Notes for a busier shop
Practical guides for auto repair shop owners: answering every call, filling your bays, getting estimates approved, getting paid faster and earning more reviews.
Guides
Right to Repair for Independent Repair Shops (2026)
Where automotive right to repair stands in October 2026 for independent shops: the 2014 MOU, Massachusetts' data law, Maine's new commission, the …
Guides
Mechanics Lien in Auto Repair: A Shop Owner's Guide
The legal basics of the mechanic's (garage keeper's) lien: what it covers, when you can hold a car, how the lien is …
Guides
Auto Repair Shop Storage Fees: Rules and Rates
How much a mechanic can charge for storage, when it can start, where to disclose it, and what California, Florida and Rhode …
Guides
Abandoned Vehicle at a Repair Shop: What to Do
What to do when a customer won't pick up a car from your shop: the paper trail, contact attempts, when storage starts, …
Guides
Auto Repair Shop Workflow: Check-In to Pickup
A stage-by-stage auto repair shop workflow from appointment to follow-up, with an owner for each stage, handoff rules, key control, a cycle-time …
Guides
How to Price a Brake Job: A Guide for Repair Shops
A method for pricing brake jobs: labor, parts at your matrix, resurface or replace by spec, honest add-ons, three-option estimates and what …
Guides
How Much Should a Shop Charge for an Oil Change?
Oil change pricing for independent shops: a cost build-up, loss leader vs profit center, a tiered price list, published reference prices and …
Guides
Parts Markup Matrix for Auto Repair: Build and Check It
How a parts markup matrix works, the margin and markup math, an example matrix, how to check your real parts margin, and …
Guides
Auto Repair Shop Profit Margin: What Shops Really Make
Gross vs net profit for an auto repair shop, what the average shop brings in, an example P&L built from 2026 benchmarks, …
Guides
Auto Repair Invoice Template: What Must Be on It
A complete auto repair invoice template with worked numbers, and the items state laws require: itemized labor and parts, new or used …