Business Description

Auto Repair, 43 Years, Low Competition

$380,935 Annual Revenue at a 40.2% SDE Margin from a Street-Front Shop with Fewer Than Five Area Competitors

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Business Description

Fewer than five competitors operate within and beyond the city limits of this Mahoning County market. That figure has held across four decades of active service. The shop sits on a street-front location near a downtown community, generating $380,935 in annual revenue from a customer base that has returned through multiple vehicle generations.

Auto repair retention is built on technical consistency. Customers who trust a shop with one vehicle bring the next one. That pattern produces a billing cycle that does not depend on advertising or promotional spend. The financial result is $152,961 in SDE on a one-employee operating model with $100,000 in equipment included in the sale.

The real estate is owned and available for separate purchase. A buyer negotiates the property acquisition independently or arranges a lease with the seller. Either path preserves the street-front location that has anchored the business since 1981. $2,000 in inventory transfers at closing alongside the full equipment package.

The sale transfers active customer accounts, a fully equipped service bay, and a market position built across 43 years of operation in a low-competition service area.

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Business History

Mahoning County was the founding location in 1981 when the shop opened in its current street-front position. The business built its service area during a period when independent repair competed primarily against dealership service departments. That competitive landscape shifted over the following decades as national franchise chains entered the market, but the shop held its position through each transition.

Equipment has been maintained and updated across that period to service current vehicle makes and models. The shop enters the sale process with active customer accounts, clean financials, and a fully equipped facility. The real estate, owned throughout the business's history, is available for separate acquisition.

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Potential Growth and Expansion

• One additional technician increases the volume of vehicles serviced per day without requiring facility changes or equipment investment beyond what transfers at closing.
• Fleet service accounts from local businesses and municipal operators represent an adjacent revenue channel. The equipment required to serve fleet clients is already present in the shop.
• State inspection and diagnostic services generate consistent traffic independent of repair volume. Expanding those service lines increases customer touchpoints without adding technician headcount.
• Extended service hours increase vehicle throughput on existing equipment. Current scheduling leaves capacity available during evening and weekend hours.
• Acquiring the real estate alongside the business eliminates lease exposure and builds equity in the property over the long term.

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Competitive Overview

Mahoning County's auto repair market includes dealership service departments, national franchise chains, and independent shops. The area immediately surrounding this location holds fewer than five competitors within and beyond the city limits. That density is low relative to comparable Northeast Ohio markets and reflects a service area where independent repair demand exceeds available provider capacity.

National franchise chains carry higher overhead and operate under corporate service protocols that limit pricing flexibility. Independent shops with established customer bases and owned real estate hold a structural cost advantage over franchise operators. A 43-year operating history in a low-competition location produces a market position that requires years of consistent service delivery to build from scratch.

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Key Highlights

• Annual revenue of $380,935 with SDE of $152,961 (40.2% margin)
• Founded in 1981, 43 years of continuous operation in Mahoning County
• 1 employee; street-front location near a downtown community
• Real estate owned; available for separate purchase
• $100,000 in FF&E included in the sale; $2,000 inventory transfers at closing
• Fewer than five competitors within and beyond the city limits
• Current owner available to remain through the transition period
• Reason for sale is retirement

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Financials Summary

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Ideal Buyer Profile

$295,999 covers the business purchase. Real estate is negotiated separately. A buyer with hands-on automotive repair experience and an Ohio technician credential steps into an active caseload and a fully equipped shop from day one. A buyer without technical credentials needs a qualified lead technician in place at or before closing. Daily shop involvement is required at the current one-employee staffing level. Adding one technician creates the capacity to shift into a management role while revenue scales. Prior customer-facing experience in auto repair or a related trade shortens the transition period.

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Confidentiality Notice

A signed confidentiality agreement is required before financial details are released. Qualified buyers should contact the listing broker to request the full offering memorandum.

Transworld Business Advisors of Canton is Northeast Ohio's trusted business exit partner, serving Stark and Columbiana County entrepreneurs with confidential business brokerage, certified business valuations, and strategic exit planning. We specialize in helping retiring small business owners maximize value, preserve legacies, and execute confidential transitions. Our certified business appraisers provide accurate valuations for succession planning, business sales, and acquisition opportunities. Whether you're selling a family business, planning retirement, buying an established company, or need expert guidance through the complex business transition process, we deliver proven results for Canton's business community.