Auto Repair & Services
Labor rates, parts margins, and investing in the shop.
Written for auto
- 1
Your Shop's Effective Labor Rate and Parts Margin
Up nextFind the gap between the labor rate on your sign and what you actually collect, and price parts so they carry their share.
9 minEstablished - 2
Investing in Shop Equipment: Lifts, Diagnostics, and EV Readiness
Decide which equipment earns its keep, how to pay for it, and how to prepare your shop for hybrids, EVs, and ADAS calibration.
9 minEstablished Interactive tool - 3
Building Repeat Customers and Trust
Turn one-time repairs into long-term relationships with inspections customers can see, honest estimates, and easy follow-up.
7 minFoundations
Essentials
Core lessons auto owners rely on
Pricing for Profit: What to Charge
Three ways to set prices, how to make sure your own pay is built in, and the markup versus margin mix-up that quietly drains profit.
The True Cost of an Employee
Wages are only the start. Here is how taxes, insurance, benefits, and overhead add up.
The Small-Business Financing Map
Seven common ways to fund a small business, side by side, so you can match the money to the need.
Getting Found Online: Search, Reviews, and Social
Set up the free and low-cost basics that help local customers find you, trust you, and choose you.
Keeping Good People: Pay, Flexibility, and Culture
Practical, affordable ways to keep your best employees from walking out the door.
Retirement Planning for Business Owners
Why your business should not be your only retirement plan, and how Solo 401(k)s, SEPs, SIMPLEs, and pension-style plans let you save far more than an IRA.