Back to Contents
| PDR: An Introduction and Brief History |
| Overview of Paintless Dent Repair |
| PDR – The Context |
| Paintless Dent Repair versus Panel Beating Repair |
Overview of Paintless Dent Repair
Paintless Dent Repairs (also known as paintless dent removal) is far more involved than most realise ie pushing dents. It looks simplistic but just like any other skills based process, it requires mastery and years of experience. To complicate matters, the business setup process itself is also somewhat different. The planning and development of any business is a challenge in itself and the stakes are high. Unlike other businesses, paintless dent repair has a relatively short history as a business and therefore very little precedence to consider as a basis. However, there is no doubt the unique nature of the business provides a great incentive, if done correctly and strategically, to be quite a rewarding enterprise. Unlike other business structures, it lacks the competition allowing for reasonable pricing structures. In some countries, there are relatively few PDR Technicians to act as competition. Furthermore, there is incentive to be very innovative – some innovations have led to the unique tools seen today together with the several repair techniques.
The process of setting up a business in paintless dent repair provides challenges and more – it is unique in that it adds further challenges. First and foremost, this type of business does not offer a regular cash flow. It is typically seasonal and is reliant almost solely on the weather conditions. The truth of the matter is hailstorms provide perhaps 90% of the business and its associated clientele. So in gathering work, Paintless Dent Repair Technicians follow hailstorms (often referring to themselves as storm chasers). Consequently, the variability of weather influences the variability of the business itself. Apart from what has already been discussed, the business often requires a mobile operational structure at least at a bare minimum from a technician point of view. It requires to be on the move following what work and associated major clients may become available. The movement typically is on a national basis but in recent years, technicians have been moving internationally – particularly across Europe and the United States, and recently, Australia.
Provided in this manual are some of the important skills required to assist in the development and training of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians to grow in experience. It also offers processes and key indicators that should provide a basis for flexible business models associated with the Paintless Dent Repair industry.
