Did you know that graduates of an auto body estimator program can go on to become shop owners or managers? If you’ve always had a knack for leading a team and have an interest in business, taking an auto body estimator repair course could be your ticket to a lucrative and exciting career!
The auto body repair industry can be competitive, and most customers are sure to shop around for the best price in town. Because of this, offering a competitive price is crucial. If you do end up in charge of a shop, you may need some ideas for keeping prices low for your customers.
We’ve collected three great strategies that you can use to lower your costs and offer your customers lower prices.
Compare Supplier Prices Once You Become a Collision Estimator
Professionals with auto body estimator training know that one of the main reasons that quotes vary so much from shop to shop comes down to the cost of supplies. Depending on what company you’re sourcing your supplies and parts from, your costs could change dramatically. If you want to lower your costs in order to become more competitive in your local market, a great place to start is to shop around for inexpensive suppliers.
Put requests out to multiple companies for quotes on their parts and supplies, and don’t be afraid to let suppliers know you’re looking at multiple options. They may be able to offer you a lower price to earn your business. It’s also worth noting some shops will create a bidding system that allows suppliers to bid or offer their lowest price for supplies or parts. Money saved on supplies will help you increase your shop’s profit margins and allow you to offer your customers a lower price during your auto body estimator career.
Reduce Energy Consumption and Pass the Savings Onto the Customer
Reducing energy consumption is a win-win scenario; not only does it help save money, but it’s also good for the environment. Reducing how much energy your shop uses can be as easy as making a couple of small upgrades around the shop. First, replace all lights with long-lasting energy-efficient bulbs. This will allow you to save money on your electricity bill and also reduce the cost of replacing light bulbs.
If your shop isn’t insulated properly, having it professionally insulated could save on heating and air conditioning costs. And finally, installing motion activated light switches in certain areas of the shop, like bathrooms, can ensure lights aren’t turned on when no one is in the room. All these small upgrades could be well worth the investment, as they’ll save you money in the long run.
Challenge Employees to Use Less Product Once You Become a Collision Estimator
Every year, auto shops spend thousands of dollars on wasted product. Whether employees are using too much to complete the job or a product is opened and ends up expiring before it’s used, these small loses add up over time and can end up costing quite a bit. In order to cut down on wasted product and supplies in your shop, create an incentive program for employees.
For example, you could track how much product each employee uses. Employees who use the correct and least amount of product without sacrificing the quality of repairs could be incentivized or given a special privilege. You’ll be surprised by just how much money you can save when product isn’t going down the drain.
By implementing the above strategic changes in an auto body shop, you can reduce costs and sustainably offer your customers lower prices.
Do you want to start an exciting automotive career as a collision estimator?
Contact Automotive Training Centres to learn how you can get started!
