Paintless Dent Removal Technicians On Demand in a Specialty Market

PDR Technicians Profits: Fact or Fiction?

Yes, that’s right, the claim of some PDR technicians is that an experienced PDR technician can earn as much as surgeons. The paintless dent removal industry has been around for the past 30 years in Australia and not many are aware of it. I estimate that very few, perhaps 1 or 2 percent of Australians have heard of this industry. The knowledge of those who do it is often vague, referring to “teeth sucking”. The industry has progressed technologically!

So when you claim that there are people who train for a year or two and start making that money within 5 years, the reaction is usually quick and hostile. I’m often met with blank stares – friends politely nod and smile knowing that I don’t normally tell lies. Unfortunately, few, if any, accept the claims.

After all, how can such an industry exist for so many years and it doesn’t seem to appear in the media? How come people don’t know it by word of mouth! The paintless dent removal industry has been quite secretive for years and deliberately! Why would anyone want others to know what they are earning, much less how?

It may surprise you that the media has, in fact, reported on this industry. After controversial claims of malpractice from

The “Hail Hunters Abroad” took place after the Melbourne hail on Christmas Day 2011. Check out The Age newspaper. It was actually this media hype that consequently put the paintless dent removal industry in the spotlight.

“… One estimate puts hunters’ earnings at $ 5,000 to $ 10,000 per week. Everything is pocketed, with no insurance costs to cover, no workplace premiums, no taxes paid, no liability.”

Whatever the article set out to accomplish, it ultimately underestimated the public’s reaction. Inquiries about PDR formation skyrocketed!

Surgeons versus PDR technicians
Analyzing the earnings of the medical profession as quoted by Business Insider – $ 250,000 to $ 500,000 per year. Let’s not forget the investment in education and the years to get there! The cost of education alone can go up to $ 10,000 per year after HECS! We have not yet accounted for the insurance. Very well, PDR technicians in the infancy of the industry paid $ 10,000- $ 40,000 for training or a business franchise in the paintless dent removal industry. Now, however, the cost of training PDR technicians has been greatly reduced to just $ 2,900 for a 5-day PDR course. Can it go lower? Perhaps in the future, it has currently stabilized limited by the earnings of PDR’s own technicians. At the moment any amount less than this and PDR technicians can also just repair a car instead of training others, they can earn more!

Gains from paintless dent removal can be substantial
Delve into what paintless dent removal is and its benefits; Simply put, it is the art of removing dents without the requirement of painting the vehicle. The theory is that it is important to keep the original factory paint job. PDR technicians complete an average hail-damaged car in one day. Okay so how can a PDR technician erase 250K per year?

Consider an average vehicle quote of around $ 2000-3000 during a hail storm. Between 60 and 70 percent of this contribution goes to the PDR technician. So even with an average of $ 1000 per day to underestimate during wasted time, you’re talking $ 200K to $ 300K per year!

Still not convinced? Okay, so not everyone can leave their family and chase hail across the country? There has to be an understanding between the spouse and the PDR technician for them to leave for weeks or even months without seeing their family.

The PDR Technician and Retail Profits
Well, there is also the retail market. In the retail sector, paintless dent removal technicians hire auto dealerships, auctions, car rental fleet cars, and private clients to eliminate accidental vehicle damage such as parking and door dents. Although this generally requires more effort to get closer to the highest profits by hail repair standards, it can still be accomplished! This is why …

The average dent repair fee is $ 80 to $ 130 per dent, depending on size or difficulty (they don’t inflate too much when considering call rates for plumbers and electricians). Repair a dent and charge up to $ 80. Repairing 5 teeth a day gives you $ 400! Depending on experience, a dent can take anywhere from a few minutes to 20 minutes to repair. So, hypothetically, even a single customer can get $ 146,000 per year! It is not uncommon to have multiple clients in one day, but not every day. However, considering regular customers and odd customers who want their cars to be ‘dent-clean’ (cars are the second most important product in Australia), and more referrals for a good PDR technician, the numbers start to add to that $ 250k figure. by year. And let’s face it, and the next time you get stuck in a traffic jam, check the side of cars for dents, and you’ll be surprised how many dents are around you. One in three readers of this article should have a dent in their vehicle …

So who qualified for paintless dent removal?
The next most common question I’m asked is if I’m not a panel beater, does it matter? The answer is no. Well yes, a panel beater has knowledge of vehicles (models, panels, parts); they spend at least four years learning the trade at TAFE and through internships. But so do spray painters. What about mechanics and your knowledge of automobiles? Include auto scratch repairers, auto detailers, window tint and paint protection technicians. Yes, panel beaters are the most frequent clients of paintless dent removal training courses. But PDR courses can take on other related trades.

What happens if I am not in a trade?
A course taught in 2012 attracted a person who worked in administration within a bank. Yes, a banker. He was our first non-industry person to train. We take on the challenge of training him, but so does he! After a few hours on the first day of training, not only did it bloom, it really stood out! Among his colleagues, it became apparent that he consistently produced the best dents among his group, which included a panel beater! How can this be? He never touched a car in his life! He had to learn how to remove and replace parts. Well, it is often said that attitude has a lot to do with success in PDR courses. He had everything to win.

“Panel beaters are sometimes more difficult to teach if they come in with the wrong attitude, lack of patience, or are clumsy.”

Are there technical women in PDR?
It is no secret that the paintless dent repair industry, like the motor vehicle repair industry, would be dominated by men. Speaking to a PDR coach in 2015 who had trained mostly men, but a few women. However, those women in general seemed to produce better work, perhaps because they are not that “tough” and perhaps some added “determination”. There are no conceivable reasons or barriers not to have women in the paintless dent repair industry.

A career changer?
The first phone call from clients tells me a lot about the person applying, their plans, and the underlying reasons. Some are subtle, others try to dominate the phone call; others simply know what they have investigated and are doing it. However, one of the myths that I will dispel right away is that this is not a “job” career change. Paintless dent removal is a business, a contract business. Whether you work for yourself or hire others, it is still a business operation, with no wages or salaries. So you lose the sense of security and the challenges of finding working clients. But there is a sense of freedom to work your own hours and choose your own clients once established. Despite the pros and cons, the ones that thrive are often well known for their quality.

Can anyone remove dents without paint?
In extensive research via the Internet and reading the minds of PDR technicians themselves, there is a unique set of circumstances and conditions that has led PDR technicians to approach the industry and succeed. PDR technicians have the following qualities:

• determination
• perseverance
• self-confidence to succeed at all costs
• hard work
• good view
• business minded
• innovative
• ability to work alone or in a team
• ability to work in a variety of conditions
• flexible

Most of the older generation of PDR technicians were fortunate enough to meet or meet another PDR technician and receive training. However, more and more are entering the industry through PDR training companies. However, the qualities listed above are still important.

Success is hard earned
Becoming a PDR technician requires complete determination and perseverance because getting started is not easy. The first few hours of a paintless dent removal training course quickly clears things up – the metal tool on the metal panel is not a good match. Paintless dent removal requires the utmost skill, determination, and perseverance. It’s too easy to be wrong, too easy to quit! Hundreds of hours of practice to get over it and get comfortable. In fact, two different sources of “training in a hood position in the living room with his wife watching TV” say it all. Just as intense and determined training leads some Olympians to a gold medal, it takes a lot of practice and determination to be successful at PDR.

Offer and demand
The old “supply and demand” rule has a lot to do with the profits of PDR technicians. There are conflicting reports that there are too many technicians at PDR. Are they simply trying to protect the industry for themselves? Because whenever there is a large hail, vehicle repairs typically take 12 to 18 months to complete. Why? Supply and Demand: There is simply a lack of quality PDR technicians in this country to do a large amount of work. Also, should we allow PDR technicians abroad to do the work that Australians can do? God forbid when Sydney, with a population of 5 million, receives another hail storm in April 1999! Why we still get car-loving repairmen into spray paint and panel whipping when there are opportunities to enter the paintless dent removal industry is something you can’t believe!

Conclusion: Who will ride the lucrative roller coaster?
Convincing anyone to enter this industry is like drawing blood from a stone! Making the change is difficult, it requires planning and commitment. Do the risks outweigh the chances of success? You never know if you have what it takes to get into this industry. According to the writing on the wall, if you make it through, whoever rides the roller coaster may be ready for a lucrative and rewarding career! You never know if you have what it takes to get into this industry.