General Advice
Where to get expert advice on setting up an auto services business
SATeC which is supported by the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) is a non-profit automotive technology centre. The non-profit centre, hosted by the Automotive Supplier Park, in Rosslyn, and acts as a technology and SME development incubator, offering entrepreneurs workspace, access to conference and training facilities, entrepreneurship and business development services, proximity to nearby vehicle manufacturers and connectivity to the latest information technology infrastructure.
Buying Equipment
Where to buy used equipment for wheel alignment and auto servicing?
Where to go to locate wheel alignment equipment:
- Contact wheel alignment outlets and find if they have any equipment which they are selling.
- Often this type of equipment becomes available through auction. Refer to the newspapers for auction sales.
- Other options include trade magazines which advertise the sale of second hand equipment.
- There are various websites which also advertise the sale of equipment.
- There is a web directory of the South African automotive industry, called AutoStart which may be useful.
- Local websites such as Vottle carry classified ads for an array of used equipment.
Check reliability
The reliability of re-conditioned equipment and of the seller’s reputation should be carefully checked. It is only prudent to purchase “used” equipment if you have assurance that the seller is qualified or uses a qualified repair centre to calibrate and rebuild the products you wish to buy. Guarantees or warranties are a must, as you should have comeback if the product is not satisfactory.
Business insurance is crucial
Protect your business against public, product and employers liability by taking out business insurance.
Insurance is the most crucial point to be considered for your business as things do not always go as planned and unforeseen circumstances do emerge. Insurance in a business is a complex issue, more so the larger the business gets.
Taking insurance cover seriously is among the wisest decisions that most companies can make.