5 Quick Tips to Perfect Your Workshop Estimates

Are you staying on top of your workshop estimates? 

In a garage business, workshop estimates refer to the detailed breakdown of the costs associated with repairs or services that you provide for a specific vehicle. These estimates play a big role in establishing clear communication with your customers. 

When you create an estimate that reflects accurate details and a perfect breakdown of costs, you establish a mutual understanding with the customer. It gives them an insight into the scope of work, associated expenses as well as the expected dates of completion. This further ensures transparency between you and your customers, which builds trust. 

However, as a garage owner, it may be difficult to keep track of the intricacies involved with a specific car repair estimate. With TechMan, our workshop estimates feature takes care of this for you! From car parts to labour details to personalised notes, TechMan’s garage management software enables better organisation and tracking of service requests. 

In this blog, we’ll explore 5 quick tips that can help you perfect your workshop estimates. 

5 Quick Tips to Perfect Workshop Estimates in Your Garage Business

1. Including Customer Details

create estimate, a manager talking to a customer

One of the most essential elements of an estimate is the customer details. Using your customer details effectively adds a layer of personalisation to your workshop estimates. With details like the customer’s name and vehicle specifications, you can tailor the estimate to a customer’s specific needs. 

Using a personalised approach to create an estimate also helps you provide targeted service for any specific preferences or concerns a particular customer may have. It enables you to predict potential issues and account for recurring maintenance requirements, based on previous repairs or services.  

With these insights, you can create estimates that not only reflect your customers’ needs but also provide a clear breakdown of the services involved. In this way, you can build a solid foundation for a positive customer experience, which over time will help you boost your business. 

2. Using Product Information to Create Estimates

When creating an estimate for a car repair or assessing the cost of a repair job, it is important to include product and labour information to ensure maximum accuracy. This requires a detailed assessment of the car parts and components used, along with a precise evaluation of labour hours

Start by listing the specific products required, including descriptions, quantities and prices. Similarly, include labour information by estimating the time and skill required for each aspect of the service. By providing these details, you enhance transparency and help customers grasp the intricacies of the proposed repairs.

However, when you create an estimate, it’s easy to miss out on some of the smaller details. TechMan’s garage management software solves this problem for you. With our leading-edge workshop estimates feature, you can easily automate your workshop estimates. From product information to labour details, our software will take everything into account to create an estimate that accurately reflects costs. Get in touch to find out more!

3. Facilitating Organised Estimate Tracking

car repair cost, a man doing calculations

When creating a car repair estimate, it’s important to have the right information. One way to ensure that you’re tracking your estimates accurately is by attaching an estimate to every service. This approach enables coordination between the estimated costs of a service and the actual service provided, giving you a comprehensive overview of the repair process. 

Moreover, by linking estimates to specific jobs, you can ensure that all relevant information, including customer preferences and cost projections, are in one place. This transparent and accountable approach to job management not only lets you boost efficiency but also allows for a clear comparison between estimated costs and actual expenses. 

4. Incorporating Your Business Branding 

While accuracy is a priority, it’s important to ensure that your workshop estimates are presented well. By customising the design and layout of your estimate templates, you can incorporate your brand identity, colours, logo and more into every estimate. Incorporating your branding will strengthen garage credibility while boosting customer experience. 

TechMan’s garage management software enables you to customise your estimates by highlighting the services delivered, pricing structures and more. In this way, you can establish an engaging and informative communication process with customers, which will ultimately boost professionalism and a positive image.  

5. Seamless Delivery Options

As more and more people prefer going paperless, it’s essential to consider how you can deliver your workshop estimates digitally. Sending your workshop estimates to customers through email or SMS can not only ensure efficient communication but can also add to customer convenience. 

Providing your customers with a digital copy of the estimate makes it easily accessible, leading to high customer satisfaction. This digital format allows customers to review the details at their convenience while providing a direct means of communication, especially for time-sensitive requests.

Choose TechMan to Perfect Your Workshop Estimates!

As a garage owner, it may not always be easy to track every minute detail of the service you provide. However, when it comes to creating estimates, these details are absolutely essential. 

This is why, at TechMan, we’ve developed our innovative workshop estimates feature. From job tracking to car parts used, you can stay on top of every repair job or service your garage provides. 

Additionally, you also have in-depth insights into other aspects of business, like personnel management, accounting and more.

Click here to request a demo today!

Published: November 7, 2023