Shop Operations

If you’ve been a shop owner for any length of time, you’ve more than likely been exposed to, or employed by, a prima donna. According to the dictionary definition, a prima donna is “a very temperamental person with an inflated view of their own talent or importance.” If that sounds like someone who works at your shop, this may very well be the perfect article for you.

Before you start giving raises to your auto shop employees based on tenure alone, consider this: outside of raises that are based on an increase in the cost of living, all raises should be commensurate to the productivity of the employee.

Many people have tried to define sales over the years. After much reflection on my own experience, I’ve decided to redefine the modern day definition of sales. Simply put, sales is, “The conveying of meaningful information to encourage a buying decision.”

I have found over the years that despite all their good intentions, there are 5 mistakes that most shop owners make, not just sometimes, but every single day. The first mistake comes the very moment they walk through their door.

As small business owners, we rarely have anyone who works with us who is capable of holding us accountable for our words, our actions or our promises. I’d highly recommend finding a coach, or at least someone who can hold you accountable and who you can bounce ideas off of, so that you’re not all alone at the top of your company.

For many people in the United States, winter means hot chocolate and warm fires. But it also inevitably means colder temperatures, snow and ice, which can pose significant risks to your automotive business. That’s why it’s important to prepare your business for winter to help protect against potential property damage and liability claims.

Whether you are nearing retirement or have decades left, there’s no time like the present to begin forming your exit strategy. Knowing well in advance what it is you plan to do with your business when you retire will help you get the business in top shape to garner a high selling price as well as minimize the tax impact of passing the shop to family members. It also ensures you’re prepared in the event of a health emergency, should one unfortunately arise.

On Dec. 1, 2016, about 4.2 million exempt employees in the United States will become non-exempt. And some of those employees probably work for you.

Every shop owner has a number of important responsibilities. First and foremost, they are responsible for setting the goals of their company and hiring the right people. They are also responsible for creating the overall business plan, managing employees and ensuring the success of the business. But there’s another major responsibility that every shop owner has that isn’t as tangible: Bringing ethics into every decision the company makes.

If you what to sell more service, drive up employee morale and productivity, and see higher profits, then this is one article you may want to read. I realize that I just made a pretty substantial claim, but I sense that by the time you finish this article, you will agree.

Always take time to ensure that your customer understands everything on the invoice. Re-sell the service you provided and make certain they have no questions before leaving your shop.

The fire marshal came into our shop one day out of the blue and told us we had a problem. The back of the shop was too wide open, he said, and if a fire started, it would quickly spread across the entire building. And just like that, they made us put up a wall right through the middle of the shop.