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Auto Repair Shop Management Help? Start Here

Do you have an automotive management or business related issue that you need help with? If you don't know what forum to post in, don't worry, just start by posting a new topic in this forum and we'll move in the appropriate forum category.


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  1. Specific Management Forums   (54,803 visits to this link)

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  3. Should I buy a scanner

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    • Wow! you were digging deep, but good for you for wanting to educate yourself. Most operators are open to sharing and helping others when they can. All of what I wrote still applies today and believe me, I've made my share of mistakes, or as I would like call them "Training Expenses". I have just spent the last year and a half cleaning up and reorganizing our whole corporate structure to reduce the number of tax returns and just make it easier to operate and package to sell at some point if I choose to. Since I wrote the original post, I have added a 10K sq ft ground up build, and an acquisition of another shop and the real estate. I am in the process of another acquisition coming online in March, but I did not purchase the real estate and chose to lease the property instead for cash flow and balance sheet purposes because I have another ground up that I am working on for 2026.  Our structure is a holding company that is a "S" class Corporation, and the shops are all Single member LLC's operating as disregarded entities, owned by the holding company. We also have a Management LLC under the holding company that everyone actually works for, so we have one set of 940's 941's and we just use GL entries to place the labor expense in each shop. It allows us to move people when necessary or as needed and not have to enter in them in another company as an employee.  Each shop pays a corporate overhead fee to the management company. The management company is not designed to be a profit maker and the corporate fee is divvied up based upon each shops overall sales contribution as a percentage and adjusted throughout the year. Currently our corporate overhead is to high and we need to get the other shops online to spread the costs as we built the structure and staff so that we were not lagging the sales. I'm okay/not okay with taking a hit for a year or two to get these other shops online.    I will say there are a number of smart operators on here (much smarter than me) but I've gained knowledge and wisdom from them as well and have never hesitated to reach out to someone. I only wished I had these tools and forums when I was much younger. I just don't want to work that hard anymore.  Good luck to you and the education never stops. 
    • I purchased my shop from my friend and boss in 2000. There were 4 of us. My brother wrote service, 2 techs and myself. In 2005 I joined ATI. Today there are 13 of us and we purchased our own property in 2006. With the cost of overhead and the high rate of inflation you must find a way to charge more for your service. We do not quote jobs broken down. We quote the finished job. Do not make it easy for people to shop around. We charge $48.75 per 1/4 hour. Seems a lot less than $195 per hour. We use a parts matrix. This allows you to charge more for low price parts. a 20 cent fuse should sell for $2. A 10 X mark up. Obviously you can not charge this for a $100 part. Your average margin at the end of he day needs to be above 50% and shoot for 65%. How are you calculating your margin? Part cost X 1.5 is not a 50% margin.  Part cost divided by decimal percent  yields the correct margin. $12.50 cost divided by .50 % margin is $25 . You cannot survive on the suggested margin of the parts store or dealer. Remember your competition is manipulating the hours charged for jobs even though they may have a lower rate. Also if you cater to cheep customers that is all you will ever have. Never sell on being cheep. Always sell on the high quality parts and skills you provide. You must take off your mechanic hat and put on your businessman hat. If you do not learn how to charge appropriately you will never grow and likely not survive. 
    • I was a one man shop with 2 bays for about 10 years and just last year hired my 1st tech. I made money from day one but my overhead was extremely small compared to yours. I started out small with no debt and bought tools as I went along. I also didn't have issues with having enough work. My focus has been quality and honesty. Sounds like you need different customers. Whenever I have someone complain about price I usually don't end up working for them. They are the price shoppers and are only loyal to their wallet. Don't let them persuade you to lower your markup, that's a dead end street. You may need to raise your prices which may scare those price shoppers away and attract good customers that don't ask how much is it going to cost but when can you do it. If you could bill 30 hours a week that's $14400 a month. Some weeks I would bill 30 and some I would be able to bill 40 plus, just depended on the jobs. It takes some serious organization when you're by yourself to bill 30 to 40 a week. I usually don't work late either. My production went up when I switched to Shop-Ware for my management system. Wish you luck! 
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    • What matrix are you pricing your parts at? Our company marks up a minimum of 50-65% on aftermarket parts, 30-40% on special order and dealer parts. (We are located 10 minutes from D.C.). We offer a 2 year/24k mile warranty and remind our customers that we offer that warranty only for parts that we supply, no warranty on customer supplied parts. Our labor rate varies from $149-185 depending on whether it's a standard vehicle or a larger fleet vehicle, but we also keep our labor rate a bit higher as a cushion to cover payroll, parts, rent, etc.  and also so that we can offer our loyal customers a 10%-15% discount depending on their affiliations. We work with multiple different referral and affiliate programs such as AAA Automotive Program, Costco Auto Care Program, and RepairPal for referrals as well. Maybe try targeting a specific consumer in your area, ex. 1/2 off oil change for local teachers to pinpoint your desired customer base. You could also get certified to become a state inspector, or Uber/Lyft if you have them in your area. Hope 2025 is a great year for you!
    • As a business owner, the fast pace of entrepreneurship can feel overwhelming, but when do you give yourself permission to slow down? In this episode, we delve into The Art of Slowing Down—what it means, why it’s important, and how to make it a reality in your daily life. From intentional daily practices to creating systems that allow you to step away, this episode shares actionable insights and personal experiences to inspire you to find balance. Whether you’re planning for the future or simply trying to catch your breath, this conversation will encourage you to rethink how you manage your time and energy. Hit play now to learn how slowing down could help you build a healthier, more sustainable approach to business and life! Thank you to our friends at RepairPal for providing you this episode. As shop owners we were part of RepairPal’s Certified network and you can learn more at RepairPal.com/shops. Are you ready to convert clients to members? App Fueled specializes in creating custom apps tailored specifically for professional auto repair businesses. Visit Appfueled.com to get started today. Keep your shop top of mind on the mobile device they love. Lagniappe (Books, Links, Other Podcasts, etc) Show Notes with Timestamps Introduction to the Episode (00:00:01)  The host introduces the podcast and the topic of slowing down in auto repair business ownership. Discussion of New Features (00:00:46)  The speakers mention the potential of live streaming their podcast on Facebook. The Importance of Slowing Down (00:01:59)  The co-host emphasizes that slowing down doesn't mean being lazy or complacent. Target Audience Clarification (00:02:16)  The host clarifies that the episode is not for new business owners who are still growing. Personal Experiences with Surgery (00:05:30)  Kim shares her experience of recovery after back surgery and the need for slowing down. Planning for Recovery (00:06:56)  Kim discusses the importance of planning and preparing for recovery from her surgery. Building Trust in the Team (00:09:59)  Kim reflects on how stepping back built confidence in her team and their abilities. Easing Back into Work (00:12:33)  Kim talks about her gradual return to work and the importance of giving herself grace. Avoiding Extreme Situations (00:13:25)  The host encourages listeners not to wait for extreme situations like surgery to slow down. The Importance of Slowing Down (00:14:32)  Kim discusses the brutal nature of automotive conference seasons and the need for downtime. Personal Time and Routine (00:15:25)  Kim shares her Friday routine, emphasizing quiet time, workouts, and relaxation. Work-Life Balance for Entrepreneurs (00:16:14)  Kim reflects on the stress of entrepreneurship and the importance of not working excessively every day. Freedom of Time and Finances (00:18:22)  Kim highlights the reasons for becoming a business owner, focusing on achieving freedom of time. Daily Slow Time (00:18:38)  Brian talks about integrating intentional slow time into daily routines, even during work trips. One Minute Pause Technique (00:19:28)  Brian introduces a one-minute pause app for quick moments of mindfulness during busy days. Creating Healthy Leadership (00:20:30)  Brian emphasizes the need for leaders to be emotionally and physically healthy for their teams. Encouragement to Slow Down (00:21:25)  Kim encourages listeners to consider slowing down and reflects on building a supportive team. Conclusion and Thanks (00:22:29)  Kim and Brian thank their sponsors and invite listeners to tune in next week. How To Get In Touch Group - Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind Website - shopmarketingpros.com  Facebook - facebook.com/shopmarketingpros  Get the Book - shopmarketingpros.com/book Instagram - @shopmarketingpros  Questions/Ideas - podcast@shopmarketingpros.com  Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech Matt Fanslow shares a story about a mother illustrating the concept of "negative gatekeeping." He connects this to the automotive industry, where subtle criticism of competitors can erode trust and damage customer relationships. Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech NAPA Autotech’s team of ASE Master Certified Instructors are conducting over 1,200 classes covering 28 automotive topics. To see a selection, go to napaautotech.com for more details. Contact Information Email Matt: mattfanslowpodcast@gmail.com Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion. https://remarkableresults.biz/ Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/ Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/ The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level. https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/ The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/ Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. https://craigoneill.captivate.fm/ Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • Episode 198 - Transparency and Member Engagement With Associations with Ryan Ragan of ASTA


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