Gallatin Valley Garage Opens in Belgrade

After years of experience working in automotive shops and dealerships throughout the Gallatin Valley, Andrew saw an opportunity to fill a need in the community: a specialty automotive repair shop focused exclusively on Subaru, Toyota and Honda vehicles. With a background that includes four years as an automotive instructor at Gallatin High School and formal training through Subaru, Andrew decided to turn his experience and passion for automotive education into his own business and opened Gallatin Valley Garage. His goal is not only to provide quality service to customers, but also to create an opportunity that his three children could someday be a part of.

Starting a business can be overwhelming, and Andrew knew he wanted to make sure he took the right steps from the beginning. He turned to the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for guidance and worked with SBDC advisor Kristi to develop a roadmap for launching his business. Together, they worked on a business plan, financial projections, pricing and understanding the revenue needed to cover his expenses. The SBDC also provided industry research, startup resources and guidance on developing a BAIL team, helping Andrew connect with a local accountant and insurance agency. “Kristi gave me the confidence and skill set to make the decision to start my own business,” Andrew said.

With the tools and information provided through the SBDC, Andrew was able to confidently open his specialty repair shop and make the decision to bootstrap the business. His commitment to serving the community extends beyond his customers. Andrew works with a local nonprofit that gifts vehicles to families in need, providing vehicle assessments at no cost and donating his time to repair vehicles when needed. He plans to continue supporting local children’s activities and community events while building a business that contributes to the community he calls home.