Starting your bike repair shop can be a great career pick if you are technical and have hands-on experience. However, to scale your business, you need more than just skills. In addition, you must get rid of those old, conventional manual methods that hinder your growth.
This is why, today, we are here to guide you. In this post, you will learn the essentials to build a successful, and well-reputed business. Along with that, we will discuss how bike shop management software can help you streamline the processes. Stay with us.
1. Have the Right Business Model
Scaling your bike repair business is all about using smart ways. As there are 9,249 bike repair and dealership businesses in the US, to stand out, you should carefully choose a business model that fits your goals, and your customers’ requirements. For instance, will you focus only on repairs, or will you also sell used bikes and accessories?
Some shop owners even offer bike rentals to earn some extra money. Then, there are some who also sell kits, and gear for riders. So, you should think about what works best in your area. A clear business model will help you set prices, market your services, and understand your target audience.
2. Equip Your Shop with the Best Tools
As a bike repair store owner, you need to have the right tools at your workplace. Or else, you won’t be able to fix bikes efficiently, and right on time. Thus, look for the best tools to help you open, reassemble, and fix all types of bikes. The tools include wrenches, bike repair stand, cable cutters, cassette lockring tool, pressure gauges, tire levers, etc.
In the same way, to expand, you need to boost efficiency and save time by eliminating manual processes. This is where point of sale software for bike repair shop comes in. From creating repair tickets, to tracking repairs to evaluating the performance of your employees, it will help you with everything.
3. Look for Reliable Repair Parts Suppliers
Imagine that you have set up a nice shop. Customers have started visiting you. The only thing they ask for is “will this repair last long?” However, until you are not sure whether you are using the right parts or not, how can you expect them to trust you?
Therefore, to make your business successful, you need to ensure you order only from the top bike repair parts suppliers. Only then, you will be able to offer warranties on repairs and know your customers get nothing but the best. Remember, you must not compromise on the quality of repairs even if it costs your customers a bit more. Once they develop trust in your repair service, they will keep visiting your store, boosting your loyal client base.
4. Hire the Right People to do the Job
Bike repair is a technical business that demands you hire the ones who know how to fix bikes. Therefore, it is a must to ensure that you hire only skilled, experienced technicians who can repair bikes. Contrary to this, if you hire interns, and newbies, they may not be able to finish the jobs on time.
In the same way, you should keep track of their performance and attendance as well. In this regard, you can use bike shop management software. It will let you know the check-in, check-out times of your employees, and repairs they complete every day. Based on that, you can easily calculate commissions, and process payroll, saving you time, and hassle.
5. Track Your Inventory all the Time
Managing inventory is one of the challenging tasks for repair business owners. When it comes to bike repairs, it becomes even more time-taking and tough. The reason? You have to keep an eye on several small parts and accessories all the time. These include chains, levers, gears, sprockets, bells, brakes, etc.
If (just like most lab owners) you keep relying on manual methods like paperwork to manage inventory, you’ll experience inefficiencies. Also, if a customer visits you and finds you don’t have the required repair part they will leave. As a result, you can lose a number of sales opportunities regularly due to a shortage of stock.
Thus, you must use a point of sale software as it will help you stay on top of your inventory all the time. For instance, whenever a part, product, or accessory gets low in the inventory, the system will notify you. This way, you can timely reorder stock from your desired suppliers, or vendors.
Final Words
Building a successful bike repair business demands your attention, experience and the right business tactics. By implementing these suggestions at your shop, you will be able to make your business well reputed. Hopefully, you will find the right suppliers, tools, and employees who will help you grow, and expand.