What began as a side hustle during COVID has evolved into a thriving business for Justin O’Bryan, owner of Owensboro Mobile Mechanic. Now, he’s preparing to launch a sister company that will offer mobile tire services across the area.
O’Bryan first got the idea in 2020 while working at Ragu. A friend asked him to do a quick repair, and rather than hauling the car to his parents’ garage like usual, O’Bryan offered to go to the customer. The convenience clicked.
“I went home, told my wife I was going to start a business,” O’Bryan said. “She goes, ‘You don’t know anything about a business.’ I said, ‘You’re right — but I’ve got to do something for extra money.’”
He already had his tools. So, he bought a trailer, loaded it up, and officially launched Owensboro Mobile Mechanic on Jan. 1, 2021. The timing worked in his favor, with people staying home during the pandemic and needing car repairs brought to them.
Two years after launching, O’Bryan left Ragu to go full time, and the business hasn’t slowed down since.
“We went from a little SUV and trailer to a bigger truck, a bigger trailer, and a full-time guy working with me,” he said. “My wife even quit her job to handle all the scheduling and office stuff.”
The mobile service handles nearly everything short of major engine or transmission overhauls. That includes brakes, alternators, shocks, belts, valve covers, intake gaskets, and more.
“Pretty much anything except timing chains and in-depth motor work,” he said. “We’ll come to your house, your work, or even while you’re at the grocery store.”
O’Bryan said transparency is a key part of their success. He never performs repairs without customer approval and always explains what he’s doing and why.
“I coach them through it,” he said. “If they want to come out and watch, that’s fine. I show them what’s wrong. Nothing is behind closed doors.”
The business has grown largely through word of mouth and online reviews. Owensboro Mobile Mechanic boasts a 4.9-star rating and dozens of testimonials, which help ease the concerns of first-time customers.
“I’ve had people say they were skeptical, but after reading the reviews, they felt better about trying us,” O’Bryan said.
Now entering his third year full time, O’Bryan is preparing for his next expansion. On Aug. 1, he’ll officially launch Owensboro Mobile Tire, a spin-off service that brings tire installation and balancing to customers’ driveways.
Same concept, just with tires.
“You call, we get your tire info, order them, and come to you to mount and balance them,” O’Bryan said. “You don’t have to sit at a shop for hours. We can do it at your house or even your workplace.”
That venture is a partnership with O’Bryan’s father-in-law, who is retiring from the Owensboro Police Department after nearly four decades.
“He’s going to take the reins on the tire side,” O’Bryan said. “We’ve had this in the works for a couple years. It’s going to be really convenient, kind of like DoorDash for tires.”
Both businesses share the same core values: convenience, honesty, and customer-first service.
“What started as a way to make a little extra money has grown into something way bigger than I ever expected,” O’Bryan said. “We’ve made some mistakes along the way, but we’ve learned, and our customers have stuck with us.”
For more information or to book a service appointment, visit OwensboroMobileMechanicKY.com.
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or kjones@owensboro.com.
By John Kirkpatrick The Owensboro Times