SideWRK is a cheap invoicing app for mechanics who work on the side.
It keeps every customer and vehicle on file, sends the estimate and the invoice, and shows what you actually made on the repair.
SideWRK starts every mechanic at these prices and does this math on every job you write up. Change any number.
What an Auto / Mechanic job looks like in SideWRK.
The auto / mechanic job as the app lays it out — your own cost sitting on it, and the estimate your customer approves from their phone.
Everything an auto side-hustle needs — in one app
Estimates → invoices → paid
Write up a job in one sweep — labor, the part (with your private cost), a disclosure note, and a photo. Text or email a clean, itemized estimate. When the customer approves, it becomes a numbered invoice. Record cash, card, or a payment they sent you; jobs auto-flip to Paid at a zero balance.
VIN scan, decode & recall check
Scan the VIN barcode with your camera. SideWRK auto-fills the year, make, and model from NHTSA and checks for open safety recalls you can forward to the customer — instant credibility.
Parts lookup & supplier accounts
Save your suppliers and star your favorites. Find auto-parts stores near you, jump to RockAuto or your portal with the VIN already copied, and paste the exact part you found straight into the estimate.
Customers approve from their phone
Send a branded approval link. Your customer reviews the estimate, sees the photos, and taps Approve — logged with their name, the time, and the amount. Add work later and they're asked to authorize the new total.
Real profit, not just revenue
Every part carries a private "your cost" the customer never sees — so the Money tab shows what you're owed, your monthly net, and your true profit on every single job.
Documentation done right
Your business name, logo, address, and registration (BAR/ARD) number on every estimate and invoice — plus part conditions, odometer, tire pressures, disclosure notes, and a logged record of every customer authorization.
Mechanic
The work this app was built around.
Estimate. Invoice. Get paid.
SideWRK runs the business side from your phone, on the job.
It keeps every customer and vehicle on file, sends the estimate and the invoice, and shows what you actually made after costs.
From driveway to "paid" in three steps
Write it up
Add the customer and vehicle (scan the VIN), then add the work — labor, parts, photo, and a note — in one sweep.
Send it
Text or email a branded estimate. The customer reviews the photos and taps Approve — authorization logged automatically.
Get paid
It becomes a numbered invoice. Record the payment, the job flips to Paid, and your real profit lands in the Money tab.
What should a mechanic charge?
There's no single number — your rate has to cover your tools, truck, insurance, and the hours you can't bill. Here's how independent and mobile mechanics actually price, plus free calculators to find your number.
Labor: shop rate × book time
Most independent shops bill a flat "shop rate" — commonly around $80–$130 an hour — against the book-time hours for the job, not the clock. Mobile mechanics usually charge a similar rate plus a trip or diagnostic fee.
Parts: your cost + a fair markup
Parts carry a markup over your cost (often 20–40%) to cover sourcing, warranty, and the risk of comebacks. Keep your real cost private and quote the customer the marked-up price.
What moves your number
Your overhead, your area, and your specialty — Euro, diesel, and fleet work command more. And you only bill a fraction of your week: driving, quotes, and parts runs aren't free, so your rate has to cover them.
Repair estimate calculator
Know what your hour is really worth before you quote the job.
The mechanic rate behind SideWRK's estimating defaults is $110/hr, with 50% of a typical ticket paying for time rather than materials. Both numbers come from our 2026 Side-Work Rate Report, which publishes the same figures for all 42 trades.
These tools run free right here — inside SideWRK they fill your estimate for you →
One plan. Every trade. $19.
There is one plan and this is it. The Mechanic build you are looking at is one of 42, and every one of them is already switched on — no upgrade, no add-on. Pick up a different trade next month and the app switches with you. Your customers come with you — one book of people, every job you have ever done for them, whichever trade you had your hat on for that day. $190 a year if you pay yearly, which is two months free.
- Estimates, invoices & payments
- VIN scan, recall & parts lookup
- Customer approvals + photos
- Real profit tracking
- All 42 trades, switched on — not a bundle, not an add-on
- One customer list across every trade — the same person, every job you ever did for them
- Unlimited customers and jobs — no caps
- Real profit on every Mechanic job, from your own private cost
- Mechanic expenses, mileage and a year-end tax packet
- Your own Mechanic page, work gallery and booking requests
- Card, Apple Pay, Venmo, Cash App — Zelle if your bank offers it — or cash
Nothing above is behind a higher tier. There is no higher tier.
Mechanic FAQ
Is SideWRK good for mobile mechanics?
Yes — it's built for it. Scan the VIN in the driveway, write the estimate on the spot, text it to the customer for approval, and document the work with photos before you turn a wrench.
Does SideWRK scan VINs and check recalls?
Yes — scan the VIN barcode with your camera, auto-fill year/make/model from NHTSA, and check for open safety recalls you can forward to the customer.
Can customers approve estimates from their phone?
Yes. You send a branded link; the customer reviews the estimate and photos and taps Approve — recorded with their name, the time, and the amount, with re-authorization if you add work later.
Does it track my real profit?
Yes. Every part can carry a private "your cost" the customer never sees, so the Money tab shows your true profit on each job — not just revenue.
What should a mechanic charge?
Most independent mechanics bill labor at a flat shop rate — commonly around $80–$130/hour — against book-time hours, plus parts at your cost with a 20–40% markup, plus a diagnostic or trip fee for mobile work. Your real rate depends on your overhead, area, specialty, and how many hours you actually bill. Use the free hourly rate calculator to find your number.
How much does it cost?
SideWRK is $19/month. It unlocks every trade and the in-app switcher. You start on the free plan: five jobs a rolling year, no card, and no expiry. Paying lifts every limit — $19 a month, or $190 a year.
Wondering what to charge? How to price Mechanic jobs — with real numbers →
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