A majority of students who complete a certificate or associate degree program in the field of appliance repair go on to establish a business in which they are the owners themselves. In this scenario, you are your own boss and are in full control of your own schedule, the amount of work you want to do, as well as, establishing your own prices and obtaining your own customers.
One must think long and hard about opening their own small business. There are advantages, as well as disadvantages. Getting started may be one of the biggest obstacles, however, if you have an entrepreneurial spirit paired with the abilities to work hard and have the determination, you can do it!
Typically, the first step is to obtain the sufficient training needed to gain the skills required to be an Appliance Repair Technician. Although formal training is not required, it helps to know what you are doing. A certificate program can be earned through your local community college or some schools offer an associate degree, however, this may also require additional core classes. Both versions of appliance repair coursework can be found online along with other options, such as YouTube videos and free online service manuals and parts websites.
Next, you will need a business plan, no doubt. You will need to advertise. Often, a personal business relies on by word of mouth advertising for obtaining new customers or, in today’s world, reviews found on the internet can make you or break you, so always do the best job you can or make a sincere effort to rectify a problem as soon as possible. You will probably want to consider building a website, having business cards printed, as well as, invoices and a toll-free number for out of area customers to use.
Marketing is a key point in the starting up a new business. You will want to hand out or leave business cards wherever they will allow you to, particularly in stores that sell appliances and the like. It is nice if you can forge a friendly relationship with people in the industry who can refer their customers to you. Home warranty companies are often looking for repair techs to cover certain areas, however, please be aware of the fine print in their contracts before you sign on to do work for them. If you are working from home, perhaps a sign in your yard will create a buzz… if your neighborhood allows it!
You will need the proper tools to do a good job. Most likely, a van to work out of, for carrying your tools and supplies, will be most helpful. As tools can be expensive, you will want to obtain as many as required to do a sufficient job in a timely manner. You may also need to have an adequate inventory of parts on hand, at all times.
Additional certifications will display your knowledge and expertise in the field. In addition, you will probably need certification to handle refrigerant, if you intend to repair refrigerators and freezers. In addition, as with all businesses, please check your state’s regulations for the business licenses needed to comply with all legal requirements in your area.
As you show excellence in appliance repair and provide excellent customer service, your business will succeed. Good luck! If you would like to learn more about this field, please see our choices for the Best Online Schools for Appliance Repair Programs.