14/10/2026
Somebody asked me: “Hey FMZ, how much does it cost to get into the mechanical workshop business?”
My answer was very simple: you can start with around Rs 12,000.
An impact wrench, a basic tool set from a brand like INGCO or TOTAL, and you can start taking on small jobs within your skills. Start somewhere. Build your experience, build your reputation, and build momentum.
But if you’re asking what it costs to build a fully equipped workshop, with your own place and the ability to handle more complex work—then we’re talking about a completely different investment.
Let me break it down from our experience.
Diagnostic equipment: one scanner will not do everything. At FMZ, we have 7 diagnostic tools, representing roughly Rs 500,000–600,000. Different tools have different capabilities. Buying one machine does not mean you can diagnose, code and program every vehicle.
Cloning and programming equipment: that’s another investment altogether. ECU and TCU tools, interfaces, adapters and accessories—we’re talking about roughly another Rs 450,000.
Mechanical equipment: lifts, compressors, hand tools, specialist tools and all the equipment needed to support the work. Depending on how far you go, that side can represent around Rs 1–2 million.
And buying the tools is only the beginning. You also have to keep them running and updated.
Subscriptions, software licences, renewals and technical access add up across different platforms. Depending on the package, you can be looking at costs ranging from around US$100 to US$1,000 a year. Across a broad diagnostic, cloning and programming setup, the overall recurring bill can reach Rs 120,000–150,000 a year depending on what you maintain.
Then you still have the premises, buying land, fit-out, permits, electricity, security and money to keep the business operating.
So, if you ask me what budget to expect for your own place and a well-equipped, competitive workshop, I would easily put it around Rs 6–7 million, depending on the property and the level of equipment you choose.
If you already own the land and building it can cost half
And even from there, you still have to grow. Cars evolve. Technology changes. You keep learning, and you keep investing.
You can build through savings, reinvest your earnings or get support from a bank. If you finance a large setup, yes, you can find yourself carrying several million rupees in debt. That is a serious commitment.
But don’t let those millions stop you from starting.
Starting small does not mean you’re not serious. Take on work you can do properly, build your skills, earn people’s trust and reinvest as you grow.
You don’t need everything on day one. But you do need to understand that building a workshop at this level takes years of effort, discipline and investment.
The tools cost money. The skills take time. And the responsibility comes with every car you accept.
— FMZ Workshop
