A new mobile mechanic business is bringing convenience, reliability and a friendly local touch to drivers right across the New England, with Uralla’s J&K Auto Repairs only getting started in September, but quickly establishing itself as a trusted name on the roadside and in driveways from Armidale to Walcha and beyond.
Owner and operator Jaedein Gabanski has been a mechanic for 15 years, but this is the first time he has run his own business. He launched the mobile service in September and says the early months have had the typical ups and downs of starting from scratch, but he is pleased with how it is taking shape.
“I’m a mobile mechanic. I do all mechanical repairs, diagnostics and electrical work.”
His bright orange Triton ute, soon to be seen more widely across the region, is already becoming a familiar sight to customers who appreciate the convenience of having a mechanic come to them instead of needing to get their vehicle to a workshop.
For Jae, the decision to go out on his own came after many years working as a mechanic, including time as a foreman and manager. The shift to self-employment, he admits, suited him perfectly.
“I’ve managed and I’ve been foreman before,” he said. “I’ve got great satisfaction out of self-managing.”
When asked directly whether this was a polite way of saying he prefers not to work for someone else, he laughed. “Yeah, pretty much.”
He said setting up the business was straightforward. Jae researched the requirements himself, making sure all licensing and insurance were in place, registering the business name, and getting his vehicle and signage organised.
“All I really needed was insurance and a licence,” he said. “So once I had all that operating, all I needed to do was throw some stickers on my ute, and off I went.”
J&K Auto Repairs now services Uralla, Armidale, Walcha, Guyra and most of the New England region. Jae says business is “rolling along nicely”, steady enough to keep him busy without overwhelming him while the customer base grows.
“It hasn’t gone out of my hands yet,” he said. “I’ve got a good, smooth customer base at the moment.”
He did some planning before launching, signing up to workshop software to manage bookings and accounts and keeping records organised from day one. But much of the focus has simply been on doing good work and waiting for the phone to ring.
One part of the business Jae enjoys is detailing, even though he admits it is not the most profitable line of work.
“I’m a bit of a neat freak,” he said. “So it suits my personality.”
He has learned quickly that running a small business involves far more than fixing cars.
“There’s a lot more time invested,” he said. “There’s a lot of bookkeeping. There’s a lot of customer relations and advertising, a lot of things that you’ve got to do that you just don’t get paid for.”
As with any new business, the biggest challenge so far has been getting the word out.
“Getting word of mouth around and advertising, keeping on top of that,” he said. “It’s not just doing the job anymore.”
Despite the extra workload, Jae is optimistic about the future and confident the business will grow steadily as more people hear about his services. For anyone thinking of starting their own business, his advice is straightforward.
“Be prepared for it not to boom straight away,” he said. “And know that there is a lot more time invested than you think.”
In this series New England Times Investigates is unpacking some of the dynamics and forces driving our new business boom, and meeting some of the new business owners having a go. Read all the stories in this series here.
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