Starting an auto body business is an exciting adventure for any entrepreneur to start out on. Before you start out on your venture, you'll need to make a list of things you will need for your shop. Obviously you'll need a space to work out of, talented employees, safety supplies, and of course auto body tools. The tools can be one of the most expensive things on your business plan. Planning ahead and having a budget can help in avoiding headaches down the road. Cheaper tools will often degrade and break early so researching reviews ahead of time will assist in finding the best tools. We want to help you in your research process so here are 5 tools that are essential for auto body repair.

1. Air Compressor: Compressors are essential for auto body repair shops. They can be used for painting which is a large part of auto body work. Compressors come in various sizes so try to purchase one that will match the work load you need to do.

2. Auto Body Hammer and Dolly Set: You'll need this tool set for hammering out dents. It is a must have tool set for anyone going into auto body repair and fabrication.

3. Paint Gun: Painting is an integral part of auto body work. A good quality paint gun will make or break a job because paint defects are often the first thing a customer will see. HVLP guns are often the first choice of many auto body repair shop owners.

4. Disc Sander: This is another must have for anyone who is getting into serious auto body work. A disc sander is a versatile tool that can be used for body filling, grinding, and as a filer substitute. Disc sanders are not only affordable but they are great time savers for many auto body jobs.

5. Putty Knives: These inexpensive tools are used to mix body filler and to apply Bondo. They can be purchased in metal or plastic. Metal ones will obviously last longer but plastic ones care cheaper. Bondo will also be easier to peel off the plastic ones when it dries.