JustTheBest

Hey DAC, I get it. Actually, I've used QuickBooks in some applications when getting some things started and I've got nothing bad to say about it. Maybe it's not centered on the auto repair shop - but it's a lot better than scribbling down names and numbers on a napkin! And understand this - I'm not selling anything - and I can't tell you what app you should or shouldn't use because I haven't worked with any of them for a long time. But here's something I can tell you - You said you've got what you need with QuickBooks. Great. But I always ran my businesses with the "where do I want to go?" attitude (or question). I listened to sales people selling their stuff because that was the only way I could understand what their product/service could do. But the overall focus was me, asking myself, "will this take me to where I want to go?", and in all honesty, that's the real question you need to answer (for yourself - nobody else!) Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" P.S.: Follow me on YouTube @ Car Count Hackers P.P.S.: How to Get Car Count in 72 Hours or Less - Guaranteed! P.P.P.S.: Facebook?

Hey Xtreme Marine! Thought I would chime in on this. I currently do not own a repair shop - I did - and how I help repair shop owners to get the car count they want and need. Your question about value is one that only you can answer. But let me ask you this "How do you stay in touch with customers?" Do you send them Christmas cards; Reminders; Maybe even the odd promotion? What I'm really asking is "how do you mail or contact your customers?" Or do you just want to "churn and burn" - keep wasting money on getting new customers only to have to replace them in a few months. To get to the point, every business (repair shop) will have a loss in customers. Let's face it, some move away; change jobs; buy new cars and some even die. But the BIGGEST reason customers leave your business is "indifference". They think you don't care! So I can't speak to your specific requirements but from what you outlined, looks like you've got things "duct taped" together pretty well. That would be like my repair shop going across the street to borrow their floor jack to lift my car; and then driving down the street to borrow the other shop's oil filter wrench, just so you can do an oil chance on my car. You know - sort of "duct tape" it all together. Sorry if I'm being a smart a** - but your customer list is your most valued asset. After all, without customers you would be running a hobby. But once you go through the learning curve of getting a proper system up and running (because there WILL be a learning curve, I promise) , I'll bet that a good system set up well will prove to be worth the "weight". Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" More help? Join the conversation on YouTube @ Car Count Hackers

Sheesh! I was so excited when I saw this post title, figuring I was going to hear something new! But I know exactly what you mean. It was a common "objection" when I had my shop. ;-/ Of course this could be a real teaching moment... about answering objections and all that, but that would have been a long response. So after thinking about it a little longer, I figured the best thing you could have done would have been to make a "wine pairing" suggestion to go with the mouse! Just to be sure, when you're considering wine pairings, remember.... The wine should be more acidic than the food. The wine should be sweeter than the food. The wine should have the same flavor intensity as the food. Red wines pair best with bold flavored meats (e.g. red meat). White wines pair best with light-intensity meats (e.g. fish or chicken - guess when it comes to mice, okay?!?). Sometimes the response should be just as ridiculous. I would normally say "hope that helps" but today, I'm just going to leave it with I hope you got a chuckle! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" PS: Here's one of the latest videos: 14 Auto Repair Shop Marketing SECRETS! P.P.S.: This is 100 Years Old | Get More Car Count NOW!

You're right! No matter what people are doing (read that as pandemic or not), most are used to the "back to school" concept. Been around since time began. One of our users already ran this text message coupon with great results (the address has been redacted) but know that the customer can respond in 3 ways: 1) Complete a form when they scroll down (That emails direct to the shop owner's inbox) 2) One tap to text the shop back 3) One tap to call the shop directly from their text app. Works really well because it's a fact that digital coupons get a 10X better response over any other form of advertising. But don't forget, there's a ton of reasons to do promotions for your repair shop. In fact, I've got a list of 111 Reasons Repair Shop Owners can use to make offers! It's a totally free download and you're welcome to grab yours! Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" P.S.: Find out How one shop owner made an EXTRA $22,470 in the middle of a lockdown!

In today's economy, my choice would be finding the shop owner looking to retire or get out of the business. I understand your review of EBITDA, but if you can, go for the list. The money is ALWAYS in the list. Hope that helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" P.S.: How a shop owner generated an extra $22,470 in the middle of a lockdown!

Great points Joe! You’re correct on every one. I’ve only got two short points to make. One - I would move “Get your plan in place” to the top of the list because without a plan, you don’t know where you are or where you’re going. Secondly, I would be concerned about what I would call “collateral damage” that could take the wheels off the best laid plans. You made no mention of it - but I think it’s important. It’s the little issues like Stimulus money? Unemployment money? Is there going to be a mortgage crisis? Real Estate crisis? And those are just a few. When I look at the broader picture, I have to ask, "Will the car owners survive (financially) long enough for you to take advantage of all the opportunity?" All the 12 year old cars are great for service - if your customer still has the money left to pay for service. The truth of the matter is, yes, some will. The important part of that statement is the word “some”. So now, how important is each customer you have today? How important is the follow up with each of them? When I say “follow up”, I mean the little things like a meaningful thank you; getting a good customer review; getting customer referrals; sending out simple oil change reminders; sending out “bounce back” coupons just so you have a shot at getting them back in the door! So you’re correct about the opportunity. But, if half of the customers disappear, each one you have today just became TWICE AS VALUABLE. Sort of makes you want to download a customer list and organize a piece of mail, no? Hope this helps. Matthew “The Car Count Fixer” P.S.: Join the conversation on YouTube at Car Count Hackers! See 'ya there!

You're right! It's NOT 1995! Getting the typical customer in the door 3 times a year can be a struggle - never mind 5 or 6! But with that said, it always was and still is about car count. Call it cars - call it customers - you need the "churn". Without actually having customers, you've got nothing to measure. Your entire post was a look at "what's going on" in your shop. Sure, you may be seeing a change in ARO - but because you've got the business, you've got something to compare to. That's why I was a little puzzled (by a recent post you made) about changing all the marketing you were doing - or eliminating some of it. I agree, we're in the middle of a pandemic and nobody has a playbook as to how this is going to work out - or what to do. Maybe this post should have been What are YOUR numbers? My issue always was that recession, depression or new competitors - you've got to keep up the grind. Not saying that you don't make changes - but you've got to stay in touch. Then - the key - which is what you've already proven is- you're got to track it. You're watching your numbers. At least you have the details and information to make good decisions. I can't tell you the shop owners I talk to that can't tell me their ARO, how many "real" customers in their database (no, the 9,000 people are just names and addresses) - or even access their customer list to do mailing or anything. So you can argue cars or customers. It doesn't matter - It's all about MEASURING. Unless you're MEASURING what you're doing - where things are going - and making decisions on the numbers, cars, customers or covid doesn't matter. Running a repair shop isn't a "what I feel like doing" type of business, but I still get surprised! Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" P.S.: Join the conversation at YouTube at Car Count Hackers

Welcome! Thought it would be a good conversation to understand how your shop is doing through the COVID-19 pandemic. Thought the best way to get a grip on it all would be to get your response to these 3 questions. 1- How was your shop doing in early March - pre-pandemic? Were your numbers better, worse or about the same as last year. 2- What’s the biggest challenge you faced when the pandemic spread? 3- What’s your forecast for your shop moving forward? Is business getting better? About the same - like nothing has happened? Or are you struggling to get customers through the door? Look forward to hearing your BEFORE-DURING-AND AFTER to understand where the industry is at. Hope this generates a better “picture” of what’s going on. Matthew “The Car Count Fixer” P.S.: Join my on YouTube at Car Count Hackers Grabbed this shot of a crazy 68 Camaro (with wild Mickey Thompsons!) at a car show last week! Thought I would share it to help you remember "where we came from!" - Enjoy!

I agree 100%! Masks are a pain; they're uncomfortable; they make my sunglasses fog up; and they're a real pain in the heat! Then I stop and think - how uncomfortable would it be to be on a respirator? Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" P.S.: Join me live on chat as I premiere this video - This TOTALLY NEW and NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE! (No, I'm not selling anything!)

Joe, funny you say that. Just as an aside... I really don't think you ELIMINATED expenses as much as re-assigned them. Most shop owners forget about the little things like the follow up - and it really does help! In fact, I still get comments about a strategy I've been teaching for years - and that's just using simple "thank you" cards (no, not "billboard" type postcards that are nothing more than shameless advertising - I mean simple (cheap) thank you cards. This video continues to get view and comments! In addition, shop owners have had a lot of success just telling people what to expect when they visit! I know, YOU know you're open - but do your customer? Here's a simple way to remove the confusion before they visit! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" P.S.: Join me on Monday when I Premier this VIDEO - This is BRAND NEW

Hey, thanks for stopping by. Join me Monday, July 20th as I premier this video - How to Make Your Offers IRRESISTIBLE! I'll be live on the chat to answer any questions! See you there! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer"

Can you really get the car count you need in the middle of a COVID-19 LOCKDOWN? I wanted to share exactly what one shop owner did. I include the exact email he sent me that details HIS NUMBERS - and then show you exactly what he did - and even how much it cost him. Let me know if you have any questions. Hope this helps! Matthew “The Car Count Fixer” P.S.: Get 100% FREE & UNLIMITED ACCESS to your own Private Text Number on the GO-MO Dashboard!

Here's 14 Secrets that virtually guarantee car count - in ANY Economy! Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer"

With all due respect, I think we'll be lucky if this only goes on for two more weeks. From what I'm hearing from various sources is that it could easily go on until the end of June... and some say that's in a "best case scenario". I said it before, but if you're the type of shop owner that complained about buying fire insurance and are now trying to get insurance while your house is on fire, you may not survive the new economy. (Sorry to rain on anyone's parade, but right now, there isn't any sugar to make the medicine go down easier). ;-/ Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer" P.S.: Join me on this brand new training - How to Protect Your Repair Shop and Prosper

Agreed! The issue that I'm seeing more and more of is best wrapped up by saying that are so many shop owners "trying to buy fire insurance when the house is on fire!" Really?!? At no other time would you want to be a month too early then a day too late! In so many that I talk with, they're (almost) too late. With that said, it's not about getting car count today. Sure, there are repairs out there that need to be completed - and there's safe ways to make that happen. But the reality is that it's about maintaining the car count you've had so it comes back to you when this blows over. Right now, it's about communicating with customers. Yes, tell them you're open (if you are) and the steps you're taking to make it safe. Remember, those car owners have busy lives that are interrupted. But they still need to get out to get groceries, medications and other things. It's time the repair shop market step up to the plate and communicate with their customers. And for a majority of shops who haven't looked at their customer list for years... thinking that they're all customers (not just names, ha!) they could find themselves being a day to late. I just released this brand new training about 3 things shop owners need to do right now to not only protect their business, but prosper in the future.... because if you haven't noticed, we ARE in a new economy. Hope this helps! Matthew "The Car Count Fixer"