Starting a Mobile Oil Changing Service

Entrepreneurs need to decide which business venture complements their passion and talent. Other startup requirements include funding, operational base, knowledge of the industry. More are legal, growth potential, equipment and staff.

The business is practicable full-time or part-time and requires low startup. The investor can offer on-site services or mobile services.

Steps to Start a Mobile Oil Change Service

Steps to start a service station is to write a business plan, form a legal entity and register your taxes.

Others are open a business account, obtain the necessary permit, define your brand, get insurance and establish a web presence. More things to consider are business overview and customer base.

Steps

•         Write a business plan

•         Form a legal entity

•         Register your taxes

•         Set up a business account

•         Obtain the necessary permit

•         Define your brand

•         Get insurance

•         Establish a web presence

•         Business overview

•         Customer base

Business Overview

The business is service oriented and involves quick oil changes. The operator can offer basic servicing, oil change, car wash servicing. The equipment is basic and employees can easy learn the skill.

The oil change service accounts for over 8 billion dollars of the automobile industry. It provides an essential service, profitable and low maintenance.

Who can do this Business?

Anyone with basic mechanical skill can successfully run a mobile oil change business. The individual should have passion for vehicles and a kin knowledge of different vehicle requirements.

The person needs good communication, interpersonal skill and is good with his hands. The job is practicable part-time or full time depending on business template.

•         You need basic mechanical skill

•         Passion for vehicles

•         Kin knowledge

•         Good communication

•         Interpersonal skill

•         Good with his hands

Work Schedule

The work schedule involves oil changing, scheduling appointments and driving customer’s vehicles. Other services are window cleaning, tire check, car wash services, and minor repairs.

Services

•         Detailing

•         Sale of spare parts

•         Tire change

•         Car wash

•         Basic service

•         Oil changes

•         Tire check

•         Window cleaning

•         Minor repairs

•         Driving customer’s cars

•         Scheduling appointment

Target Market

The target market is automobile owners, vehicle fleets and public transport owners.

Earning Potential 

Mobile oil change make money from the services they render. They earn from changing the oil, selling engine oil and brake fluid. Other services include topping fluids, brake inspection, sales of minor spare parts.

Learn the Trade

The business is easily run by one or two people. The required skill is robust automobile knowledge, on-job training, workplace experience and an automobile course.

Basic mechanic skills is also an advantage. Another way to gain prerequisite skills is online resources and books.

•         You need robust automobile knowledge

•         On-job training

•         Workplace experience

•         An automobile course

•         Basic mechanic skills

•         Use online resources

•         Read books

Cost and Earnings

The cost implications are equipment, lease/rent, and staff wages. Others are cost of oil, type of service and prevailing prices in your demography. Startup for a small oil change business is less than $3000.

The amount of investment depends on the business template, premises, number of vehicles serviced, local government fees, and tax. A simple oil change costs about $20 while other services attract competitive prices. An average oil change service can attract two customers an hour.

Equipment

Common equipment are filters, oil dispensers, oil fluids. The person might need a dedicated vehicle, car jack, display rack, gloves, hand tools.

Legal

Legal considerations are state permit and licensing. There are also zoning requirements, sales tax and local association listing.

It is not mandatory to incorporate, however owning a business name and sole proprietorship has some advantages. To avoid liabilities or lawsuits use an attorney to create a liability waiver.

Promote the Business

To encourage repeat patronage your service should to top notch. Make sure the lubricants you use are of top quality and popular brand names.

Promote the business through hand bills, flyers and business cards. You need a sign on your premises, branded shirts.

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Starting a Battery Manufacturing Business

The battery manufacturing industry produces re-chargeable and non-rechargeable batteries. The product has many applications such as powering automobile, phones and household electronics.

It works through an electro-chemical process to produce electrical energy. Lead acid batteries are popular in industrial applications while others are used in automobiles and electronic gadgets.

To start a battery manufacturing business you need to determine the size of the plant. Other things to consider is output, type of equipment and production line. Others are type of machinery, product certification, maintenance and funding.

Choose a Niche

Decide on a product type and application before launching the company. There are batteries for laptops, cars, trucks, touch lights and industrial machinery.

Hire qualified staff, and carry out research and development to produce quality products. You need an effective marketing strategy, accessible factory site and adequate power supply.

Types of Batteries

There are many types of batteries made by manufacturers. They come in different shapes and sizes. Common types include EV battery, Lithium-ion polymer battery and lithium-Ion battery.

• EV battery
• Lithium-ion polymer battery
• Lithium-Ion battery.

Battery Manufacturing Equipment

You need good capital to purchase all the essential equipment used in the manufacturing process. The type of equipment depends on the size and scope of the operation.

You have locally fabricated equipment, semi-automated and fully automated. Large battery manufacturers develop the product through the use of an assembly line.

Battery manufacturing machinery includes pouch forming machine, mixing machine and stacking machine. Other equipment's are slitting machine, ultrasonic welding machine, tab welding machine and electrolyte filling machine.

More equipment’s are the coating machine, winding machine and roller press.

• Pouch forming machine
• Mixing machine
• Stacking machine
• Slitting machine
• Ultrasonic welding machine
• Tab welding machine
• Electrolyte filling machine
• Coating machine
• Winding machine
• Roller press
• Grind casting
• Paste mixing
• Curing/drying
• Cell assembly
• Wrapping
• buffing

Electrolyte Filling Machine

The electrolyte filling machine dispenses electrolyte to battery cells. The machine operates by executing injection by separating electrolyte and vacuum.

It is moderated by controlling the volume through the aid of precision pumps. The control part consists of vacuum pump knob, automatic operation and vacuum S/W .While the standardization of power is usually 220 V.

Winding Machine

The winding machines main function is to wind electronic plates and separators. The equipment consists of rotator part, automatic operation and core part.

Roll Press Machine

The roll press machine presses coated electrodes to different thickness. The general specifications include thickness control, adjusting switch, driving rollers and pressing rollers with finished heat treatment. The machine works via roller, pressurization, power supply and heat treatment.

Slitting Machine

The slitting equipment coats the separator during the production process. General specification includes slitting unit, Re-winding unit and feeding unit.

Others are unwinding, thickening, width and material. The machine uses tension control, edge control, shaft, rollers and main feeding drives. Other technical functions are slitting width, cutting quantity and knife unit quantity control.

Coating Machine

You could use an auto single or auto double coating machine. The equipment automatically applies coat to foil or separator.

It regulated the coating thickness by adjusting the gauge thickness. The equipment has the coating, drying and winding part.

Mixing Machine

The heating machine consists of pipe heater, tank and mixing blade. It uses vacuum pumps, slurry injection technology a digital temperature controller.

The Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing process goes through grid casting, paste mixing, pasting, curing and drying. Other processes are wrapping, grouping, containerizing and heat sealing.

It goes through thermal assembly, leak testing, acid filling and formation. The process continues with battery assembly, battery charging process, battery washing/drying, battery checking and date coding.

The Setup Costs

There are a few things to consider before setting up a battery manufacturing plant. Focus on a niche product, type of machinery and plant layout.

Others are installation, maintenance costs and cost per battery. The production capacity of your plant dictates the type of machinery you need.

 Automated full option equipment and integrated system will produce at optimum capacity. The equipment will periodically need maintenance and spare part replacement.

More cost consideration is labor, leasehold, infrastructure and factory equipment. You need heavy duty truck, utility, large storage facility, registration and licensing fees. To reduce costs operate full capacity, reduce overhead and reduce recurrent costs.

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Source Funding

The business is capital intensive, so you need huge funds. You can approach an industry or trade bank for loans.

Secure long term loans with low interest rates and re-payment flexibility. You could sell startup equity to investors or find a core investor. Many governments support the manufacturing sector and offer subventions and low interest facilities.

Certification

Battery manufacturers are required to have ISO certification. You need a trade license and register the business as a limited liability company.

Battery producers need to follow strict guidelines on waste management and pollution control. Get liability insurance and personal identification tax number.

Marketing

Manufacturers generally sell only to wholesalers. Offer wholesalers competitive prices and promotional discounts.

Use newspaper publications to attract small business owners interested in your product. Use lots of branding, television advertisement and radio jingles.

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How to Start a Truck Stop Business

Truck stop centers are usually located near highways. They offer rest, parking, restaurant, diesel and gasoline services. 

Their core customer base are truck drivers, travelers and local community. The commercial facility provides dinner has fuel pumps, parking and garage services. Usually located by a highway the offer essential services to travelers.

Franchising

You have three options to start from scratch, buy an existing truck shop or franchising. Franchising is capital intensive and you need to investigate the opportunity. A franchise will provide support, training, logistics and branding.

To buy an existing center make sure you study their financial statement and customer base. Find out why they want to sell and any liabilities. Starting from scratch requires a business plan, funding, feasibility study, operation license, site evaluation and structures.

Startup Options

•         Start from scratch

•         Buy an existing truck shop

•         Franchising

Write a Business Plan

Write a truck stop business plan and carry out a feasibility study. Study your competition business strategy, prices and services. The plan should cover revenue, expenses, funding and salaries. Startup expenses includes licensing, securing a line of credit.

Learn the Trade

The business faces lots of competition from established brands. Learn the trade from owners of truck stops outside your operational area. Other ways include hiring a consultant, use online resources, read books and attend seminars.

Services

The truck stop offers essential services that are tailor made for truck drivers and travelers. Government regulations provides provisions for truckers to rest/sleep at truck stops.

The stop might provide auxiliary power units, air conditioning, communication facilities, load board monitors and internet connectivity. Services include diner restaurant, convenient store and parking.

Others are fuel station services, fast food, car wash, full service and maintenance of trucks. They have retail stores that sell unique items like maps, toaster ovens, truck accessories, audio books  A large truck stop could accommodate  small independent businesses.

Truck Stop Services

•         Truckers to rest stops

•         provide auxiliary power units

•         Air conditioning

•         Communication facilities

•         load board monitors

•         Internet connectivity

•         Diner restaurant

•         Convenient store

•         parking

•         Fuel station services

•         Fast food

•         Car wash

•         Full service and maintenance of trucks

•         Retail stores

•         accommodate small independent businesses

Funding

The business is capital intensive and requires at least $2 million. The funds are used to equip gasoline, diesel facility and construct building. Other uses are restaurant equipment, store equipment, contingency, fixed assets, inventory and working capital.

License

Register the business as a limited liability company or partnership. Secure an operational license, insurance and tax identification number.

Expenditure

The expenditure are land costs, restaurant equipment and miscellaneous. Others are highway improvements, store equipment and building. Estimated average site is 6,000 square ft. More expenditure are gas facility, diesel facility and land development.

Company Ownership

The company is registered as a limited liability or partnership enterprise.

Location

The site location should be near a busy highway. Site considerations include good road network, accessibility, low residential area and excellent demography. The entrepreneur should consider expansion, availability of utilities and high traffic area.

Truck Stop Site Requirements

•         Near a busy highway

•         Good road network

•         Easy accessibility

•         Low residential area

•         Excellent demography

•         Room for expansion

•         Availability of utilities

•         High traffic area.

Marketing

All the marketing is on-site in print. Print signboards for the convenient store, restaurant, and gasoline station. Use billboards, branding, discounts and promotions to attract patronage.

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How to Start Taxi Business

The taxi business is very lucrative and challenging. This is because of the huge customer base and many operators. An investor needs to purchase a vehicle, hire a competent driver and acquire permit.

Startup is high and the business is location based. To succeed the drive should have a fair knowledge of driving routes and mapping software. Here are a few ideas on how to enter the transport industry.

Challenges and Risk in Starting a Taxi Business

The major challenge is funding the business. You need at least N2 million ($5500) to own a single cab. Other difficulties include bad roads, robbery, exhaustion and accidents.

Taxi drivers also face extortion, multiple fees and levies. The business is highly competitive and the vehicle needs regular maintenance.

• huge startup
• bad roads
• highway robbers
• exhaustion
• accidents
• extortion
• multiple fees
• levies
• huge completion
• vehicle needs regular maintenance

What you need to start a Cab Business

To successfully run the business you need certain items. The primary equipment is the vehicle and a functional meter. Choose a bright commercial paint identical to cabs in your demography.

Common colors are yellow, green or blue depending on the state or local government. You need a business license, vehicle insurance and driving license.

The grade of the driving license should be a commercial one. Others are decals, stoplights’, and operational office. It is important to have a dedicated telephone line, website including marketing materials like flyers or posters.

• a vehicle and meter
• business license
• vehicle insurance
• driving license
• decals
• stoplights
• operational office
• dedicated telephone line
• website
• marketing materials

Ways to Start a Taxi Business

There are three ways to enter the industry. You could start from scratch or join a franchise. You can apply to drive in a cab company or try hire purchase agreement. There are also online cab opportunities through clever apps like UberCabs.

Joining a franchise or buying an existing business requires serious funds. However private ownership depends on the number of vehicle in your fleet. You can start with one car and gradually expand as the business grows.

• start from scratch
• join a franchise
• apply to drive
• try hire purchase agreement
• online home based cab opportunities

Why Start a Taxi Business

The business is highly lucrative because of the huge demand for public transportation. The job provides and efficient, comfortable and fast way to reach your destination.

The business is practicable from home, convenient and cost effective. There is a tendency for referrals and repeat patronage. There is time flexibility and practicable part time or full time.

Another reason is because commercial motorcycle business is dangerous and outlawed in many countries. The huge profit making makes the business very attractive to individual owners or fleet companies.

Startup Cost for Cab Business

The startup cost depends on the size and scope of the business. An individual could start with one car or a fleet of vehicles. Startup cost includes purchase of vehicle, licensing, equipment.

Others are business registration, rent and operational office. Incorporating a limited liability through an attorney would cost from N100, 000 to N150, 000 naira. A business license costs about N15, 000 while an imported used car N1.7 million.

Popular choice of vehicles is those that are fuel efficient, easy to maintain with lots o spare parts. Popular types are Hyundai, Toyota, Mazda and Renault brands.

How much can you make From Taxi Business?

The question is how much can you make from taxi business. The profit depends on many factors such as demography, frequency of passengers, fee charges and competitors.

In Nigeria an average fair costs N3000 about $10. So an average driver can make N10, 000 to N36, 000 ($100) a day. The major expenses are occasional vehicle maintenance and fuel.

For maximum profit make sure you use a fuel efficient car and mapped routes. A taxi company charges the driver a flat rate not exceeding $50 a day (N18, 000). The driver is mandated to take care of fuel and minor repairs. The company’s insurance firm takes care of major damages or accidents.

Owning a taxi company is highly profitable especially if you have a fleet of vehicles. For example a cab company with ten cars stands to make N180, 000 in daily. This is estimated at N18, 000 per driver flat rate. The rate can differ based on location and the company needs to sign a contractual agreement with the driver.

Licensing

The transport industry is highly regulated and conformity is mandatory. The driver needs to have a commercial driving license and company a business license. The company should have a business name and logo.

The local department of motor vehicles or Federal Road Safety is in charge of issuing license in Nigeria. The vehicles should have motor registration, vehicle insurance and MOT certified.

Others are commercial color/marking and association registration. Each locality have transport union associations that demand registration and strict compliance. They collect a monthly, daily or yearly fee from the cab operators.

• commercial driving license
• business license
• business name
• logo
• motor registration
• vehicle insurance
• MOT certified
• association registration

Use Tracking Technology

It is impotent adding a tracking technology to your vehicle. The software is used to track the movement of the vehicle. It also offers protection and recovery from theft.

Another technology to use is a speed limiter to ensure the safety of the driver and passenger. In Nigeria it is mandatory for commercial transport vehicles to install speed limiters. The gadget is available at the Federal Road Safety Office and renewable every year.

Software Solutions

• tracking technology
• speed limiter
• internet connection
• smart phone technology

Hire Drivers

The driver should have driving experience and current driving license. The driver should understand road signals, use defensive driving and is courteous to passengers. The ability to work long hours is another advantage. The driver should dress appropriately in uniform or decent cloths.

Vehicle Color

The vehicle color depends on the official taxi colors in the locality. Make sure the color conforms to acceptable provisions for commercial vehicles. Primate cabs that operate using smart apps are excluded from this requirement.

Get vehicle Insurance

Some taxi owners go for third party insurance. This is not recommended because it does not cover cost of accidents. A better policy to consider is a comprehensive insurance. Make sure the vehicle has appropriate papers like vehicle license, insurance and MOT.

Marketing

Marketing considerations are social media, blogs or websites. Others are print, electronic and radio. The business works on referrals, word of mouth.

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How to Start Haulage Business in Nigeria

Starting a haulage business in Nigeria requires huge startup capital. You could launch the enterprise with one truck and gradually increase inventory.

It’s highly lucrative but requires serious logistics, networking and legalities. There are risks such as accidents, loss of goods and liabilities.

Haulage business is a billion dollar industry that is highly regulated.  To launch the enterprise you need knowledge of the industry, funding and a business plan.

Why the Industry Thrives

There are lots of imported goods, petroleum products and building materials that require transporting. Major import hubs are located in cities such as Lagos and Port Harcourt.

The trucks ferry imported goods to other cities in the hinterland and north. Other pointers include huge population, import dependency and poor rail system.

Challenges

Owning a trucking business is akin to living in the Wild West. There are lots of challenges faced by haulage companies in Nigeria.

They include difficulty in obtaining legal haulage documentation, bottlenecks, corruption and bribery. Others are poor state of the roads, bad trucks, dishonest drivers, inexperienced mechanics and highway robbers.

More are duplicity of charges at custom clearing points, gridlocks and inadequate spare parts.

• Obtaining legal haulage documentation
• Bottlenecks
• Corruption
• Bribery
• Poor state of the roads
• Bad trucks
• Dishonest drivers
• Inexperienced mechanics
• Highway robbers
• Duplicity of charges
• Gridlocks
• Inadequate spare parts.

Haulage Items

Major industries that require lots of haulage are imports, exports, petroleum and building industry. There are lots of items transported by haulage companies.

Common items are vehicles, petroleum products. Spare parts, sewage and commodities. Others include electronic products, food items, raw materials and building materials.

Northern Nigeria is the food basket of Nigeria producing agricultural items like tomatoes, yam, fruits and livestock. Other item transported are cattle from the north and agricultural items.

• Building Materials
• Imports
• Exports
• Petroleum products
• Spare parts
• Sewage
• Commodities
• Electronic products
• Food items
• Raw materials

How to Start Haulage Business in Nigeria

Write a Business Plan

You need to write a truck haulage business plan and feasibility study. The plan should focus on type of truck and preferred niche. Others include trucking license, business structure, management team, funding and staff.

Funding

The amount of money you need depends on the size of your fleet and parking lot. You need serious cash to venture into haulage business.

Securing haulage contracts is challenging and daunting. Securing bank loans could be counterproductive due to payback period and interests.

The best format is using a partnership arrangement with a rich investor. To reduce costs you could focus on used vehicles and even drive the truck yourself. Many small entrepreneurs use hire purchase arrangement to secure vehicles.

Choose a Niche

It is important choosing a niche industry to actualize your vision. The industry dictates the type of truck you purchase and type of haulage license.

Industries to consider are petroleum sector to haul diesel and fuel. Make sure you negotiate your contracts and receive part or full payment for your services.

• Petroleum sector
• Agricultural sector
• Waste disposal
• Commodity export/import
• Spare parts industry
• Building industry

Types of Trucks

There are different types of trucks depending on the haulage. You have sewage trucks, flatbeds, box trucks, water trucks and heavy duty trucks. Purchase the truck that best supports your business plan.

• Tipper
• Trailer
• Sewage trucks
• Flatbeds
• Box trucks
• Water trucks
• Heavy duty trucks

Security

You need to secure your trucks from theft. Use a vehicle tacking company to install tracking equipment on your trucks. The software will provide real time of the trucks movement and remotely stop incase of theft.

Licensing

The niche industry would determine the type of licensing to acquire. Common licensing are business name, trade license, vehicle licensing and insurance cover.

Each industry has specific licensing and certification to lift goods. Once the product is lifted the truck driver should have the correct documentation to transport the product.

The vehicle should have a certificate of worthiness and qualified drivers.

• Business name
• Trade license
• Vehicle licensing
• Insurance cover
• Industry has specific licensing
• Certification to lift goods
• Certificate of worthiness

Staff

You need an effective management team to coordinate the haulage operation. You need qualified truck drivers with history of safety and dependability. Hire a secretary and find a good mechanic.

Marketing

You need to advertise your business to attract patronage. A good way is to advertise in national newspapers or trucking magazines.

Major customers are commodity merchants, spare parts dealers, building contractors and farmers markets. Target your advertisement to you preferred demography. Use wraparound advertisement on your trucks and include phone number, address and company name.
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