Management Articles

One large stressor for many auto shop customers is how they will get where they need to be while their cars are being fixed. In much of America, it’s not possible to rely on public transportation to get back and forth to work or school. People don’t want to be stranded in the middle of the day without a way … Read More

Earlier this year auto industry experts warned that replacement parts were going to be harder to come by due to the coronavirus outbreak. They wanted dealerships and auto shops to be aware and prepare to explain service disruptions to customers. Coronavirus has interrupted both production of parts worldwide and shipping as well. This will throw another challenge at auto shops … Read More

In our last blog we talked about the effects of the Paycheck Protection Program and how it has allowed many auto shops to remain open and to continue to employ their staff. While this has been a lifesaver program for businesses, many shops are still struggling to pay their bills because their customer traffic has been drastically reduced due to … Read More

In our last blog we discussed how auto repair shops are coping with the new cleaning challenges resulting from the COVID-19 epidemic. Adding new responsibilities and expenses is never going to be a good thing for a business, especially a small one. As the lockdown wears on, though, it’s clear that some auto shops are struggling to remain open or … Read More

During the initial panic over the dangers the coronavirus posed, most people focused on basic survival issues. They worried about getting sick, raced to stock up on food, and dealt with the changes lockdowns and quarantines forced on their families and workplaces. Now that the first phase of the epidemic is over, we are all dealing with its secondary effects, … Read More

As people all over the world are trapped in their houses due to the spread of the coronavirus, our focus has primarily been on surviving today. We want to avoid getting sick, we’re concerned about how the shutdown will affect the economy and our personal finances, and we’re living with unique daily challenges. However, as the days pass, some are … Read More

There is a shortage of techs in the auto repair industry. This is undeniable. America needs good skilled workers to repair cars, and there aren’t enough of them. Previously we’ve discussed many reasons for why there is a shortage. This includes pay, benefits, tool expectations, and a host of other factors including training. One aspect of training that we haven’t … Read More

In a previous blog we discussed how auto techs’ purchasing of tools leads to increased stress levels within the industry. Many techs will go heavily into debt to purchase more tools in order to be able to be competitive and efficient in their jobs. How many tools they need to have is subject to debate, however, even among the techs … Read More

In discussing some of the stresses that auto techs must live with working in the auto repair industry, one topic that regularly comes up is tools. The issue of auto repair tools is complicated. While all auto techs must have tools in order to do their jobs, shops differ in what they require and what they provide in terms of … Read More

Does offering loaner cars to customers add value to an auto shop? This is a question that shop owners must decide for themselves, but we would love to have your input on our most recent poll: How many loaner (rental, courtesy) cars do you have per $100,000 in annual sales? Loaner Cars Relative to Sales There’s a little math involved … Read More

In our last blog, we discussed the problems shops that allow customers to supply their own parts have. There are always two sides to every story, however. Here we will talk about why some shops choose to do repairs using customer supplied auto parts and one possibility for making this practice work financially for the shop and the customer. The … Read More

Does your auto shop use customer supplied parts to complete their repairs? This topic can raise some eyebrows and tempers between customers and shop owners or techs, but there are good reasons for shops refusing to use aftermarket parts customers purchase elsewhere. Here we will go through those reasons and how to explain your shop’s policy to your customers. The … Read More

Are you planning on selling your auto shop at any time in the future? Not all auto repair shop owners plan on selling. Some of them intend to work in their shops until they can no longer work and then close the doors. Most owners would like to recover a large portion of the time, love, and sweat equity they’ve … Read More

How useful do you think ASE certification is? We’ve asked the question before, but it’s always good to review. For shop owners who do believe ASE certification is important for their techs, the other related question must be: How much do you invest in getting your techs ASE certified? Certification involves both time and money, and it has assumed benefits … Read More

In our last blog we discussed the need for lift safety training in all auto repair shops. It’s vitally important that all employees are familiar with automotive lifts, know how to use them correctly, and know how to safely work around them. It’s also critical for shop safety that the lifts work correctly and are in good operating condition at … Read More

Vehicle lifts are an important piece of equipment in auto repair shops. They’re used throughout the country and the world to raise and lower vehicles very effectively. Unfortunately, sometimes they are not well maintained, and not all employees are thoroughly trained in lift safety. These failures can and have led to thousands of accidents and injuries, and some deaths occur … Read More

Some kinds of repairs always come as a shock to car owners, no matter how long they’ve been driving, owning, or maintaining cars. While not all repairs are expensive, some are pricey enough that even people with good incomes and savings will blink. What does your auto shop do for customers who cannot afford the repairs they need at the … Read More