Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

Your technicians got more productive in 2025. Your labor rate went up. Your parts margins improved. So why is the average shop owner keeping almost exactly the same percentage of every dollar as they did the year before?

The answer is hiding in your effective labor rate — and most shop owners haven't looked at it once.

In this episode, Hunt Demarest breaks down the headline findings from Paar Melis & Associates' 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report — the largest study of its kind, built from more than 200 real shop locations across the country. From average repair order trends to technician productivity, overhead creep, benefits adoption, pay structure breakdowns, shop management software rankings, and the labor rate shame list nobody wants to be on, this is the financial state-of-the-industry episode you didn't know you needed. And it's only Part One.

What You’ll Learn

(00:00) Intro — the 2026 Benchmark Report is live and how to get your free copy

(03:16) Who made this report possible — methodology, participation, and what Paar Melis clients get that nobody else does

(05:30) How to read benchmark numbers without misleading yourself — context, outliers, and the ARO trap

(13:15) Sales are up 10-11% — but how much of that is real production vs. a labor rate increase you already gave yourself?

(16:20) Productivity jumped from 47% to 55% — so why didn't net profit follow?

(18:30) Effective labor rate: the silent margin killer hiding in plain sight in 2025

(27:30) Benefits adoption hits an all-time high: 73% of shops now offer health insurance

(29:30) Retirement plans, tool reimbursement, Trump Accounts, and the fringe benefits arms race

(30:45) Four-day work weeks and non-cash comp — how shops are winning the talent war without raising base pay

(34:30) Good management makes money, not good pay plans

(36:30) 83% of shops are doing digital vehicle inspections — Hunt thought it would be closer to 100%

(37:30) Shop management software rankings: Tekmetric at 56%, Mitchell likely on the way out, Shopware and Protractor tied for third

(40:30) The labor rate shame list — 11% of shops haven't raised their rate in 18 months or more

If you're ready to stop guessing where your numbers stand, start benchmarking against 200+ real shops across the country, and finally understand why doing more work doesn't always mean making more money — this episode is essential listening.

Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

What if the government — and a few well-known billionaires — were offering to deposit cash directly into an account for your child or grandchild, no strings attached, starting July 4th? Would you sign up?

In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down everything currently known about the newly announced Trump Accounts — officially called 530A plans — before they go live. Hunt cuts through the political noise to answer the only question that matters for shop owners and their families: is this worth your time, and how do you get your share of the free money on the table?

From the $1,000 Treasury Department seed deposit for children born between 2025 and 2028, to the $250 Dell family contribution available in qualifying zip codes, to how self-employed shop owners can structure employer contributions for a legitimate tax deduction — Hunt walks through what we know, what's still uncertain, and how these accounts stack up against the 529 plans and Roth IRAs you're probably already using.

Whether you're a shop owner with young kids, a grandparent looking for a smarter savings vehicle, or a business owner thinking about a new fringe benefit for your team — this episode is essential listening.

What You'll Learn...

(03:05) What a Trump Account actually is — and why the 530A plan isn't as new as it sounds

(06:02) The $1,000 government seed deposit — who qualifies and why Hunt says everyone eligible should sign up immediately

(09:07) Contribution limits, employer deductions, and the fringe benefit opportunity for your employees

(10:14) Withdrawal rules — why the money is locked until the child turns 18, and what it can be spent on

(11:15) Using a Trump Account to buy a first home or start a business — and the creative opportunities that creates

(12:27) The Dell family's $250 zip code contribution — why Hunt says don't risk missing it, just sign up

(17:14) Trump Accounts vs. 529 plans — the key differences that actually matter for your family

(19:45) Trump Accounts vs. Roth IRAs — the side-by-side comparison for shop owners who pay their kids through the business

(22:23) Hunt's honest take on what he's actually doing for his own kids — and why the employer deduction changes everything

If you're ready to stop letting politics get in the way of free money, understand exactly how these new accounts fit alongside the strategies you're already running, and find out whether July 4th is a deadline you actually need to worry about — this episode is essential listening.

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

Is your shop management system telling you one number while QuickBooks says something else entirely? Are parts credits going unclaimed? And if someone were quietly skimming off the top, would your current process ever actually catch it?

In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, sits down with Alex Saladna from Wicked File — the AI-powered back office reconciliation platform built for auto repair shops. From the employee who snuck through ceiling tiles to steal cash, to the eight-location shop that cut back office workload by fifty percent overnight, Hunt and Alex break down what's leaking out of your business, why your team can't catch it manually, and how technology has made a once-unsolvable problem into a morning coffee routine.

Whether you're a single-location shop hemorrhaging credits you didn't know you were owed or a multi-location owner who's quietly accepted that being remote means accepting losses — this episode is essential listening.

What You'll Learn…

(03:01) What Wicked File actually does — and why the gap between your shop management system and your accounting software is exactly where the money disappears

(06:02) The #1 cause of theft is confidence — why 100% of owners who've been stolen from said it would never happen to them

(07:38) Theft stories from the field — Mission Impossible through the ceiling tiles and $2,000 a month in soda nobody ordered

(11:58) From 200 invoices to 20 — how 80–90% of parts reconciliation gets automated and what your team can do with the time back

(20:09) The 2–3% burn — at $1M in sales that's up to $30,000 walking out the door, and why most owners don't treat it that way

(22:36) Why treating your financials as a final score is costing you — and what watching your business like game film actually looks like

(28:19) Why the right employees will love this tool — and what resistance to it tells you about your culture

(35:16) Bad data makes bad decisions — why it all starts with clean numbers at the invoice level

If you're ready to stop assuming your vendor credits are being processed, understand why the confidence that "it doesn't happen here" is exactly what makes it happen here, and finally know what's actually leaking out of your back office before it becomes a six-figure problem — this episode is essential listening.

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

Is your advertising budget working for you, or quietly draining you? Are you paying a credit card processing premium you didn't even know existed? When did insurance stop being a routine expense and start becoming one of your biggest threats? And is that rent number on your P&L actually telling you the truth?

In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down the four overhead categories that show up most often in his firm's annual benchmark report — and the ones where shop owners are most likely throwing money away without realizing it. From the 3% advertising rule to why the cheapest insurance policy might be the most expensive decision you ever make, Hunt walks through real numbers, real client stories, and a framework for getting your overhead under control without kneejerk cost-cutting that tanks your business.

Whether you're a two-bay shop trying to understand your first P&L or a multi-location owner wondering why your margins keep shrinking despite steady revenue — this episode is essential listening.

What You'll Learn...

(02:45) The overhead mindset reset — why cutting costs isn't always the answer when profit is down

(04:38) How to benchmark without lying to yourself — why comparing the wrong shop misleads you

(05:52) The 3% advertising benchmark — what it means and when it actually matters

(08:40) The one overhead expense where spending more makes it relatively cheaper

(11:34) Credit card fees decoded — the 2.5% benchmark and why your card mix matters more than your rate

(13:53) When paying more for integrated processing is the right call — and when it isn't

(20:25) Why insurance is a relationship, not a commodity — and the two-shop fire story every owner needs to hear

(24:09) The 6–9% rent rule — and why renting from yourself is distorting your numbers before you sell

If you're ready to stop confusing "reviewing overhead" with "cutting overhead," understand why a cheaper insurance policy could put you out of business faster than any slow month, and finally know what your rent is actually costing you before you try to sell — this episode is essential listening.

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

Are your PTO policies scaring off the technicians you actually want? Could a $100-a-week tool allowance or a reimbursed truck payment beat a $10,000 raise — and cost you less? In today's tight labor market, the shops winning top talent aren't always paying the most. They're being the smartest.

Recorded live at the Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo in Kansas City, Hunt Demarest sits down with Lisa Coyle and Sam Freeman from Promotive — the auto industry's leading recruiting firm — to break down the real reasons shops are losing candidates before the first interview ends. From outdated PTO structures to tone-deaf job ads, Lisa and Sam pull back the curtain on what technicians are actually looking for, what's working in 2026, and how shop owners can compete with Rivian, Tesla, and municipalities without blowing up their payroll. Whether you're running two bays or twenty, this episode is a field guide to building a shop people choose — and stay at.

What You'll Learn...

(03:03) PTO reality check — why one week after year one is a dealbreaker in 2026

(06:58) How flat-rate shops should actually calculate paid time off

(10:38) Why shops are their own worst enemy when it comes to hiring timelines

(14:37) The A-tech unicorn problem — and the better hire you're walking past

(15:44) The training model the industry has backwards — and the fix that grows your whole team

(16:39) Always be recruiting — why two weeks notice is not enough runway

(36:34) The 3-day interview rule and why speed is the only hiring strategy that matters

(40:22) Creative comp that wins top techs without blowing up payroll

(43:25) The fringe benefit rules every shop owner needs to know before getting creative

(51:37) Job hopping — tech problem or shop problem? The answer might surprise you

If you're ready to stop losing top techs to shops with smarter benefit packages, start competing with Tesla and Rivian on PTO without blowing up your payroll, and finally understand why the candidate who applied Sunday is already hired somewhere else by Thursday — this episode is essential listening.

VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo: https://visionkc.com/

Promotive: https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

You bought a slower machine to save money. You kept the cheap tech to avoid risk. You sent the customer home with the cheaper repair to do right by them. What if every one of those decisions quietly cost you more than the thing you were trying to avoid?

In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down three real conversations with auto repair shop owners — each one a different version of the same costly mistake: confusing what something costs with what it's actually worth. From a sluggish alignment rack to an underperforming technician to a parts decision that looked smart on paper and cost $45,000 in lost production, Hunt walks through the math behind each scenario with blunt clarity.

Whether you're staring down a lease payment you think you can't afford, debating whether to upgrade a technician, or choosing between a $4,000 and $6,000 parts ticket — this episode reframes how you look at time, labor, and money in a way that will change how you run your shop.

(00:00) Intro, sponsor roll, and the week's theme: time and money are inseparable

(02:53) Equipment: why a $2,500/month alignment rack lease would pay for itself

(10:12) The takeaway: time is the only thing auto shops are truly selling

(14:09) People: why spending $400 more on a better tech generated more profit

(21:08) Parts: the cheaper job that cost the shop $45,000 in lost production

(26:45) Buy once, cry once — quality in equipment, people, and parts always connects

If you've ever kept old equipment running to avoid the expense, convinced yourself that the cheap tech is better than no tech, or assumed you were doing a customer a favor by choosing the lower-cost repair — this episode is essential listening.

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

Are you leaving money on the table every time a parts price goes up — without ever realizing it? Most shop owners focus relentlessly on labor rates and rightfully so. But the slow, silent erosion happening inside your parts matrix may be quietly bleeding your gross profit month after month, even while your top-line sales are climbing. Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down exactly how inflation has shifted your parts pricing into lower-margin brackets — and how one shop owner's savvy negotiating deal actually cost him more than it saved.

This week, Hunt walks through two real-world case studies: the bracket-shift trap that moves your best-selling parts into lower markup tiers as prices rise, and a Midwest shop owner who locked in a 15% rebate from his parts vendor, watched his costs drop by $8,000, and still lost $13,000 in gross profit in a single month. Whether you've been selling parts for two years or twenty, this episode will change the way you look at your shop management software — and send you straight to your parts matrix to find out if it's still built for a world that no longer exists.

What You'll Learn...

(00:14) Intro, sponsor shoutouts, and what's on tap this week

(02:49) Why not raising your labor rate is actually a pay cut

(05:32) Rising parts costs: why higher prices usually mean more profit

(07:55) The bracket shift trap — how inflation quietly kills your parts margin

(15:28) How to audit your parts matrix and reset it for 2026

(20:10) The 15% rebate deal that cost one shop $13,000 in a single month

(25:08) The McDonald's rule — and why you should never pass savings to the customer

If you've ever assumed that rising parts costs are working in your favor, never thought to question whether your parts matrix still reflects the world you're actually operating in, and want to understand how one shop owner's smartest business move turned into a $13,000 loss — this episode is essential listening.

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

What if the biggest fraud threat to your shop isn't a dishonest employee or a shady vendor, but your own customers? What if the payment you accepted last week could be reversed today, and there's nothing the police will do about it? And what if four shops across the country just got hit with the same scam, and yours could be next?

In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down a wave of customer scams that hit shops from Colorado to Florida in a single week, all targeting one vulnerability most owners have completely overlooked. From a $15,000 BMW driven off without payment to a 28-tire credit card fraud scheme, Hunt unpacks the real math behind what a scam costs your shop, why theft of services is a civil issue the police won't touch, and how the shift to card-not-present payments has quietly handed fraudsters the upper hand. He covers chargebacks, payment types, extended warranty comebacks, and closes with a concrete action plan to lock down your process before it happens to you. Whether you're a seasoned shop owner who's never had a chargeback or someone who just got burned and isn't sure what went wrong, this episode is essential listening.

What You'll Learn...

(00:01) Intro, sponsor shoutouts, and what's on tap this week

(03:57) Why fraud is probably already happening at your shop

(07:13) One scam, three jobs: the real math behind what you lose

(10:52) No cash, no car — the cardinal rule of vehicle release

(11:53) Theft of services is civil, not criminal — why police won't help

(18:00) Venmo, Zelle, and credit cards: what's reversible and what isn't

(19:28) Card present vs. not present: the chargeback risk you're missing

(21:54) Real tire fraud stories and the after-hours pickup scheme

(28:53) The action plan: paperwork, signatures, and testing your team

If you're ready to stop trusting that your payment process is airtight, start recognizing the scams already targeting shops like yours, and finally understand why one lost chargeback costs you three jobs to recover — this episode is essential listening.

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

Every auto repair shop owner knows the feeling: a monster month followed by a stretch that barely covers the bills. But most owners assume they're doing something wrong. The truth? Even the best-run shops in the country don't make money every month of the year. In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis & Associates, pulls back the curtain on the real financial volatility hiding inside your shop's numbers and why understanding it is the first step toward building a business that doesn't run you.

Fresh off a financial strategy session with shop owners in Tucson, Arizona, Hunt breaks down the three controllable levers that separate proactive operators from reactive ones: labor, advertising, and inventory. Whether you're planning to scale, stabilize, or just stop getting blindsided by slow months, this episode gives you a practical, numbers-driven framework to get ahead of the curve, not just catch up to it.

What You'll Learn...

(3:15) Volatility is built in — even the best shops don't profit every month

(4:00) The flat-budget trap: why dividing last year's profit by 12 backfires

(5:10) Top shops profit 10 of 12 months — struggling shops maybe 4 to 6

(8:54) How weather, school calendars, and local economies drive your slow seasons

(10:30) Three questions that reveal if you're ahead of the curve or behind it

(16:13) Why a growth projection means you should already be hiring

(18:34) The 90-day ad rule: give your agency a goal, not just a budget

(21:28) Bloated shelves, surprise tax bills, and how to fix both

If you're ready to stop reacting to slow months, start planning ahead on labor and advertising, and finally understand why your shop's volatility isn't a problem you caused — this episode is essential listening.

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

What does the COO of the most widely adopted shop management software in the industry actually see when she looks at your data? In this episode, Hunt Demarest sits down with Lauren Langston, Chief Operating Officer of Tekmetric, for a candid, numbers-driven conversation about where the auto repair industry stands today — and where it's heading fast.

Lauren brings a rare combination of investment banking, venture capital, and operating experience to one of the most trusted names in shop management software. She breaks down the four metrics that separate high-performing shops from the rest, explains why AI is coming to your dashboard in a very deliberate (and actually useful) way, and shares what private equity buyers look for when they're evaluating your business for acquisition.

If you run a shop and you're serious about your finances, this one is essential listening.

What You'll Learn…

(00:08) From startup to 70% market share: how Tekmetric got here

(04:52) Investment banking to auto repair: how Lauren landed at Tekmetric

(07:01) The trust gap: why auto repair has a customer confidence problem

(09:57) The four results behind every Tekmetric product decision

(12:23) TUG, adoption data, and support tickets: how Tekmetric listens

(18:49) Convenience, insights, and agents: Tekmetric's three-part AI roadmap

(21:19) Why cheaper code doesn't mean custom software

(26:45) PE, consolidation, and the jump from 20 shops to 50

(29:36)150 cars. $550 ARO. The benchmarks — and what top shops do instead

(31:19) Why skipping DVIs puts you in the order-taking business

(34:27) The 80/20 problem: working on the business vs. in it

(36:43)The MSO Suite: the bird's-eye view for multi-location owners

(39:19) Tectonic: Tekmetric's first conference — built for techs and advisors too

If you're ready to stop flying blind on your KPIs, understand what your data is actually telling you, and see exactly where AI is taking shop management software — this episode is essential listening.

Tekmetric — tekmetric.com

Tectonic Conference (April 2025) — Visit Tekmetric's website for registration details

Tekmetric User Group (TUG) — Search "Tekmetric User Group" on Facebook

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our partner, WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners

You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: [email protected]

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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.