startinghomebiz.com

What will I be doing ?
Deserved or not, used-car dealers have a bad reputation. Even those who buy used cars from the owner should be wary. If you know about cars and how to diagnose problems without expensive equipment, you can offer a valuable service to used-car buyers. You can start a used-car inspection service operated from your home.
A used-car inspection service, as you can guess, gets paid for inspecting and assessing the condition of used cars. Some services also offer pricing information based on official pricing books. Many of these services work out of their garage or from their own car.

What will I need to start ?
First, you must know how cars run, what makes them not run and how dishonest people can doctor a bad car to make it look and sound good. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a 30-year mechanic to get this knowledge. You can read books and take courses from 30-year mechanics.
You’ll need some basic mechanics tools and test equipment. While a computer chip tester is useful on newer cars, it’s surprising what you can learn about a car with a compression tester and a vacuum gauge.

Who will my customers be ?
Your customers will be individuals wanting to buy a good used car at fair price. They don’t want to pay more than a car is worth because a mechanical problem was intentionally or unintentionally hidden from them. Using automotive pricing guides available at larger bookstores, you can also tell the potential buyer what the typical price should be for the car.

How much should I charge ?
You will be paid for what you know. A used-car inspection service uses a shop rate of $30 to $70 an hour to set prices. The price quoted to the customer, however, will be based on the time it takes you for the typical job. An inspection that requires two hours of your time at $50 an hour is priced at $100. Another way of pricing is by a percentage of the value of the car. For example, you may price inspection of cars worth more than $2,000 in value at 5 percent of value. Seen as a small percentage, many customers will be less reluctant to hire you-even though your price will be the same or even higher.

How much will I make ?
If you keep busy, your auto inspection service can net you an income of $30,000 a year or more. To keep busy when you’re not inspecting cars, consider also doing minor repairs or even buying and reselling cars you inspect and guarantee. You can also sell your services to used-car lots, inspecting their vehicles and making recommendations on condition and pricing.

How can I get Started ?
You can start your auto inspection service based on knowledge and experience, but you will soon need advanced skill and even wisdom to make it grow. You will want a good reputation for honesty and fairness. You are offering a service based on trust.
Advertising will be important to you in trying to get the word out about your inspection service. Place an ad in local newspaper and shopper car ad sections. Also make a brochure or flier that you can distribute. It should include a description of your services, your pricing, your qualifications and information on how to contact you. The more you help others the more you will be helping yourself.

From the book of Dan Ramsey, Title : 101 Best Home Businesses, CAREER PRESS, 3 Tice Road, P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417, 1-800-CAREER-1, 201-848-0310 (NJ and outside U.S.), FAX : 201-848-1727