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If any of you shop owners have excess space where an RV motor home can fit, your missing the boat on all that work. Many of the owners are thinking they only can go to a RV place for any service. There are more gas powered units than diesel and if your so inclined, these owners need service. If your anywhere close to an RV park, stop in and meet the owner or manager and let them know your able to help service anyone needing your help. The labor rates are higher than what most of you are charging for auto repairs and I found the units easy to work on. Yes they do take room, but the rv owner normally would want the rig fixed as soon as possible and will pick them up as soon as called that the work is done.

I traveled 8 years in my rig living full time in it and met a LOT of unhappy folks that were dealing with the RV only service places. If you read any of the RV related forums finding a reliable, honest and qualified service place ranks as the top complaint. The places that are rated high in the service side are always busy and have a big following of customers. Just a thought to increase sales and profits. Might be worth looking into.

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If any of you shop owners have excess space where an RV motor home can fit, your missing the boat on all that work. Many of the owners are thinking they only can go to a RV place for any service. There are more gas powered units than diesel and if your so inclined, these owners need service. If your anywhere close to an RV park, stop in and meet the owner or manager and let them know your able to help service anyone needing your help. The labor rates are higher than what most of you are charging for auto repairs and I found the units easy to work on. Yes they do take room, but the rv owner normally would want the rig fixed as soon as possible and will pick them up as soon as called that the work is done.

I traveled 8 years in my rig living full time in it and met a LOT of unhappy folks that were dealing with the RV only service places. If you read any of the RV related forums finding a reliable, honest and qualified service place ranks as the top complaint. The places that are rated high in the service side are always busy and have a big following of customers. Just a thought to increase sales and profits. Might be worth looking into.

+1 true story. I moved into my current location 2 years ago, on the main hwy with both hwy and side street exits, so RV's and trailers can drive in and out without turning around. This building used to be a trailer, hitch and rental shop, so when I moved in I took on hitch sales and installs, trailer parts and accessories, and working on trailers. That business has been huge with sales exceeding auto repair work We've done some work on RV's but we're limited on space and my doors are only 10' tall so anything with AC is not going to fit. I worked on a class C motor home today, outside, which I hate but it paid well. We did new brakes, drums, bearings, brake lines, master cylinder etc on a 12k lb dump trailer yesterday and that bill was over $1600. Very good margin there. Hitch sales and installs are huge for us and parts and accessories markup is 100% up to 200%. Easy money. If we only had a bigger bay we could work on RV's continuously since not many like our local RV dealer nor their very expensive service.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         13 comments
      Most shop owners would agree that the independent auto repair industry has been too cheap for too long regarding its pricing and labor rates. However, can we keep raising our labor rates and prices until we achieve the profit we desire and need? Is it that simple?
      The first step in achieving your required gross and net profit is understanding your numbers and establishing the correct labor and part margins. The next step is to find your business's inefficiencies that impact high production levels.
      Here are a few things to consider. First, do you have the workflow processes in place that is conducive to high production? What about your shop layout? Do you have all the right tools and equipment? Do you have a continuous training program in place? Are technicians waiting to use a particular scanner or waiting to access information from the shop's workstation computer?
      And lastly, are all the estimates written correctly? Is the labor correct for each job? Are you allowing extra time for rust, older vehicles, labor jobs with no parts included, and the fact that many published labor times are wrong? Let's not forget that perhaps the most significant labor loss is not charging enough labor time for testing, electrical work, and other complicated repairs.  
      Once you have determined the correct labor rate and pricing, review your entire operation. Then, tighten up on all those labor leaks and inefficiencies. Improving production and paying close attention to the labor on each job will add much-needed dollars to your bottom line.
  • Upcoming Events

    • March 24, 2023 01:00 PM Until 09:00 PM
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      Hi all,
      AutoLeap is hosting Amplify 2023, a virtual auto repair conference for shop owners, on March 24. We have 22 incredible speakers, and 13 industry associations and training institutes participating in this virtual event. The conference is free of cost.
      You can book your complimentary, virtual seat today using this link: https://bit.ly/3EXvfWY
      Amplify 2023 speakers include: Joe Marconi, Co-Owner AutoShopOwner and Elite Business Coach @Joe Marconi Aaron Stokes, ShopFix Academy Cecil Bullard, The Institute for Automotive Business Excellence Chris Cotton, AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching Darrin Barney, Elite “G” Jerry Truglia, Automotive Technician Training Services Greg Bunch, Transformers Institute Jeremy O'Neal, AdvisorFix The conference will cover essential topics such as:
      Navigating through the current industry challenges Tackling the technician shortage through employee retention Creating memorable customer experiences Growing & expanding your business in 2023 Financial planning & KPIs to measure And that’s not all.
      The interactive, dynamic conference also offers live networking opportunities, and fun games and prizes.
      You can book your complimentary, virtual seat today using this link: https://bit.ly/3EXvfWY
      #AutoLeapAmplify23
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