Open a car window/windshield service franchise

Find the local or buy the converted vehicle

Franchises with local

Windshield replacement franchises, such as auto center franchises, car rental franchises or even second-hand vehicle purchase-sale franchises, require a similar type of premises: a commercial premises of 100m² at 200m² with ample parking and, above all, located along a high traffic road axis.

It is important that customers can park. It is also essential to have plenty of parking spaces to allow customer vehicles to be placed on standby and to have a small fleet of loaner vehicles.

It is also important to have sufficient commercial space to accommodate teams (technical, sales and administrative), customers and possibly, depending on the brand chosen, integrate a shop space.

Finally, it is essential to have high and frequent visibility: if motorists see your sign every day during their journey from home to work and/or when going shopping, you will remain in their top of mind when they will need your services.

Franchises without premises

Some franchises specializing in windshield replacement have opted for a mobile concept, without premises. The principle is simple: the members of the network travel the roads with their utility vehicle equipped to carry out repair and replacement services directly at the customers' homes or workplaces.

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If you have chosen a brand of this type, it goes without saying that the only step you need to complete to start opening your windshield replacement franchise is to buy the utility vehicle you will need to carry out your activity.

Arrange, equip, hire

You now need to arrange your premises and/or your vehicle in a second step. In most cases, this arrangement can be supervised by the headend. Most of the brands have their own design offices or specialized partners whose mission is to optimize the layout of the agencies according to the needs of the activity: workshop, reception area, offices, sales area, etc This is also true if you opt for a franchise without premises: the commercial vehicle must be fitted out in such a way as to be ergonomic and efficient on a daily basis.

For equipment, it is also not uncommon for franchises to have set up:

And this, in such a way as to allow franchisees to equip themselves at the best price, whether for tools or for products intended for sale or for the provision of services.

Depending on the brand chosen, the size of the planned structure and the diversity of the activities that will be carried out (we refer you on this point to our article "Choosing your windshield replacement franchise"), you will have to maybe set up your teams: administrative/management secretary and technicians representing the most important positions first.

Communicate

The last step, finally, is to communicate effectively in your catchment area to publicize the start of your activity. To this end, almost all automobile glass replacement franchises have opted for massive communication on the facade.

It is during this stage that the choice of location really takes on its full meaning: it will allow, through an adapted display on the front, to ensure high visibility very quickly. In particular, when launching your activity, to highlight your commercial launch offers.

However, if this massive display on the facade will ensure you a high visibility with motorists, it is advisable to develop recurring contracts with the customers who will have to represent the base of your activity: the professionals. Companies with a fleet, fleet managers, vehicle rental companies, dealers: it is essential to address these targets to have recurring income, for example in the form of a subscription. These points are generally dictated by the business model of the brand you have chosen, however.

For mobile franchises, communication is often more restricted and is limited to vehicle flocking, geolocated web referencing supported by the network head and possibly a small local communication campaign. Indeed, these franchises without windshield replacement premises rely on their referencing with insurers to generate leads. However, it can be interesting, as with any other type of windshield replacement franchise, to solicit companies to obtain recurring contracts.

You now have all the keys to opening your auto glass franchise.