair businesses in the Philippines, while others specialize in selling new and used vehicles. Therefore, you may wish to conduct several pieces of research depending on the type of business you are entering.
There will also be times when there is very limited information when conducting market research on starting an auto business in the Philippines. Therefore, you may need to conduct a private investigation to assess the current market’s business risks, opportunities, and threats.
3. Find The Perfect Location For Your Auto Business In The Philippines
So, where is the perfect location for your business? For example, if you live in a city, would it be cheaper and more profitable to open your business in the provinces? On the other hand, if you are located in the provinces, could you find more customers in the city?
There are several areas to consider when it comes to the perfect location for an auto repair business in the Philippines or an auto shop business. The first is accessibility. Are your customers able to find you easily and conveniently? The harder it is for customers, the less likely it is for them to return to your business.
The next consideration is affordability. It sometimes makes better business sense being in a higher-priced area if it means that your business gets more customers and visibility. Other concerns include the size of the premises, security, and so on.
4. Find Suppliers And Tools
If you are starting an auto repair shop business in the Philippines, you need to ensure that your business has relevant tools for you and your staff to do the job effectively. Not only are the right tools important for the job, but having the right tools can also save you a great deal of time.
Most tools can be purchased locally at an affordable price; however, if you want to purchase tools in bulk, a great website to find bulk products is Alibaba.
On the other hand, if you are not starting an auto repair business in the Philippines but instead looking to become an auto retailer or something similar, this is a stage where you replace suppliers and tools with vehicles.
5. Seek Financial Support (Optional)
Raising capital for a brand new business is never an easy task, but luckily there are several ways you can raise the capital for an auto shop business in the Philippines. Here are some examples.
It’s often recommended to speak to a business expert or financial advisor during this stage as the business’s finances can be very complex. This is why many businesses have a dedicated team specifically to handle the business’s finances.
Additionally, when starting an auto shop business in the Philippines, one area to think about is your business’s size & overall scope. However, it’s often recommended to start a business small. Most large and successful corporations started very small. It’s always best to build the foundations of a business as early as possible before moving up to the next layer.
A common question that is often asked is how much does it cost to start an auto repair business in the Philippines? The total capital needed to start an auto repair business in the Philippines can be as little as 100,000 pesos. This includes a suitable location, survival budget, and tools. The total capital may be slightly higher or lower depending on the size and direction of your business.
6. Registration And Operations
The next stage when looking at how to open an auto repair business in the Philippines is the registration and finalizing of operations.
To legally open a business in the Philippines, you will need to have a set location for business registration; therefore, you may wish to complete this stage after you have decided on your location. Nevertheless, this stage can be moved forward or back if necessary.
The stage that follows is confirmation of business operations. This is linked very closely with your business plan. This includes who will be doing what and when. For example, when will your business be open, and who will open and close your business every day?
As soon as the business has been registered and the final operations have been confirmed, a business owner will then move on to officially opening their auto shop business. What comes next is the process of growth.
7. Marketing & Growth
For the business to be successful, there will need to be growth. This can include growing your team, customer base, Etc. But the question you may then wonder is how to grow an auto repair business in the Philippines?
To grow, you will need to ensure that you increase your current market dominance. To do this, your business needs to be better. Better can mean shorter waiting times, more convenience, cheaper rates, unique experience, and so on.
However, before you get to that stage, you need to grow your business from the beginning, and marketing is often a great way to do this. Marketing can be free and paid, and recently, we explored how to market in the Philippines, which offered some unique free and paid options for entrepreneurs.
Naturally, there will be new opportunities and challenges when starting an auto shop business in the Philippines. Still, the great news is there are many gaps within the market for innovation. So if you can make the process better in one way or another, never be afraid to be different.