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The information source for the collision repair industry.
Shop Operations

Body Shop Location: How Much Does It Matter?

I'm thinking about moving to a better facility for my body shop, and I was wondering how much emphasis should be put on the location. It seems it really is just a destination-type business, and I don't want to spend more than I have to just to be on a high-traffic road if it doesn't matter much.

Hank Nunn
By Hank Nunn
Hank Nunn is a 35-year collision industry veteran. He is now retired.
Published:

I’m thinking about moving to a better facility for my body shop, and I was wondering how much emphasis should be put on the location. It seems it really is just a destination-type business, and I don’t want to spend more than I have to just to be on a high-traffic road if it doesn’t matter much.

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Asked by Jeff Mayer, Marion, Ill.

Not a simple answer…lease, buy? But as a general rule: BUY THE BEST LOCATION YOU CAN AFFORD! And a little better would be good.

This is based on my personal experience of moving from a "not-quite-back-alley" location on a side street to a high-traffic location. It took more than two years to realize the benefit of the better location, but the investment in that better location pays off every day.

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Hank Nunn is a 35-year collision industry veteran. Among his many roles, he has been an adjuster, shop owner, technician, consultant and trainer. Currently, he’s western regional collision director for AutoNation. He may be reached at [email protected].

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Exit Strategies: Personal Vision & Financial Planning

The most critical first step in an exit or transition plan is to develop a financial plan and personal vision of what your life will look like post-business.

Matthew Di Francesco
By Matthew Di Francesco
Matt Di Francesco is a financial technician for collision repair professionals and the principal at High Lift Financial. He can be reached at (855) 804-3548 or [email protected].
Published:

Jerry was a 63-year-old auto body shop owner who contacted me regarding putting together an exit strategy. Like most shop owners, he had become tired of the day-to-day grind of dealing with the back-and-forth fights with the insurance carriers, yet he still loved the idea of being a part of a business he built from the ground up. Ideally, he would have liked his production manager, Evan, to become his heir apparent, yet he had no idea if Evan was interested in owning the shop or if he was even capable of doing so. His shop was a prime candidate for a consolidator, and he had received an offer from one, yet he cared about his employees and wanted to make sure they were taken care of. Also, he was unsure what he would do with himself if he did not have a place to go. He did not know where to turn.

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