Quick Lubes Should Consider Mobile Oil Change Services for Fleets

Old habits in industry die hard, and that's too bad really. Let me give you a for instance in the oil change sector. You see people that own Quick Lubes consider their business model to be superior, while those who do mobile oil changing feel that they have the best business format. As far as I'm concerned after having been in the industry for a number of years, although now retired, I believe that both methodologies can work well under the right circumstances.

I would not necessarily recommend that WalMart buy a fleet of mobile oil change vehicles to service their customers at their homes for instance. However, I can tell you that WalMart has a very efficient auto center when it comes to changing people's oil, and they generally have cars lined up waiting for service. Obviously their low-cost high-volume strategy is working quite well, it is a force to be reckoned with in the marketplace, and their price points are highly competitive.

Still, I do believe that quick lubes should consider owning at least one mobile oil service vehicle. This is so they can go out to local fleets such as local plumbing companies, and tow truck companies, delivery companies, or even government agencies to change the oil in vehicles. After all, if people are getting their personal cars done at the quick lube they most likely have a large customer base, and everyone who gets their lubrication fluids changed, obviously has a job somewhere or a husband or wife that works at another company.

What I'm saying is they have a social network in the real world that the Quick Lube should be tapping into and taking advantage of those referrals. Merely having a mobile change service van or truck in the parking lot at the quick lube with a small sign in the lobby that says; "ask about our fleet mobile services on-site" - will bring in new fleet business. It's easy to do, it doesn't cost that much, and the return on investment is desirable.

If a quick lube does not wish to invest in a mobile change service unit, perhaps they can contract out with a mobile oil change company in their local area and take 20% off the top, and do the billing, and then pay the remainder to their subcontractor. As long as the mobile operator has adequate insurance, garage keeper's liability, and $1 million of general liability, such a deal makes sense, and there is very little downside risk. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new series of eBooks on the Mobile Oil Change Business. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a The Oil Change Guys, a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net

By Lance Winslow