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A favorite of many members – short, to-the-point management tips. New tips are added regularly. Premium Membership is required for access.

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#41 Act Like You Want It!

Sometimes we get mixed up in our sales approach. We really want that job we are being asked about, but we don’t want to sound like we are desperate or...

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August 21, 2008

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#40 Hey! Cut That Out!

Some of us have a very bad habit. We figure out what we need to do to hit our GP (gross profit) targets. So, we adjust the numbers accordingly in...

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August 21, 2008

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#39 Is Your Annual Budget Done Yet?

If you are the typical shop owner the answer is: “Budget? What budget?” What would you call someone who will spend a quarter million, a half million, one million or...

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August 21, 2008

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#38 Just Stick It!

Right under the hood, that is. Way back in the good old days it was common for shops to place stickers in the engine area, usually on the air cleaner...

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August 21, 2008

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#37 Calling All Customers!

There are telemarketers and there are businesses who call their customers. You should be the latter and should be doing it often. Is their oil change due next week? Call...

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August 21, 2008

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#36 Is Your Pricing Competitive?

Maybe it is. But that is not enough today. You must also appear competitive and that is a totally different issue. Does it matter what the shop up the street...

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August 21, 2008

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#35 Customer Friendly Shop Supplies

You used them on the job, so it would seem reasonable that you charge for them. But adding a generic line to the bottom of the bill is no different...

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August 21, 2008

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#34 Are You Offering Factory PM on Every Car?

While it may seem to be an obvious thing to do many shops still do not consistently check for which factory maintenance items are currently due on every car in...

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August 21, 2008

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#33 When Should You Send Those Reminders?

There is certainly no rule that says you must send all recommendation follow up letters at the same time interval for every customer and vehicle. If they just spent a...

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August 21, 2008

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#32 What’s Your Specialty?

Do you even have one? Maybe you should. It could be a type of service, or one or two vehicle makes. Look around your town. Very few businesses operate today...

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August 21, 2008

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#31 Ten Labor Rates Made Simple

While most management software systems have provided for multiple rates for years many shops still use one or two rates. Here is a simple way to get ten rates. Designate...

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August 21, 2008

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#30 Take a Look at it for Free?

Maybe you should. Is your day a bit short of full? Is there a tech available for a few minutes? A free quick look can be a powerful marketing tool...

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August 21, 2008

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#29 Prioritizing Your Work Day

Five estimates to write, seven calls to make, a dozen parts to order and three techs screaming because they are stuck. Who will you handle next? Probably the most demanding...

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August 21, 2008

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#28 Reducing Direct Mail Marketing Costs

Mailing to your data base can be very expensive, especially if you do it often. How carefully do you look at who you are mailing to? In the typical shop...

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August 21, 2008

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#27 Daily Goals?

Does every tech and service advisor at your shop know exactly what their daily goals are? Hours for each tech? Sales for each advisor? It is difficult to hit a...

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August 21, 2008

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#26 You Catch What You Fish For!

If you are not thrilled with many of the new customers wandering through your front door, ask yourself what you are doing to attract them. Is it your marketing? Your...

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August 21, 2008

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#25 Increase Your Winter Income A Bunch!

While waste oil furnaces have been around for years, many shops which spend a lot on heating still do not have one. For the typical shop it is far easier...

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August 21, 2008

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#24 We Sure Have To Spend A Lot On Uniforms!

Or, do we? Calculate your cost of uniforms for the next five years. Probably a lot of money! How much would it cost you to purchase uniforms, a good washer...

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August 21, 2008

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#23 Why Don’t Our Courtesy Inspections Get Results?

Often the answer is because they are treated as an afterthought. Separate them from the other services the car is receiving. Perform courtesy inspections on every car first thing in...

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August 21, 2008

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#22 Too Much Time Putting Out Fires!

The typical shop owner spends way too much time putting out fires. Many of these are very preventable. When the next fire occurs make a few notes and create a...

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August 21, 2008

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#21 Who Is In Charge Back There?

It can be very difficult for a service advisor to exchange information with several different techs. Consider funneling that information through one person in the shop by creating a shop...

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August 21, 2008

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#20 Checklists! Checklists! Checklists!

“If it isn’t written it didn’t happen!” is what they say. While some shy away from checklists for everything, far more shops utilize too few checklists as opposed to too...

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August 21, 2008

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#19 But, How Much Did You NOT Sell?

Of course all shops track what they sell. But how many track what they didn’t sell? This is very critical and should be tracked carefully in every shop. Simply note...

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August 21, 2008

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#18 Get Those Emails!

If you have not started yet, it’s time to get going. Email is fast becoming the way to market and communicate. There are many creative ways to gather emails, but...

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August 21, 2008

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#17 Ten Items to Include On Your Web Site

Keep it simple and practical. Include the following: Night drop form, prices for common services, current special, pictures of the staff, request an estimate form, appointment form, brief list of...

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August 21, 2008

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