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By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog0 commentsIt always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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By carmcapriotto
The Weekly Blitz is brought to you by our friends over at Shop Marketing Pros. If you want to take your shop to the next level, you need great marketing. Shop Marketing Pros does top-tier marketing for top-tier shops.
Click here to learn more about Top Tier Marketing by Shop Marketing Pros and schedule a demo: https://shopmarketingpros.com/chris/
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/
If you would like to join their private facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermind
Visit ShopMarketingPros.com/chris to partner with a team that understands your business. Because every great shop deserves marketing that’s just as great.
Check out their podcast here: https://autorepairmarketing.captivate.fm/ If you would like to join their private Facebook group go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/autorepairmarketingmastermindIn
To listen to more episodes, make sure and go over to iTunes and or Spotify.
Don't forget to rate and review us!
Connect with Chris:
AutoFix-Auto Shop Coaching
www.autoshopcoaching.com
www.aftermarketradionetwork.com
940-400-1008
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutoFixAutoShopCoaching
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3ClX0ae
Email Chris: [email protected]
In this episode of "The Weekly Blitz," host Coach Chris Cotton takes listeners on a journey through both his personal and professional life, offering a glimpse into the milestones and aspirations that shape his career. Chris shares the exciting news of his upcoming graduation, a significant achievement marking the culmination of 34 years of dedication and perseverance in pursuing a bachelor's degree. This personal triumph serves as a testament to his commitment to lifelong learning and growth.
As he looks to the future, Chris unveils his ambitious plans to develop a new educational series focused on the fundamentals of auto repair management. This series is designed to be a valuable resource for both new and seasoned shop owners, providing them with essential knowledge and strategies to navigate the complexities of the industry. By addressing key topics such as operational efficiency, customer service excellence, and financial management, Chris aims to empower shop owners to elevate their businesses to new heights.
In addition to his educational endeavors, Chris highlights his active involvement with Worldpac, a leading distributor of automotive parts. Through this collaboration, he underscores the critical importance of staying attuned to market needs and trends within the auto repair industry. By understanding these dynamics, shop owners can better position themselves to meet customer demands and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Chris also takes the opportunity to promote Shop Marketing Pros, a marketing company that specializes in providing tailored services for auto repair shops. He emphasizes the value of partnering with experts who understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the industry, and how effective marketing strategies can drive business growth and customer engagement.
Throughout the episode, Chris Cotton reinforces the theme of returning to fundamentals as a means to enhance business operations and customer service. By focusing on core principles and best practices, shop owners can build a solid foundation for success and create lasting value for their customers. This episode of "The Weekly Blitz" serves as both an inspirational narrative and a practical guide for those seeking to thrive in the auto repair industry.
Introduction to the Episode (00:00:08)
Coach Chris Cotton introduces the podcast and its focus on auto repair business insights.
Personal Update: Graduation (00:01:09)
Chris shares his excitement about graduating after 34 years of working towards his bachelor's degree.
Future Plans and Opportunities (00:02:23)
He discusses contemplating his next steps now that he has completed his degree.
Expanding Services to Different Repair Industries (00:03:25)
Chris outlines plans to better communicate the services offered to various types of repair shops.
Worldpac Involvement and Upcoming Events (00:04:41)
He mentions his role in organizing Worldpac's events and facilitating smart groups.
Back to Basics: New Series Announcement (00:05:51)
Chris reveals a new series focused on fundamental auto repair management concepts.
Addressing Industry Challenges and Tariffs (00:06:59)
He shares insights on current business challenges and the confusion surrounding tariffs.
Business Performance Insights (00:08:01)
Chris discusses the mixed feelings about business performance despite record sales in some shops.
Call to Action: Finding Needs in Business (00:09:02)
He encourages listeners to identify needs in their businesses and stay tuned for upcoming content.
The Aftermarket Radio Network
Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion
Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.
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.
The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.
Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.
Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.
#autofixautoshopcoaching #autofixbeautofixing #autoshopprofits #autoshopprofit #autoshopprofitsfirst #autoshopleadership #autoshopmanagement #autorepairshopcoaching #autorepairshopconsulting #autorepairshoptraining #autorepairshop #autorepair #serviceadvisor #serviceadvisorefficiency #autorepairshopmarketing #theweeklyblitz #autofix #shopmarketingpros #autofixautoshopcoachingbook
Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
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By JustTheBest
If you're ready to skyrocket your car count so that you can finally make the money you know you and your family deserves, you're in the right place, because it's never been easier to grow your repair shop, as long as you have the right offers and deals to attract customers.
But I will warn you if you make the same flimsy and lame offers that are just like your competitors, you’re actually making it harder to grow than it ever has been before.
Because I want to make this easy, you’re lucky. Right now I’m starting a brand new Private Case Study Group where I will help 3 repair shops deploy my “Perfect Offer Formula” that lets you generate car count immediately, and if you start today, you can do it before Mother’s Day (May 11, 2025) and continue to do that month after month.
The best part is, you’ll do it all without ever discounting your prices, adding free services, or tossing in Give-a-Ways that only attract the bottom feeders and car owners without money.
In this case study, I’m going to give you the exact formula that you need so you can grow quicker without wasting time trying to figure out how to get car count and what to do next or what offers you should run this month.
Look, there’s only three reasons you’re not getting the car count you want right now…
#1) Either you don’t have a compelling offer that focuses on value -not price
#2) Your offers are just plain terrible and they aren’t what people want or need.
Or
#3) You don’t have the correct packaging or (as we call them, wrappers) for your offer.
What I see a lot of repair shops do is they literally just use flimsy lame offers that look just like what your competitor is doing…
Or they try to duplicate offers the big box auto repair shops are making…
Or they continue to discount their prices… trying to come up with that secret formula that makes some phony illusion of a great deal.
But all of that is just a race to the bottom.
This private case study program's going to solve all of that for you because I'm not only going to literally take you by the hand and show you everything that you need to do, I’m actually going to do it for you!
And this doesn’t matter if you don’t think you can do it, or you’re not good with that math and calculating prices, or even if the last offer or ad you ran was a total big fat loss!
We're actually going to be working together. And I'm literally going to tell you everything you need to do, starting from you spending 20 minutes setting up your pricing profile,
Then I’ll build out your personalized plan,
I’ll be tweaking things and helping you decide exactly what offer to create, and then do all the heavy lifting to create the three Value Wrappers… that make your offer stand out in your market; get car owners to stop and see your offer; then book their job immediately…(not next week, next month, or when they get around to it!) and much, much more
And then after that, you're going to get 30 days of check-ins where you can ask me questions.
I'll ask you to share your sales statistics and analytics so that we can improve them.
I'll send you new ideas for the other 3 Perfect Power Offer Strategies that are proven to work, and even do so much more, and by the end of that, you’ll have the complete “Perfect Offer Program” that will let you stop chasing car count once and for all!
And since I'm going to be coaching you throughout this program for your specific account, know that it doesn't matter what market you’re in; it doesn’t matter if you don’t have one of those fancy main street locations; and it doesn't matter how much marketing experience you have because I'm literally going to be meeting you exactly where you are.
No matter what you need, I'm going to help you do that.
If you need better wrappers (to actually get people to see your offer), I'm going to help you do that. If you need help putting your perfect offer together, I'm going to tell you exactly how you should be doing that differently so that you can skyrocket your car count.
In just the past few months, the typical repair shop that's gone through this program has grown their car count within 15 days of starting, and nobody has ever gained less than 10 new jobs the first month if they implement everything that I show them to do continually. (Your results may vary, depending on how well you follow our directions)
Now, there is one catch.
Actually, there’s three catches.
#1- This is a nationally advertised program across United States and Canada, and it’s limited to only 3 qualified repair shops.
#2- This private case study group is limited to only one repair shop per market. In other words, I won’t compete against myself.
#3- This may be the last time I offer this Exclusive One-on-One Case Study Opportunity to grow your car count immediately - because I'm still only one person, so I can only work with so many shop owners.
The longer you wait to grow your car count, the harder it's going to get started.
Please do not make the mistake that I made, which I literally regret every single day. That is that I didn't start growing car count earlier when I was a shop owner. Car count is the solution to just about every auto shop problem.
So if you don't sign up right now, it could decrease the odds that we can actually work together, because once we get the three shops we’re looking for, I'm going to have to shut this opportunity down.
That just means it's going to be even harder to grow your car count.
Remember, nobody else can provide and guarantee you results before Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, 2025, so please stop procrastinating.
Go below, register right now. I cannot wait to help you hit your goals because at the end of the day, you actually have nothing to lose.
I'm literally going to tell you everything that you need to do. You are going to implement it, and you're going to get the results that you want, period.
And oh, in case you’re wondering, there’s no money back guarantee… because this is a totally FREE Case Study Group.
That means there's zero risk to you if you sign up right now while you still can.
https://thecarcountfixer.com/go
Hope this helps! See you in the case study group!
Matthew
"The Car Count Fixer"
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By nptrb
It’s no secret that time is limited as an auto repair shop owner.
Between diagnosing complex engine issues to managing your mechanics and creating a five-star customer experience, there’s often little time left to focus on your financials.
But what happens when tax season rolls around, and you’re forced to buckle down on organizing your records and preparing your returns?
At Three Rivers Bookkeeping, we know the needs of your auto repair business from the inside out. You’re dealing with parts inventory, labor costs, shop equipment, and fluctuating busyness. Navigating the intricacies of tax filing on top of all that can be a real headache.
That’s why we’ve put together these practical tax tips to help you simplify the filing process! Follow these steps to get your financial house in order before the tax deadline on April 15th!
Tax Tip #1: Organized Record-Keeping (From Day One!)
This might sound obvious, but organized records are the foundation of stress-free tax filing.
Don’t wait until January to start sifting through a shoebox full of receipts. And if you’re reading this in April, remember to start getting organized now for next year!
Implement a consistent system for tracking all your income and expenses throughout the year.
Here’s a framework to follow to keep your records organized in your auto repair shop.
Separate Business and Personal Finances: This is crucial. Keep your business bank accounts and credit cards strictly for business transactions. This makes it significantly easier to track income and deductible expenses.
Categorize Everything: Establish clear categories for your income (e.g., labor, parts sales, diagnostics) and expenses (e.g., parts purchases, payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, marketing, shop supplies). Use accounting software or even well-organized spreadsheets to do this consistently.
Document Everything: Your records should be kept to the same standards as your shop schedule and organized and clear! Track your invoices, parts receipts, bank statements, credit card statements, and payroll records — no matter how small the cost! Every bit matters.
Track Mileage: If you or your employees use personal vehicles for business purposes (e.g., picking up parts, making service calls), keep a detailed mileage log. This should include the date, purpose of the trip, starting and ending mileage.
Organized records make it easier to identify deductible expenses, accurately calculate your income, and prepare your tax forms. This will save you tons of time and effort during filing season.
Tax Tip #2: Don’t Be Afraid to Leverage Technology
Technology is your best friend when it comes to efficiently managing the finances in your auto repair business. If you’re still relying on manual spreadsheets and a spare notebook, it’s time to swap them out for accounting software that is designed specifically for small businesses.
We recommend QuickBooks Online because it streamlines all of the important areas in business, including:
Your financial tracking process Automated reports Invoicing Payments Payroll You can even connect it to your bank accounts and credit cards to make importing transactions and categorization a hands-free task.
Tax Tip #3: Know Your Deductions
Your deductions can make or break you during tax season, which is why it’s critical for you to understand them! As an auto repair shop, your needs are very different from other service-based businesses.
Knowing what you can deduct is key to minimizing your tax liability.
Here is a checklist of common deductions specifically for the auto repair industry:
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Labor Costs Rent and Utilities Insurance Vehicle and Equipment Expenses Shop and Office Supplies Marketing and Advertising Professional Fees
Tax Tip #4: Plan Ahead and Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute
If you find yourself frantically scrambling at tax season, planning ahead WILL help! Make tax season simple by staying organized, having financial systems in place, and relying on automated software.
Navigating your bookkeeping and tax filing on your own can be time-consuming and lead to costly errors.
If you want to leave your tax filing to the professionals, we’d love to help!
Three Rivers Bookkeeping specializes in working with auto repair shops, so you can rest assured during tax season.
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By Joe Marconi
From what I see, from shop owner friends and clients, 2025 is starting off as a better year than 2024.
What are you seeing in your neck of the woods?
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By carmcapriotto
Want to make your shop’s marketing stand out this May? Join Brian Walker and Caroline LeGrand as they break down creative ways to engage your audience, plan your content, and connect with your community.
In this episode, they’ll share creative campaign ideas, fun social media prompts, and practical ways to highlight your team, engage customers, and boost brand awareness. Plus, get inspiration for using national holidays like National Skilled Trades Day, Road Trip Day, and even Pizza Party Day to keep your content fresh and relevant.
Don’t miss this opportunity to simplify your marketing and make a real impact. Tune in now and start planning content that connects!
Thank you to our friends at RepairPal for providing you this episode. RepairPal is the key that unlocks more business for your repair shop. Learn More at RepairPal.com/shops.
AppFueled makes marketing easy. It’s a CRM designed for auto repair shops with tools like segmentation, reminders, and even a call center. Don’t wait—get started today at appfueled.com
Lagniappe (Books, Links, Other Podcasts, etc)
Days of the Year
National Calendar
Show Notes with Timestamps
Introduction to the Episode (00:00:01) Brian and Caroline introduce the podcast and thank RepairPal for their support. Preparing for May Marketing (00:01:16) Discussion on planning marketing strategies for May, emphasizing the importance of advance preparation. General Marketing Themes (00:02:00) Overview of summer-related topics, tax return spending, and pre-trip inspections for vehicles. Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month (00:03:17) Highlighting the importance of motorcycle safety and tips for drivers and riders. Military Appreciation Month (00:03:39) Encouraging auto repair shops to give back to military personnel throughout May. Teacher Appreciation Week (00:04:34) Ideas for showing gratitude to teachers, including small gestures and discounts. National Pet Week (00:05:50) Encouragement to engage customers by sharing pet photos on social media. Celebrating Various Appreciation Weeks (00:07:05) Discussion on multiple appreciation weeks in May and the importance of selecting key themes. Learn to Ride a Bike Day (00:08:04) Suggestions for community engagement by helping kids learn to ride bikes. National Skilled Trades Day (00:09:00) Promoting skilled trades and hosting events to educate youth about automotive careers. Star Wars Day (May the 4th) (00:10:26) Fun marketing ideas related to Star Wars Day for engaging customers. National Odometer Day (May 12th) (00:11:42) Ideas for a fun contest involving vehicle odometer readings to engage customers. RepairPal Certification (00:13:14) Discussion on becoming RepairPal certified and the benefits for auto repair shops. App Fueled Introduction (00:14:18) Overview of a customer loyalty app designed for auto service shops. National Lost Sock Memorial Day (00:14:54) Encouragement for creative engagement ideas related to this fun holiday. Military Appreciation Month (00:15:06) Suggestions for acknowledging military families and providing discounts. National Dance Like a Chicken Day (00:15:59) Call to action for engaging with customers through fun activities. Check Your Wipers Day (00:16:27) Importance of checking wipers before summer travel and educating clients. National Pizza Party Day (00:18:05) Highlighting the fun of pizza party day and community engagement. Armed Forces Day (00:18:28) Ideas for honoring military personnel and their contributions. Memorial Day Awareness (00:18:46) Discussion on the solemn nature of Memorial Day and appropriate observances. National Road Trip Day (00:19:34) Emphasis on preparing vehicles for summer road trips and inspections. National Rescue Dog Day (00:20:13) Celebrating rescue pets and their connection to the auto repair community. World Marketing Day (00:20:48) Encouragement to appreciate and promote effective marketing efforts. Paws and Pistons Campaign (00:22:41) Combining pet care with auto services for community engagement. Prepping for Road Trip Day (00:24:51) Continued focus on educating customers about road trip preparations. Engagement Ideas (00:25:34) Encouragement to share personal stories and engage customers creatively.
Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind (00:26:01) Invitation to join the Facebook group for sharing marketing ideas and support.
How To Get In Touch
Join The Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind Group on Facebook
Meet The Pros
Follow SMP on Facebook
Follow SMP on Instagram
Get The Ultimate Guide to Auto Repair Shop Marketing Book
Email Us Podcast Questions or Topics
Thanks again for listening to The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast on Aftermarket Radio Network. There are some other great shows on the network and you can find them at AftermarketRadioNetwork.com or on your favorite podcast listening apps like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and many others
Thanks to our Partners,
RepairPal at https://repairpal.com/shops. Quality Car Repair. Fair Price Guarantee.
App Fueled at appfueled.com. “Are you ready to convert clients to members? AppFueled™ specializes in creating custom apps tailored specifically for auto repair businesses. Build your first app like a pro.”
Aftermarket Radio Network
Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion
Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.
The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.
Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.
Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.
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.
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
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