Why Auto Repair Shops Need Online Scheduling

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May 16, 2024

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Read time: 3 min

Well, there’s an easy way to make sure none of that happens ever again.

Just like how it’s easier than ever to book an appointment with your doctor, or even your barber, in a matter of seconds online -- your auto repair shop can modernize the scheduling process too.

During a recent webinar, Join Kieran O’Brien Co-founder of ShopGenie Co-Founder, and our very own PJ Leslie, Head of Business Development at Tekmetric, offered their insight on how auto repair shops can provide a modern experience for their customers with online scheduling.

What is Online Scheduling for Auto Repair Shops?

Online Scheduling features make it easy for customers to set up an appointment with your shop, usually directly through your website.

Customers can easily head over to your website and submit an appointment time based on your shop's availability. Real-time scheduling makes it easy for customers to see what slots your shop has open, and find the right time works best for their schedule. When an appointment is booked, that block will no longer be available to other customers.

Moving away from an old-school pen-and-paper approach, answering calls, and jotting down appointments on your calendar, modern shop management and marketing tools make scheduling really easy. 

Why Auto Repair Shops Need Online Scheduling

Older methods of scheduling make it harder to provide real-time availability to customers, slows down the overall process, and can lead to mistakes like overbooking and double booking if calendars aren’t synced or something just wasn’t written down.

Not to mention, if you’re always in the back working in the bays, you may end up missing phone calls, leading to customers trying a completely different shop! That’s a lot of missed opportunities for something that can be handled automatically with automotive repair scheduling software and the combination of a shop management system working alongside an auto repair shop CRM.

Online scheduling for auto repair shops will:

  • Provide real-time visibility into your shop's availability and openings
  • Reduce the chance of overbooking by automatically closing off booked time slots
  • Offer a modern, digital customer experience that customers have grown to expect

Auto repair shops can also better manage customer expectations using technology, like true two-way texting, to improve communication with customers. 

As we know, not only is clear communication crucial in having customers approve repair work -- showing them issues goes a long way in selling repairs beyond just a simple verbal description -- but it has become the standard expectation with growing consumer demands for seamless online experiences.

How Auto Repair Shops Can Start Using Online Scheduling

Integrating your shop management system with other tools introduces new functionalities, making it possible to set up features beyond the core aspects you're already relying on in your shop management system.

With ShopGenie and Tekmetric specifically, you gain a host of features including Online Scheduling. And because everything is flowing through your shop management system, time slots are automatically updated for shop owners, general managers, service managers, and even technicians who can better plan their workflows based on upcoming appointments.

The flexibility of these tools is absolutely key and repair shops can tailor the scheduling process to their specific needs:

  • Set up automatic appointment reminders
  • Update shop openings based on holidays, time off, or increased availability

With the right combination of an auto shop management system and online scheduling features, your shop can establish an automatic process of marketing and scheduling at the same time, ultimately helping you sell even more repair work.

Online Scheduling Can Help Sell More Repairs

Leveraging a robust digital scheduling system for your shop benefits not only first-time customers through ease of process but also returning customers with a more personalized experience.

Taking it one step further, beyond just handling basic scheduling functions, integrations with tools like ShopGenie make it easy for shops to set up scheduled reminders for deferred work to remind customers it might be time to take care of that brake job they've been putting off before the winter starts.

A quick email reminds them of a repair they might've forgotten about, highlights the urgency and need for the work to be done, and provides a super simple way for them to click over to schedule an appointment -- all from a single email or text message.

Modernize Your Shop's Customer Experience

Online scheduling stands out as a practical way not only to enhance customer experience but also to increase revenue and General Profitability.

These are the frictionless experiences customers have come to expect, and making it easier for customers to work with your shop makes it more likely they'll approve repairs and keep coming back.

And with the right technology, customization, and communication, we have the power to transform the auto repair sector, one appointment at a time. Let's embrace the digital era with open arms!

FAQ

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Selecting the right business name for your auto repair shop can be a challenging task. Your business name will be the first impression your potential customers have of your shop and will determine how memorable your shop will be. Use the ideas below to brainstorm the perfect name for your auto repair business.

A list of the best mechanic shop names.

Creative auto repair shop names

  • On The Road Again Repairs
  • NextGear Auto Service
  • Check Engine Repairs
  • Torque of the Town
  • The Engine Room
  • Chrome & Steel Auto Care
  • Axle & Alloy Repair Co.
  • Peak Performance Garage
  • Smooth Ride Mechanics
  • Driven Dynamics
  • Velocity Auto Shop
  • ClearPath Automotive

Funny automotive repair shop names

  • The Brake-Up Shop
  • Motor Mouth Mechanics
  • Hit & Run Body Shop
  • Exhausted Mechanics
  • Hot Wife Automotive A/C Repair
  • Don’t Tread On Me Auto
  • The Laughing Lugnuts Auto Repair
  • Wheel Be Alright Auto Repairs
  • Motor Mouth LLC
  • Rust in Peace Repairs

Tek-Tip: Have you thought about how you will market your new business? We reccomend Shopgenie for all automotive marketing needs including websites, CRM, reviews, and more.

Cool mechanic shop names

  • The Car Whisperers LLC
  • RoadReady Mechanics
  • StreetSmart Garage
  • GearShift Garage
  • Velocity Motors
  • Gearhead Garage
  • The Repair Authority
  • PitStop Pros
  • Full Throttle Repair
  • Trackside Garage

Unique and catchy names

  • Car Medic Garage
  • Nuts & Bolts Car Mechanics
  • Unleaded Car Repair
  • Honest Engine Repair
  • Auto Barn Car Care
  • Iron Horse Garage
  • Blue Ridge Auto Works
  • RevSync Mechanics
  • The Auto Vault
  • Summit Auto Haven
  • Rust & Revive Repair

Simple auto shop name ideas

  • Car Surgeons
  • The Car Guys
  • Engine Experts
  • Quick Fix Automotive Repairs
  • The Brake Brothers
  • One Stop Auto Shop
  • Auto Solutions Inc.
  • Pit Stop Garage
  • Turbo Tires & More
  • Wrench Wizards

Service-Specific shop names

  • Brake Check Repairs
  • Oil Be Back Automotive Repairs
  • Vivid Vehicle Body Shop
  • 1 Hour Heat and A/C Auto Repairs
  • Battery Solutions LLC
  • Actually Discounted Tires
  • Renew Collision Center
  • 30min Oil Change Shop
  • Restored Right Auto Body Shop

Mobile mechanic business names

  • Repair on Wheels
  • Roaming Automotive Repairs
  • One Stop Repair Shop
  • One Call Repairs
  • Wheels On The Way
  • (Insert last name) Mobile Mechanic
  • The Leaky Gasket Mobile Repair
  • 1 Hour Mobile Mechanic
  • 24/7 Mobile Mechanic

How to select the right auto repair shop name

Once you have your list of potential shop names narrowed down, it is time to do a final round of research to make sure your name is legal, optimized and ready to launch. Check out our final 6 tips and tricks below.

1. Legal checks

Before you can launch your new automotive shop name, you should check for Trademarks by visiting the US Patent and Trademark Website. Simply search your pending business name to see if it is taken or if you can proceed.

2. SEO

Search engine optimization for auto repair shops is an important avenue for driving brand awareness and new customers. To maximize your new business name, aim to include common keywords like “automotive”, “repair”, and “shop”. Also, try to use local terms like “Houston” to help search engines know where your services are located. Lastly, check to see if any competitors are using a similar name and determine if your name will be unique enough.

3. Domain availability

GoDaddy can check if your new automotive repair shop name is available to use. You will also be able to see how much the domain name will cost and whether it would be cheaper to use a variation of your business name.

4. KISS

Keeping your new shop name simple will help you in the long run. Potential customers will find it easier to remember (and share via word of mouth) if you keep it short and simple. Plus, shorter business names are easier to fit on business cards, advertisements, and social media.

5. Marketing

Looking down the road, your new business name should fit within your overall automotive marketing strategy. Are you planning to use a certain logo or color scheme? Make sure your name fits the theme you are aiming for and attracts your target audience. If you plan to use social media marketing, check to see if your business name is available as a social handle.

6. Set the tone

Your name is likely your first impression with your customers. Once you are ready to launch, give it one more review to make sure it conveys the right brand identity and message. Lastly, have a friend or colleague offer feedback on your business name and see how it resonates with them.

Closing Thoughts

Finding the right name for your business is a daunting task and we hope this guide has helped you brainstorm new business name ideas and narrow down your list. We recommend taking the extra time to make the right choice up front so you don’t have to rebrand down the road. As always, there is wisdom to asking for feedback from your community. Select your top 5 names and ask for help picking the best shop name for your business.

Best Auto Repair Shop Names (70+ Ideas)

January 30, 2025

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Building a startup takes time, effort, and a lot of determination. You and your team have invested in a great idea, and everyone works diligently to bring new team members, investors, and customers on board. However, the process doesn’t end once the product or service has taken off and gained popularity.

A startup can operate on a lean team, with people wearing multiple hats and taking on extra responsibilities. But as the company grows, it will be time to hire more employees and scale the company to meet demand.

How to scale the business is an enormous question that causes hesitation for many leaders. How do you expand your business offerings and your team without losing the heart and inspiration that helped the startup succeed in the first place?

In my own business, Tekmetric, which offers shop management software for auto repair businesses, I have relied on a few tactics that enabled me—and our whole team—to scale sustainably. Here are four of the most vital.

You’ve Built a Successful Auto Repair Shop Startup. Now What?

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With just the right tools for the job, every repair can be so much easier. There's a reason some car manufacturers produce their own unique tools, and while they might seem unnecessary, they can turn hours into seconds.

Even so much as a proprietary socket with a unique angle to remove an oil drain plug tucked right up against the subframe, as silly as it may seem, is worth the extra little investment. The adage still rings true, that ultimately time is money -- saving time keeps your shop running like a well-oiled, rear-midengined dry-sump V8.

Running an independent auto shop requires the right tools, and not just the right impact wrenches or the right alignment rack. 

The right shop management system can revolutionize the way your shop runs, from the moment customers call or walk in, to receiving payments and getting vehicles back on the road.

Learn why Tekmetric is the right tool for the job for shop management from some of the brilliant minds behind the revolution:

The Biggest Benefits of The Right Shop Management System

Enhanced Customer Experience: Put your customers first with a suite of features that allows you to easily communicate to build the trust needed to run a successful repair shop. Simplified operations in your shop naturally lead to improved customer service.

Higher Efficiency: Save time on manual tasks with a set of features that allows you to run your shop the way you see fit with easy-to-build automation, custom RO labels, and templates across the shop. Focus on the customer, and not a computer screen.

Why Tekmetric is The Right Tool for Shop Management

February 29, 2024

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