Collision repair is one of the largest sub-industries in the automotive industry today. With the continued increase in the number of motor vehicles on the road, the number cars and trucks damaged in accidents also continues to increase. This increase in the number of vehicles grows in line with the increase in the country's population. In this vein, business and employment opportunities in collision repair continues to grow. These business opportunities include support businesses like supplying paint, paint booths, spray guns, auto body repair tools, lifts, hydraulic equipment, auto body parts, metal sheets and not least of which are the insurance companies. As a customer, you would deal only with the shop you take your car to, but behind the scenes, there is a long supply chain working to put your car back on the road.
An auto body shop would do well to tie up with dealerships and insurance companies as these are a steady source of referrals. With insurance companies or dealerships, the key to gaining their business is to prove that you have the expertise and equipment to undertake extensive collision repair work. This means a substantial outlay in tools and equipment, as well as a good relationship with parts, auto body repair and paint suppliers so that you can get needed supplies through a credit line.
But investing in even the best tools and equipment means nothing if you don't have the skilled people to handle that equipment. And herein lies the opportunity for individuals who are interested in auto body repair and fabrication. Skills required in the auto body repair business include damage analysis and estimating, frame straightening, metal and body work fabrication and repair, glass replacement and painting and final detailing. If one invests in training and apprenticeship to gain the skills needed to become qualified, employment opportunities abound in the form of jobs at new and used car dealerships, independent repair shops, collision repair equipment manufacturers, insurance companies, paint and painting equipment suppliers, and even automobile graphics companies and manufacturers.
Auto body repair is not limited to knowing just the skills to effect collision repair. The best auto body specialists are totally dedicated to their craft and bring with them a passion to perform a thorough job each and every time. This means aligning gaps perfectly and ensuring that body lines and curves follow the original shapes to a tee. When you bring expertise and passion to this kind of work, it's only a matter of time before you, as a business or an individual, begin to turn away customers because of the reputation you will have built with your excellent work.
