How to open an auto parts store without starting capital? We are opening an auto parts store from scratch.

In our previous publications, we have already discussed the issue of organizing a business in the automotive sector. You already know where to start a cargo transportation business. Now it’s worth talking about such an attractive way to make money as opening an auto parts store from scratch. In this article, we will discuss all the nuances of this type of activity, the pros and cons of the auto parts business, and also calculate the approximate costs and possible profits.

How to start an auto parts business?

Due to the increase in the number of vehicles in the modern world, naturally, there is a demand for auto parts, components and accessories for cars of all kinds. The business of selling auto parts is a fairly profitable option for making money, which guarantees a stable income and high profits. But the problem is that the competition in this field of activity is quite serious, which stops novice entrepreneurs from trying their hand at this particular niche. But despite the competition, it is quite possible to achieve success; the main thing is to competently approach the implementation of your business idea.

How to open an auto parts store from scratch?

Budding entrepreneurs are wondering about the possibility of opening an auto parts store from scratch. Is this realistic and how to achieve success without a large start-up capital?

I would like to note that it is quite possible to open your own business from scratch in the automotive sector. How to do it?

Home based auto parts business

Naturally, you will need money to buy auto parts. Where can I get them? Believe me, even from this situation there is a way out. All you need is to find reliable suppliers of quality auto parts, preferably working directly with manufacturers. Thus, the client orders a certain auto part or accessory from you, and you buy it directly from the manufacturers. Your earnings are a markup. That is, you buy a product at one price and sell it at a higher price; the difference from the sale and purchase is your earnings. At the initial stage it will be difficult, the main thing is to earn credibility and earn the trust of customers. Therefore, the product you sell must be of high quality.

With the right approach, after just a year, you will receive regular customers and good profits, and over time, you will be able to open a full-fledged auto parts store.

Business plan for an auto parts store

Having enough funds to open your own store selling auto parts, you can start drawing up a business plan. This document will allow you to correctly distribute your starting capital. By following a clear plan, you can achieve success in a short time.

When drawing up a business plan for auto parts, you must take into account such economic features as demand, competition, profitability, and payback periods for the business.

Profitability is the efficiency of using funds, calculated taking into account the profit and cost indicators for the implementation of a business idea. Most often, profitability is expressed as a percentage. Before you start a business, you need to calculate its profitability.

Demand and competition are important factors that significantly influence success. As noted above, the demand for auto parts is quite large, and accordingly, the competition in this area is quite serious. But, nevertheless, this does not mean that you will not be able to occupy this niche. First of all, you need to analyze the demand for auto parts in your area of ​​the city, beat your competitors and find out which spare parts and accessories for cars are in greatest demand and which goods are in short supply. In accordance with the information received, form your assortment, choose a direction and occupy a niche.

Business registration

You can complete all the documents yourself or entrust this matter to an experienced lawyer.

Renting premises for an auto parts store

The location of the store is important. It is advisable to open your auto parts store in a crowded place, for example, near a gas station or the central highway of the city. This way, you will receive customers not only from your area, but also passing drivers who pass by your store.

As for the store area, it is advisable to divide it into separate zones. A small part of the store is about 20 sq. m. will be equipped as a reception area for clients, the other part will be turned into a warehouse where spare parts will be stored.

Range

Having decided on the direction, you can proceed directly to purchasing auto parts and accessories for cars. Work only with reliable suppliers; it is advisable to buy auto parts directly from manufacturers. Your product must be of high quality. It is also very important to set prices correctly, the number of clients will depend on this.

Hired personnel

Your store employees should be well versed in the range of products sold. Salespeople must know a lot about cars, parts and accessories. Clients often don’t understand what they need; salespeople must figure it out, advise, and help choose the necessary spare parts or accessories.

In addition, take into account the personal qualities of employees, such as responsibility, sociability, friendliness and friendliness. Do not forget that competent communication with clients is the key to success in business.

Advertising concept

In order to get your first customers, you need to develop a competent advertising campaign. In order for people to know about you, you need to inform them about the opening of a new auto parts store.

1. Advertising in the media. You can place advertisements in the newspaper, and also order advertising on local radio.
2. Advertising around the city. Distributing flyers with the store's address is a great way to attract customers. Hire people to hand out leaflets and post notices in public places around town. You can also order advertising on billboards.
3. Internet advertising. A very effective option to attract clients is to create your own website. You can create an online store that sells auto parts. This way you get extra people.

Now you know where to start a business selling auto parts and how to open an auto parts store from scratch. I wish you success in business, quick profits, and also satisfied and grateful clients.

Nowadays, almost every family has a car and the number of car owners is growing steadily from year to year. This trend will continue to be observed, despite the economic situation. It is not difficult to guess that in proportion to the growth of cars on the roads, the demand for spare parts will also increase. Thus, opening an auto parts store can be a successful investment and a guarantee of a stable income.

Despite the existing competition, there is enough place in the sun for absolutely everyone. Investments in this business can be
the most minimal - to open a business, it is initially enough to have 200-300 thousand rubles, but income can be up to 110%.

Where to begin?

It is advisable that a person who decides to open an auto parts store had a good understanding of the product and the peculiarities of trade. Otherwise, you will have to trust suppliers and hired specialists, which is quite a big risk.

First of all, you should analyze the market: find out whether there is a demand for spare parts, what is in great demand, and so on. Decide on the specialization of your auto parts store.

It is important to identify the distinctive feature of the store being opened so that it is somehow different from its competitors. So, you can specialize in domestic car models. The assortment needs to be thought out in advance at the planning stage.

For cooperation with legal entities (large car depots, taxis). This is also important if you do not want to stop at one store and plan to open branches and other stores in the future.

The next steps are selecting premises, ordering office equipment, recruiting personnel, choosing a supplier of goods, drawing up cost estimates (business plan). They are very important, so let's talk about these points in more detail.

If you have financial resources and if the premises allow, a car wash, tire service and auto parts store can be combined and opened in one place.

Selecting a room

The area of ​​the premises should be determined by the chosen store format, as well as the available capital. If finances are limited, you should not look for large areas. To begin with, you can open a retail outlet of 15-25 square meters. m. and work on a pre-order basis. There is no point in creating a large warehouse of auto parts with limited capital.

So just allocate an area for storing the most popular goods and that will be enough. Thus, brake pads, spark plugs, oils, oil filters, light bulbs, etc. are in demand in any store. Other spare parts can be ordered through the catalog.

Having a store near a service station would be ideal. In this case, there will always be customers, unless the station has its own retail sales departments. The ideal situation is if, even before opening a store, you understand who your potential customers are.

Also good places for an auto parts store are shopping centers in crowded places, office centers or free-standing buildings in a residential area of ​​the city. Do not consider premises with high rent, even if they are located in the city center.

At first, the store may operate at a loss, and high rent will only spoil your mood and place a heavy burden on your shoulders. It is important that there are no stores nearby with a similar assortment as yours. And lastly, try to find a room with parking available for clients.

Selecting assortment and supplier for the store

If we talk about the assortment, you can sell only specialized auto parts, or you can work with both foreign and domestic spare parts. The demand for domestic spare parts is still higher, since there are more domestic cars in our country. In the case of the Russian assortment, it is easier to calculate the minimum configuration.

When choosing a supplier, compare prices and only then make a choice. Compare prices with your competitors; if they vary greatly against you, look for other suppliers. It is advisable to have several partners, this is the key to the stability of the store.

Official dealers do not offer counterfeit products, so it is better to choose them. When collaborating with official manufacturers of spare parts companies, you will be able to use on your sign the logos of the cars for which you are selling spare parts. Your reputation will largely depend on the reliability of the supplier and his work, so before concluding an agreement, be sure to read reviews about him on the Internet.

Advertising and Marketing

In addition, you can distribute business cards, print in advertising pages of newspapers, specialized publications, hold exhibitions, and so on.

Staff

It is unlikely that you will be able to work seven days a week without days off. Try to find an experienced salesman who knows the design of cars and knows how to sell the product well. He must not only know the available assortment, but also visually represent it. It is also important to be able to carry on a conversation, help solve problems and select the right part.

Calculation of a business plan for an auto parts store

You will have significant expenses, and you definitely need to draw up a business plan. It is needed in order not to miss anything and to clearly indicate upcoming expenses. A sample list of expenses would look like this:

• registration of an individual entrepreneur or LLC;
• expenses for renting premises;
• purchase of goods;
• salespersons' wages;
• store equipment;
• advertising;
• taxes.

Online auto parts store

Opening an online store will help attract additional customers and simplify the task of finding suppliers.

All that is required is to create a website, enter the range into a single database and update the information daily. If you create a database yourself, you will have to scan manufacturers' catalogs, recognize texts and create a unified format.

Opening an online auto parts store is not much different from. You will need a website and advertising.

At first, you don’t need an office or a warehouse - this is the main advantage over an offline store.

If you already have a store, then you can get additional customers from the Internet.

Trade in auto parts in Russia is a highly profitable business, the success of which is accompanied by several factors. The number of car owners is growing year by year; it is always necessary to maintain the “iron horse” in technically sound condition; wear and tear and failure of various parts and mechanisms constantly occur.

The stable income of the owner of an auto parts store is facilitated by the love of our car enthusiasts for their brainchild, which goes beyond all boundaries. They are ready to get the necessary parts for crazy money, just so that the “swallow” runs like new and is in no way inferior to the neighbor’s.

Such observations push many businessmen to the idea of ​​getting seriously involved in the auto parts trade. They immediately face the question: how to open an auto parts store? What nuances should be taken into account so that the business does not go bankrupt? Let's figure it out.

Where to begin?

Conduct market research

Explore the car market in your region

It is important to know the brands of cars that are in demand in a particular city or area. Find out which cars locals prefer: domestic or imported. Research data says: in large cities, premium-class foreign cars predominate; in the provinces, the share of imported and domestic cars is almost the same. Among foreign cars, budget versions of Chinese and Korean cars and used cars from European manufacturers are in demand.

Assess the solvency of future clients

A metropolis and a provincial town with a population of 150–200 thousand residents usually have different income levels. Give priority to dynamically developing regions with developed infrastructure and good indicators of growth in gross income per capita.

Assess market capacity

It is known that a fifth of the Russian population has their own car. When a town has a population of 150–200 thousand, the number of cars will be about 30 thousand. If we take into account that the population density decreases with distance from the capital, this figure will still be real: the niche is filled by residents of surrounding villages who come to the city to buy spare parts for their cars. There is room to develop.

Assess your competitors

Take the time to get to know your competitors' stores. Evaluate their location, assortment, niche that each of them occupies in the market, price level and bonus system, if one exists, facade design, interior, types of advertising they use. Of course, this project is quite difficult to implement in a large city. But, in medium-sized and small cities, a visual inspection of retail outlets can be done in 1–2 days. The addresses of car dealerships are easy to find on the Internet. After analyzing the work of your competitors, you will understand what to focus on.

Choosing a location for an auto parts store

In large cities, it is advisable to locate the store in the center, where there are always many owners of expensive foreign cars. Convenient access roads are required.

On the periphery, the options for locating a future trading enterprise are different. If you decide to open an auto parts store for foreign cars, the central part of the city, where the offices of large companies, banks, and government agencies are located, where the public with money gathers, will be a suitable place. The “Red Line” with its dense traffic flow is always attractive for locating business facilities.

Another option: create a similar business project on the outskirts, next to which there is a busy highway. Every car enthusiast passing by should notice your window display. Only in this case will you have clients.

Business plan

After studying the market in a given region, create a detailed business plan for opening an auto parts store. Contact an experienced economist who will develop a detailed business plan taking into account your opinion and the specifics of a particular city, district or region. If you do not have enough personal funds at the time of preparing to open a shopping complex, contact the bank’s credit department. Credit funds will not be provided to you without a clear action plan and detailed calculations.

Important: such a detailed description of the preparatory process is necessary for a businessman to take possible risks seriously and realistically assess the prospects of opening another auto parts store in his chosen region. It's no secret that some businesses fail. The main reason is neglect of market capacity research and overconfidence.

Yes, this is a troublesome task. Be prepared to work around the clock at first. The better you test the waters, the better your decisions will be. It’s not enough to just say: I want to open an auto parts store. You need to make an effort, show interest, and the costs will pay off.

Prospects

You have conducted a preliminary market analysis and decided that there is a free niche. What does the auto parts trading business promise?

This business is profitable. The gross margin ratio ranges from 25 to 75%. What does it mean? After deducting all costs from the revenue, you will still have a decent profit. Having invested about 1.5 million rubles in your business, with a well-organized trading process and a sufficient number of buyers, you can receive up to 300 thousand rubles every month. arrived. The investment will pay off within a year.

Are these numbers real? Certainly! Trade margins are often 20–100%. Remember how much spare parts cost. Their owners spend up to 15 thousand rubles a year on car maintenance. Spare parts account for a significant share of costs. Multiply 30 thousand motorists in a provincial town by 15 thousand rubles. Get about 400 million. It’s possible to grab a few million from the total pie.

Preparation of documentation

What documents are needed to open an auto parts store? The package is standard.

Your steps:

1. Register your business activity. Obtain a certificate of state registration of a legal entity. If you do not plan to carry out large wholesale supplies of parts and components, (IP).
2. Get codes from Goskomstat. First of all, “Spare parts”.
3. Contact the tax service and receive a certificate for tax registration.
4. Conclude agreements: for renting the selected premises and for garbage removal.
5. Get a report from the fire inspectorate that your store meets fire safety requirements.
6. Pay for a patent to open an auto parts store.

Financial expenses

The initial capital is at least 1.6 million rubles. Components:

• payment for rent of premises - 40 thousand rubles. monthly;
• inventory in the warehouse and on the sales floor - 1 million rubles.
• purchase of retail equipment (racks, shelves, display cases), computer equipment, connection to the Internet, arrangement of the premises and its repair - up to 500 thousand rubles;
• staff salaries (two salespeople, an accountant). Monthly from 40 thousand rubles;
• utility bills - up to 15 thousand rubles;
• other costs (advertising, promotions, office, unforeseen expenses) - up to 100 thousand rubles.

The size of the trade margin is set by the owner based on a comparison of this value among competitors. By lowering your prices a little, you will increase your sales volume. The minimum markup is 25%. Sellers often increase the markup to 40–50% or more.

Recruitment

Get ready for the fact that at first you will perform the duties of director and purchasing manager (supply manager) yourself. There is a positive aspect to this. You will not only save on payroll, but also delve into all the intricacies of the business.

Mandatory staff:

• sales consultant (2 people). Salary level – from 15 thousand rubles. per month. The piecework type of remuneration increases the quality of work and interest: rate (from 5 thousand rubles) + percentage of sales;
• accountant. Until sales volume reaches the planned level, use the services of an invited specialist. Salary – from 5–6 thousand rubles. per month.

Requirements for sellers:

• knowledge of the entire range of spare parts offered for sale;
• It is advisable to have your own car so that the consultant can give practical advice on replacing parts (if the buyer hesitates in choosing) or offer an alternative option;
• grammatically correct speech. If the seller is well versed in the design of the car and can advise the client inside and out, then at first you can turn a blind eye to the vernacular or lack of knowledge of terminology. But a specialist who does not want to improve his literacy level will, after a while, begin to irritate some clients. A culture of speech must be developed.

Auto parts suppliers

Reliable suppliers are a guarantee of successful operation of the enterprise. If you have friends who supply auto parts, that’s great. If not, look for suppliers' addresses on the Internet. Read reviews about them, collect more information.

Specify:

• supply details;
• payment procedure;
• guarantees;
• availability of bonuses and discounts.

Where to buy auto parts?

Options:

• from intermediaries;
• directly at the manufacturer.

The second option involves lower prices. At the same time, intermediaries for regular customers establish a system of discounts and offer bonuses for the volume and number of orders. When purchasing large quantities of goods, the benefits can be significant.

• after studying the market, decide: you will open a company store selling spare parts for one brand of car or offer customers parts for cars of different brands;
• perhaps you will occupy a niche of spare parts for foreign or domestic cars, Japanese, European or American cars;
• dumping is a good option. But, don't go overboard with price cuts. Competitors will become angry, and customers will begin to doubt the quality of the products supplied. Better - small discounts, but with every purchase. A cumulative bonus card for regular customers is a rational solution;
• Place information about the store on billboards and banners along the roads so that the car owner’s eyes are caught during trips. Distribute brochures and leaflets. Newspaper is not the best option. Over time, reviews from satisfied customers will be your best (and free) advertising.
• do not spare money on buying or renting a car to deliver spare parts to the garage or to the client’s home. "GAZelka" is an acceptable option. Fast delivery is a definite plus in your piggy bank.
• ensure the availability of popular, in-demand spare parts in stock;
• organize work according to the catalogue;
• create a website for your store on the Internet. Sales volumes will increase. Remember that additional investment will be required. In this case, fast delivery of goods is an important condition for the positive image of your company.

Consider the recommendations that will help you open an auto parts store from scratch. A competent strategy, perseverance, instinct, and quick response to fluctuations in demand will help make your trading enterprise one of the best in the region.

Alexander Kaptsov

Reading time: 11 minutes

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Despite the instability of the economic situation, the number of cars on the roads in Russia continues to constantly grow. Almost every family owns at least a car or motorcycle. Therefore, the need for auto parts was, is and will always be. After all, any vehicle requires periodic maintenance with the replacement of worn parts. Based on this, we can safely say that opening an auto parts store is a profitable business.

How to create an auto parts store: where to start?

Once the entrepreneur has the idea of ​​opening an auto parts store, he needs to decide what will be best sold there. Automotive market research will help with this.

Documents for registration

What is included in the list of documentation required to open a store selling auto parts?

• Documents confirming the status of an entrepreneur - individual entrepreneur or LLC, which indicates the type of his activity, the name of the outlet, and the type of taxation. This is the so-called constituent documentation.
• Permission to locate a store obtained from local authorities.
• Documentation on the sanitary and epidemiological compliance of the store, issued by Rospotrebnadzor. This is a separate package which includes a number of documents:
  

1. conclusion of the SES (limited validity period) on the compliance of this premises with all the norms provided for in the law regarding such objects;
2. a document giving the right to place a trade object (issued on the basis of the above conclusion);
3. a special program that ensures sanitary and industrial control is agreed with Rospotrebnadzor specialists, and only after that can be implemented;
4. an agreement with a company that will clean and disinfect air conditioners and the ventilation system of the premises;
5. an agreement with a dry cleaner or laundry for washing employees’ workwear;
6. contract for the performance of work on disinfection, as well as disinfestation;
7. an agreement providing for the recycling of fluorescent lamps and lamps containing mercury and an agreement on the removal of garbage, including municipal solid waste.

• Permission to operate the store from the authorities supervising fire safety.
• Availability of internal documentation: journals where inventory and spare parts are recorded, accounting documents and others.

Taxation and accounting

Trade in spare parts usually involves two types of taxation.

• USNO (simplified system)

“Simplified” in most cases is chosen by individual entrepreneurs. When calculating tax, you must take into account revenue, expenses and a tax rate of 15%. The declaration is submitted to the tax authorities once a year before March 31. This system does not require complex accounting; you can limit yourself to a book that shows the expense and income parts.

• UTDV (single tax)

When calculating this type of tax, it is necessary to take into account some physical indicators.

1. Size of the sales area (its area).
2. Basic profitability (established value of 1,800 rubles).
3. Coefficients K1 (deflator), K2 (adjustment) and a tax rate of 15%.

The tax amount is allowed to be reduced by the amount of social contributions made. The declaration is submitted every quarter. This system is usually chosen by limited liability companies. By the way, they will have to maintain complex accounting.

What kind of space is needed for a store?

Both rented and private premises are suitable for locating a store selling car parts. Its dimensions may vary, and the size of the starting capital plays a decisive role here. The recommended store area is at least 60 square meters, the size of the sales area is 45 square meters, and the remaining 15 meters contain a warehouse and utility rooms.

It should also be taken into account that the store warehouse performs secondary functions. The most necessary goods and new items are stored here. The main part of the assortment that is not presented on the sales floor should be stored in another warehouse, that is, the primary one. And here the main thing is that there is a short distance between the store and the main warehouse, because then the delivery of goods can be carried out in a short time, without delaying it for a whole day.

The location of the outlet is also important. It is imperative to take into account the availability of good transport links and parking spaces. The profitability of a store increases significantly if it operates near a service station, gas station or car wash. The car market is considered an ideal place.

Where do stores buy auto parts?

The purchase of auto parts for stores, as a rule, goes through two or three large suppliers. The search for the right dealers can be done through the Internet, which has all the necessary information. When studying information about a future supplier, in addition to the range and terms of delivery, you should also pay attention to reviews about it.

This should be taken with full responsibility, because the product’s discrepancy with the declared data and frequent defects will create problems for the store and ruin the reputation of the outlet.

Most suppliers, if the order exceeds a certain limit, deliver the goods for free. This can be seen as a bonus. This is especially important at the beginning of a store’s activity, when transport costs add up to 5% of its cost to the price of the product.

In addition to basic supplies, it is necessary to take care of highly specialized goods, which will distinguish this store from similar facilities. Let’s say a special type of high-quality oil or high-quality accessories, for which the markup is the highest. Therefore, this point cannot be ignored.

What kind of spare parts should the store's assortment be focused on?

The store can also combine the above specialized areas.

What is the most popular product, regardless of the car brand?

• Headlights and bumpers.
• Side mirrors and side doors.
• Brake lights and engines.
• Gearbox and hubs.
• Pendants and racks.
  

What's the best way to design a store?

The profitability of an auto parts store, in addition to the quality of the goods and the skill of the employees, is also influenced by the correct display of products, impeccably designed display cases, the climate in the store and design.

Many beginning businessmen, when starting interior design, turn to the services of professionals - firms specializing in the creation and implementation of design projects for retail outlets.

The store should be designed in such a way that visitors feel comfortable staying in it. Properly laid out goods, convenient and, most importantly, clear navigation, and light, unobtrusive design also contribute to sales growth.

The calm atmosphere of the store will be complemented by optimal indoor temperature and pleasant music.

Each retail outlet has its own product matrix, which dictates the optimal placement of goods. It is individual for a specific assortment and a specific sales area. This fact should be the basis of the design project.

A large selection of products requires the use of merchandising and well-thought-out navigation.

What commercial equipment will be needed to operate the store?

Here is a list of commercial equipment for the full functioning of the store:

• racks and display cases for the sales area where you can freely lay out and arrange the goods;
• racks. They will be useful both in the trading area and in the warehouse;
• computers, connected to the local network and the Internet. Firstly, with the help of special programs it is easy to keep inventory of spare parts. Secondly, having special software, you can facilitate the selection of spare parts by code, as well as visually display the required part;
• cash counters— places where the purchase of goods is made and a landline telephone is installed;
• tables, chairs perhaps small sofas for buyers.

The amount of commercial equipment depends entirely on the size of the store.

What should it be auto parts store staff medium size?

Quite often, “independent” craftsmen are brought in as experts. They can give advice on the quality of any part, explain the reasons for its rapid wear or breakdown, and in some cases perform an urgent replacement or repair of the car directly near the store.

The first time after opening a store, the business owner personally controls the trading process, since it is necessary to train the staff and establish the outlet’s trading. Experts recommend hiring employees with experience in selling spare parts.

Sometimes the client brings a part in his hand, not knowing its exact name, purpose and other parameters. The consultant needs to quickly navigate the situation in order to quickly offer the visitor exactly the same or similar one.

How to promote a business?

Promoting a store selling auto parts, three directions can be used.

• Advertising events directly in the place where the store is located. These include a recognizable and clearly visible sign, as well as the presence of a stationary or remote structure - a citylight.
• Advertising activities aimed at conveying information about the new store to the target audience. These include:

1. advertising in specialized magazines and newspapers for motorists and online advertising;
2. distribution of business cards and advertising leaflets containing the company logo, information about the main product, prices, address, contact numbers. Where is the best place to distribute them? Not far from traffic police, parking lots, intersections, that is, where there may be potential clients;
3. You can place store advertising on transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams), on billboards, run commercials on radio or TV;
4. Sponsoring various events also helps promote the store.

• Advertising through intermediaries:

1. mutually beneficial agreements with those organizations, thanks to which the store can receive new customers. Employees of gas stations, car washes, tire service stations, and paid parking lots can hand out promotional material, and their services will be advertised in the store in the same way;
2. Well-established relationships with service station foremen or mechanics who repair cars at home and in garages allow you to attract new clients. True, they will have to be given a discount on spare parts or interested in other lucrative offers.

The name of any store, including auto parts, is an effective marketing tool. This rule has been tested many times. Experts recommend adhering to certain requirements when choosing a name.

It should be:

Several options need to be considered. For example, “Auto Parts Shop”, “Everything for Your Favorite Car”, “Kingdom of Auto” or something funny: “AvtoMisha”, “Avtomaster Petrovich”.

From the selected names, you need to cross out the most unsuccessful ones, and contact the patent office with the remaining ones to check the uniqueness. This will avoid accusations of appropriating an existing name.

Business plan for an auto parts store from scratch

Business project for an auto parts store with the following data:

• rentable area - 100 m²;
• opening hours: 9.00-21.00;
• two people work per shift (4 employees in total);
• offered assortment - spare parts for GAZ cars;
• average markup - 35% (for expensive spare parts - 20%, for various small items - 100%);
• The estimated monthly revenue on average is 1,200,000 rubles.

Capital Cost Amount

The amount of capital costs is 1,600,000 rubles, this amount consists of:

• expenses for inventory - 1,000,000 rubles;
• store renovation costs - 150,000 rubles;
• advertising events (signboard, printed material, advertising in the media) - 150,000 rubles;
• costs for commercial equipment - 300,000 rubles.

Monthly store expenses

The amount of expenses each month is at least 200,000 rubles, and this amount includes:

• wage fund - 850,00 rubles;
• payment for rent of premises - 60,000 rubles;
• payment of utility bills - 15,000 rubles;
• payment of taxes - 40,000 rubles.

Store profitability

If the average monthly income is 1,200,000 rubles, the cost of goods is 890,000 rubles, then the gross profit will be 310,000 rubles. After deducting expenses for the month, net income will be 110,000 rubles. Therefore, the store’s profitability is 11%. Taking into account the amount of capital investment, we can assume that the outlet will pay for itself in 14-15 months.

Opening a new franchise auto parts store is the most promising way to develop your own business.

Franchising is a reliable and profitable activity that does not require large financial investments. In this case, the business does not start from scratch and it does not require enormous effort. The entrepreneur has nothing to worry about advertising and promoting the store, because the acquired well-known brand is already popular in the market.

To buy a franchise for an auto parts store and run the business successfully, a businessman will need:

• minimum investment for the acquisition of franchising, which is approximately 500,000 rubles;
• premises with a retail area of ​​at least 15 m²;
• presence of at least three employees (at the first stage).

As a result, the business will pay for itself very quickly - it will be possible to return all capital costs in literally 4-5 months.

How much does it cost to buy or rent a ready-made business in Moscow and St. Petersburg?

The cost of a ready-made business - a store selling auto parts - is very diverse both in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The price is affected by the size of the premises, location of the facility, age of the business and other factors.

1. Let's assume that a small retail outlet with an area of ​​14 m², which has been operating for 7 years, brings a profit of 70,000 rubles. Such a store will cost 690,000 rubles.
2. A store with an area of ​​30 m² in the city center, operating for 15 years and generating a profit of 120,000 rubles, will already cost 2,650,000 rubles.

Finding offers for renting out a ready-made business is quite difficult, because trading in auto parts is a profitable business. Therefore, either a businessman runs his own store himself, or simply sells an already established business for some objective reason.

Do you love cars and have a good understanding of them? Find out how to open an auto parts store from scratch. With the right approach, this business will provide good income.

♦ Capital investments – 400,000 rubles.
♦ Payback – 6–10 months.

Business related to cars can be safely called a man's business, because not every woman will dare to open a car store or service station, because she will doubt what kind of commercial equipment needs to be purchased, how to competently form a customer base and product range.

If you love cars, have a good understanding of them and are looking for a startup to launch, then be sure to check out how to open an auto parts store from scratch.

With the right approach and due diligence, this business will give you a good income and will pay off in a short time.

How to open an auto parts store: preparatory stage

It's not enough to just say to yourself, “I want to open an auto parts store.”

You must first carry out preparatory work to understand how profitable this business is in your locality and whether it makes sense to invest money in commercial equipment, renting premises for an auto parts store, etc.

So, you can properly organize the preparatory work of an auto shop if:

1. Study the theoretical basis. Even if you have experience working with cars, it's a good idea to fill in the gaps in your knowledge.
2. Decide what exactly your auto parts store will do:
   • sell spare parts for domestic or foreign cars;
   • sell specialized equipment or something lighter: detergents, mats, seat covers, stickers, etc.;
   • your auto shop will service one brand of car, for example Peugeot, or you will supply equipment for different foreign cars.
3. Analyze the products and prices of competitors whose outlets are located in the area in which you are going to open an auto parts store in order to avoid their mistakes.

If you decide to open an auto store from scratch and have no experience in this type of activity, then you will probably need some advice from those who have profitable auto parts stores:

1. If you are in doubt where to start, start by drawing up a business plan for an auto store with specific calculations, according to real estate prices, salaries and commercial equipment in your region.
2. Don't wait for customers at an auto parts store, because such tactics are ineffective.
   It is necessary to establish contacts with taxi drivers and service stations to supply them with spare parts, which many entrepreneurs do not want to do.
3. Don’t immediately fill your auto store with spare parts for different foreign cars.
   Let you always have universal goods in stock (oils, antifreeze, glass washers, lubricants, etc.), and bring everything else only by pre-order.
4. It is necessary to establish close cooperation with suppliers.
   If you fail to get the customer the spare parts he needs two or three times, he will move to another auto store.
5. Learn to have an excellent understanding of car spare parts so that you can understand, just by looking at the part, what exactly the buyer needs to order.
   Often car enthusiasts (especially female representatives) bring some kind of screw with the words “I want to order the same” and you must immediately name the part being shown to you.
6. You shouldn’t limit yourself to just servicing foreign cars.
   Selling parts for models of the domestic automobile industry is a very profitable business.
   Spare parts for domestic cars are bought much more often because they are cheaper, and foreign cars break down much less often.
7. The auto parts market is a business area that is constantly changing.
   You need to keep track of these changes in order to offer customers only the most modern and high-quality products in your auto parts store.
8. Think about what to name your establishment.
   “Auto shop” is too trivial, but you shouldn’t come up with something exotic and hard to remember.
   Remember that your main clients are men, and they will not appreciate creativity.
9. If you do not have enough funds to open a real auto store, you can start an online auto parts store.
   If you offer customers spare parts and universal products at a price lower than in regular stores, you will quickly create a customer base.
10. Competition in this business is quite high, so even at the initial stage of launching a startup, you need to create competent competitive advantages for your auto parts store.
    It could be:
    • reasonable prices for auto parts and accessories (even if your spare parts cost 20–30 rubles lower than those of your competitors, you can quickly build a reputation as “the cheapest auto store in the city”);
    • speed of delivery of ordered parts;
    • work with official suppliers;
    • high quality products;
    • various promotions. For example, “Buy the most expensive oil, get a salon fragrance for free,” etc.

How to open an auto parts store: advertising

If you are going to open a modest stall at the local market, then there is no need to spend money on a large advertising campaign.

But large car dealerships that dream of conquering the market and attracting as many wholesale customers (taxi services, auto carriers, etc.) in a short time as possible cannot do without a serious advertising campaign.

To quickly notify citizens about the opening of a new auto parts store:

• advertise in newspapers, radio and television;
• order a poster in a newspaper for free advertisements on the appropriate page, for example, “buy and sell cars”;
• print business cards and promotional brochures to distribute in the area in which you decide to open an auto shop.

1. Satisfied customers who will tell their acquaintances, friends and relatives that such a wonderful store has opened.
2. Your acquaintance with potential clients: taxi drivers, auto mechanics, service station owners, etc.
   Go to meet them instead of waiting for them to randomly drop by your auto shop.

How to open an auto parts store: calendar plan

Since auto shop owners do not have to obtain special licenses to operate, and you don’t have to buy special commercial equipment to operate the shop, your main concerns will be: finding premises that would be located in a high-traffic area, contracts with suppliers, and forming an assortment.

You can realistically handle all this in 4–5 months.

How to open an auto parts store: main steps

Opening an auto shop is not much different from opening a hardware store.

You have to go through the same stages: registration, searching for suitable premises, buying commercial equipment, recruiting staff, forming an assortment, searching for suppliers and clients.

Auto shop registration

In order to open a car shop from scratch, you need to officially register.

Choose one of two business forms that suit you: individual entrepreneur (individual entrepreneur) or LLC (limited liability company).

If you are going to sell auto parts, equipment, etc. only to individuals, then an individual entrepreneur is enough.

If you want to work with legal entities, for example, supply your goods to a company that deals with road transportation, you will have to register as an LLC in order to be able to do this.

If you already have experience in entrepreneurship and enough money to open a large-scale business, then register as an LLC.

If you are new to this business and have decided to start a modest business, then it is better to limit yourself to individual entrepreneurs and simplify the registration procedure for yourself.

Premises for an auto parts store

Fun fact:
In Havana, one of the entertainments offered to tourists is to drive a Ford or Cadillac from the 50s. But tourists don’t see what’s under the hood of a “classic American car.” And there are parts from the Volga, Zhiguli and the Belarus tractor.

It is very important to open an auto shop in an area with high traffic and locate it so that you don’t have to search for your shop for a long time.

Auto parts stores located in markets, near bus stops, etc. bring good profits.

When choosing a location, make sure that there are no other auto stores nearby, otherwise you will have to fight for every client.

It is also important to remember that your clients are motorists, which means you cannot do without parking.

But the area of ​​the premises depends on the size of the store you want to open. Both small stalls and premium establishments located on 100 square meters operate successfully on the market.

Ideally, the area of ​​an auto parts store should be at least 30–40 square meters. meters in order to accommodate not only a sales area, but also a warehouse, a service room and a bathroom.

There is no need to invest a lot of money in repairs.

Male clients will definitely not appreciate the refinements of the interior, and women will visit you infrequently.

The main thing is that the auto shop has the necessary equipment to demonstrate your product in the most favorable light.

Auto parts store equipment

Depending on the size of the auto parts store you want to open, choose equipment so that the product looks attractive and the customer can immediately find what he needs.

You cannot do without this minimum:

Expense item	Amount (in rub.)
Total:	100,000 rub.
Shelves and racks	20 000
Glass showcase	15 000
Cash machine	10 000
Computer with printer	25 000
Other	30 000

Auto shop staff

Owners of small auto shops, which are more reminiscent of stalls, at the first stages of launching a startup prefer to do without outside help, performing the functions of a salesperson, a cleaner, an accountant, and a manager.

You can follow their example, but keep in mind that it is quite difficult.

In addition, ideally your store should be open on both Sat and Sun to improve sales figures.

It’s better to hire a salesperson with whom you will work in shifts (for example, 2/2 days), and on the free days you will deal with ordering goods, accounting, and perform management functions.

You should also consider hiring a cleaner to come once a day.

Suppliers for auto parts store

Finding suppliers in the age of Internet technology is easy.

You should do this as soon as you decide to open an auto parts store to determine the direction of your business.

You shouldn’t try to cover all possible car models, otherwise you won’t succeed.

It is better to limit yourself to servicing a few brands and be sure to expand the range with universal products: mats, covers, oils, antifreeze, glass washers, interior fragrances and more.

Deal only with licensed suppliers of auto products, otherwise sooner or later you will face dissatisfaction with customers who will complain that you sold them a low-quality product.

Do not purchase a lot of spare parts, agree to work with suppliers “to order” and with deferred payment.

Break off relations with those suppliers who often let you down (they promise to send the ordered spare part and do not do so), because your business depends on the speed of delivery.

For those interested in starting a startup dedicated to the automotive business,

We invite you to watch the following video:

How much does it cost to open an auto parts store?

This business is one of those startups that do not require huge amounts of money to launch.

You won’t have to pay for licenses allowing you to operate, make European-quality renovations in your store, or purchase expensive equipment.

If you try, it’s quite possible to keep it within 350,000–400,000 rubles.

This amount can be much higher if you decide to open a large auto parts store with an area of ​​50 sq. m. and higher.

In this case, you will have to spend half a million or more just to purchase goods, so as not to leave the storefronts empty.

*You can save money if you buy not new furniture, but one that has already been used but is in good condition.

True, this is not all the expenses that await businessmen who decide to open an auto parts store.

Every month, in addition to profit, you will have expenses, without which it is impossible to imagine any business:

*The amount you will spend on renting the premises may be significantly higher. It all depends on the region in which you live and the attractiveness of the area in which you decide to open your auto store. This should be taken into account when.

Download a ready-made business plan for an auto parts store with quality guarantee.
Contents of the business plan:
1. Privacy
2. Summary
3. Project implementation stages
4. Characteristics of the object
5. Marketing plan
6. Technical and economic data of equipment
7. Financial plan
8. Risk assessment
9. Financial and economic justification for investments
10. Conclusions

If I decide to open an auto parts store, how much can I earn from it?

The profit of auto shop owners is very individual.

The markup on goods that you sell in your auto parts store can range from 30% (for particularly expensive parts) to 100–120% for inexpensive universal goods.

Do not inflate your prices, otherwise your customers will be lured away by other auto stores. But it’s not worth trying to expand your customer base by dumping prices.

So you will work at a loss.

For an auto parts store to be profitable, you need at least 20 customers to visit you every day, making purchases worth at least 400 rubles.

Of course, these are very conditional indicators, because someone will visit you to buy a Christmas tree fragrance for the salon for 50 rubles, and someone will need a part for 10,000 rubles.

But even if we take the minimum indicators, it turns out to be a very good amount of monthly earnings for a car shop: 400 rubles x 20 people = 8,000 rubles per day.

In a month with such indicators, an auto parts store will earn about 250,000 rubles. 150,000 of the indicated amount will be spent on the purchase of the next batch of goods, rent, payment of personnel services, taxes and other expenses, but 50,000 - 100,000 will be the profit of the owner of the auto parts store.

You will be able to demonstrate similar sales figures when you build a customer base.

This will take you at least six months, and if you independently begin to establish contacts with taxi drivers, auto carriers, and ordinary motorists, you will promote your own business in every possible way.

If before launching a startup you study everything related to the topic “ How to open an auto parts store", you can avoid the unpleasant surprises that novice entrepreneurs suffer from.

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