Mobile Mechanic Service
Car servicing, brakes, batteries and diagnostics at the customer's home or workplace instead of a garage visit.
Most routine servicing and common repairs need no ramp, so they can be done on a driveway with a van of tools. Customers pay for convenience: no lift home from a garage, no waiting room. A qualified mechanic leaving a garage can undercut workshop labour rates and still earn more per hour. Fleet and small-business vehicles give repeat contracts once trust is built. Gross margin figures are planning estimates of revenue minus direct costs (materials, consumables, fuel and per-job expenses); they exclude the owner's own labour, so treat them as a guide to job economics rather than take-home pay.
- Starting capital: 1500–4500 GBP
- Total starting capital: 3800 GBP
- Setup: 3-5 weeks
- Gross margin: 60-75%
- Business model: Per-job servicing and repair work booked at the customer's location, with parts marked up on top of labour.
- Category: Automotive Services
Risks
- Weather exposure: Driveway work in winter rain is miserable.
- No-ramp limit: Gearbox, exhaust and underbody jobs still need a workshop.
- Parts logistics: Wrong or late parts mean a second visit at your cost.
Costs
- Equipment — Van fit-out with racking, compressor, jack, stands and diagnostic kit — 2500 GBP
- Equipment — Tools and consumables starter stock — 600 GBP
- Compliance — Motor trade insurance and breakdown cover — 400 GBP
- Sales push — Website, listings and first local ads — 300 GBP