Key #17 – Non-techs vs. Techs Ratio

For this key number, we want to know the ratio of non-technicians to technicians.

Acme Auto has two full time technicians, a full-time manager (or owner who works at the shop full time), a full-time service advisor and a part time helper who takes care of maintenance at the facility and works about 20 hours per week.
So, they have 2.50 non-techs and 2.00 techs.
2.50 ÷ 2.00 = 1.25

So, our key number is 1.25:1.00

When looking at this number for a typical independent shop which is solidly profitable, this number will normally run between 0.75:1.00 and 1.25:1.00

Number of techs:
Number of employees who spend most of their time servicing vehicles in some manner including tire and lube techs. Count part time techs as the appropriate fractional number.

Example:
A tech who works 3 days in a shop that is open 5 days would be counted as 0.6.

Number of non-techs:
All employees who work at the shop, but do not fit the definition of a tech.