Profitable vs. Valuable: The Hard Truth About Selling Your Shop [RR 1072]

Becca Zanders, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, explains why most auto repair shop owners are unprepared for an exit—and how to change that. Only 20–30% of businesses that go to market actually sell, and nearly half of those sales are forced by the “Five Ds”: Death, Divorce, Disability, Disagreement, or Distress.

Becca introduces the Value Acceleration Methodology, which reframes exit planning into three stages: Discover the business’s true value and the owner’s readiness, Prepare the leader, finances, and organization to accelerate value, and Decide whether to grow or sell. A key distinction is the difference between a profitable lifestyle business and a business built for value.

The conversation stresses the importance of closing the “wealth gap,” as most owners underestimate retirement needs and have the majority of their net worth trapped in their business. Personal readiness is equally critical, with many sellers regretting the sale because they failed to define their purpose beyond ownership.

Advice to shop owners: build the right advisory team and start advancing your business today, long before a sale is forced.

Becca Zanders, https://www.d6elements.com/

remarkableresults.biz/e1072

Vehicle Service Experts: Resources, Strategy and Best Practices for Shops [THA 465]

Recorded live at AAPEX 2025, this episode features Tara Topel, the new president of Vehicle Service Experts (VSE), and Missy Stephens, Community Engagement Manager for the Auto Care Association.

The discussion highlights the rebranding of the Auto Care Association’s Car Care Professionals Network (CCPN) to VSE, reflecting the broader industry that includes heavy-duty vehicles.

 Key initiatives include:

Resource Hub: An online center covering topics from shop coaching to ADAS best practices.

Industry Relevance: Translating Auto Care market data into actionable insights for shop planning.

Best Practices: The VSE council, currently 10–12 members, aims to grow to 15–20, compiling guidance on apprenticeships, ADAS, and more.

The episode also covers the Right to Repair movement. The association needs real-world examples where shops lacked access to data or support, to counter Congress’s claims. Shop owners can submit stories via a QR code on the Auto Care website and are encouraged to share their experiences by hosting legislators.

Get involved, share your experiences, and take an active role in shaping the policies that affect your shop and the entire industry.

https://www.autocare.org/networking-and-development/communities/car-care-professionals-network

https://www.repairact.com/

remarkableresults.biz/a465

When Customers Ask AI First: What Shop Owners Need to Know [RR 1071]

Recorded live at AAPEX 2025, this episode features Dan Vance, CEO of Shop Dog Marketing, sharing how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping marketing, business strategy, and the auto repair industry. The conversation explores how AI is changing consumer behavior—from lightning fast website visits focused on trust signals to customers using AI for vehicle self-diagnosis and shop recommendations, with AI often presenting only a few options, strong branding and clear communication matter more than ever.

In the marketing sphere, Vance explains that attention spans are incredibly short. Website visitors typically spend just 20 seconds looking for clear trust indicators such as professionalism, strong reviews, warranties, online scheduling, and financing options. Visual cues communicate faster than text, while warm colors and photos of the team help build familiarity and trust. Online scheduling continues to grow in importance as many consumers prefer it over making a phone call.

Vance encourages shop owners to embrace AI as a “digital butler”—a tool that anticipates needs, explains marketing metrics in plain language, and helps owners show up more confident, shifting from reacting to problems to intentionally driving growth.

remarkableresults.biz/e1071

The Aussie Connection: US and Australian Auto Repair Face Parallel Challenges [THA 464]

Recorded live at AAPEX 2025, this episode brings together leaders from Australia’s JAX Tyres & Auto to show just how closely the Australian automotive aftermarket mirrors the U.S. market. Featuring CEO Steve Grossrieder, franchise owner Dan Spiteri, future franchisee Will Attard, and Autoflow’s Chris Cloutier and Craig O’Neill, the conversation underscores shared global challenges—most notably the technician shortage—and the reassurance that the industry is moving along a parallel path worldwide.

Rather than chasing quick fixes, the discussion centers on culture-driven solutions: expanding diversity, building clear career paths and succession plans, and advocating for the industry at the grassroots level. JAX’s customer-first mindset is a recurring theme, with every team member accountable for the client experience and a strong emphasis on clear communication to help customers understand emerging technologies like ADAS.

With just under 100 stores, JAX avoids multi-franchise ownership, instead holding each franchisee accountable for the customer experience in their territory. The key takeaway is clear: in both Australia and the U.S., long-term aftermarket success depends on investing in people, strengthening culture, and maintaining an unwavering commitment to the customer.

remarkableresults.biz/a464

The Level Testing Sales Amplifier: A Tiered System for Auto Repair Diagnostics [RR 1070]

Eric Svedberg breaks down a smarter, more profitable way to price diagnostic work—what he calls the Level Testing Sales Amplifier. At its core, the system tackles a problem most repair shops quietly accept: testing is often a loss leader. When technicians are tied up diagnosing complex issues, shops miss out on parts sales. A-level technicians can earn less than their B-level counterparts doing routine work, and the rising cost of software and tools goes unpaid.

Svedberg reframes the conversation by using the word “testing” instead of “diagnostics,” a term he believes is clearer and more intuitive for customers. Testing implies a process, not a guarantee—setting expectations from the start.

The Level Testing system uses a tiered structure tied to the shop’s base labor rate:

Level One – Basic Testing: Single, constant, duplicable issues (like a check engine light that’s always on).

Level Two – Intermediate Testing: Multiple concerns or intermittent problems.

Level Three – Pandora’s Box: Highly complex vehicles, often previously misdiagnosed or unsuccessfully repaired elsewhere.

Level Four – “Grandmother Rate”: Disaster cars involving severe electrical damage, corrosion, or major disassembly.

While the levels are designed as an internal framework, Svedberg finds transparency with customers increases trust and buy-in. Service advisors are coached to remove Level Three from most conversations upfront, steer customers toward Level Two testing as the norm, and clearly explain that testing fees are for time spent—not credited toward repairs. For true Level Three cases, advisors frame the value honestly: if it were simple, another shop would have already fixed it.

Svedberg emphasizes that the system is easy to train and implement—often within a week—by focusing on quick wins with top advisors. Its simplicity improves communication, closes the tech efficiency gap, and can be applied beyond diagnostics to services like module programming and ADAS calibration.

Every decision, he says, must pass the test: Is it good for the car? Good for the customer? Good for the shop?

remarkableresults.biz/e1070

The Power of ASE Certification: 40% Better Productivity and 60% Fewer Comebacks [THA 463]

Recorded live at AAPEX 2025, ASE President Dave Johnson and AAPEX Shop of the Year winner Tom Palermo discuss the value, impact, and future of ASE certification. A major highlight: the U.S. Secret Service joined ASE on the AAPEX show floor, promoting technician careers and showcasing armored vehicles. Johnson notes that the Secret Service requires ASE certification for maintenance roles—proof that if it’s “good enough for the president’s car,” it matters for the whole industry.

Key topics include ASE’s updated test content based on real shop feedback, powerful data showing certification improves productivity and reduces comebacks and attrition, and the ongoing challenge of boosting consumer awareness. They also discuss increasing industry requirements for ASE, new certification efforts for Vehicle Security Specialists, and the continued push for professionalism in today’s high-tech automotive field.

remarkableresults.biz/a463

The Future of Automotive Services: Diversify or Get Left Behind [RR 1069]

Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, we explore the rise of the automotive specialist and why the industry needs a language shift—calling instructors “educators” instead of “trainers” to reflect the complex, continuing education modern technicians require. 

We also dive into the mobile diagnostics and repair market, discussing strategies for growth, high-complexity work, and the investments needed to compete. Looking ahead, the industry faces a technological turning point by 2030, with new vehicle architectures and ADAS calibration requirements threatening shops that fail to keep up.

The episode closes by emphasizing the power of networking, connecting with peers, and staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.

remarkableresults.biz/e1069

Finding Joy in Your Business Again: The Shop Owner’s Comeback Story [THA 462]

Shop owners, are you feeling burned out or stuck in the grind? This episode is for you. Shop owners Jimmy Alauria and Dave Kusa dive into how to pause, reflect, and reignite your passion for the business you built.

Key takeaways:

Think Bigger: Grow your business beyond what you can manage alone—empower your team and expand your vision.

Evolve as a Leader: Stop being just a manager—step into the CEO role and watch your business thrive.

Culture Matters: Set the tone, share your dream, and build a positive environment your team can rally around.

Delegate & Recharge: Offload the hats you wear, hire strategically, and take time off to see the big picture.

Balance Family & Business: Set boundaries to protect both your shop and your relationships.

The truth? Falling in love with your business again starts with falling in love with your ability to lead it.
remarkableresults.biz/a462

The Value of Diverse Training at ASTA 2025: From Finance to Mental Health [RR 1068]

Recorded Live at ASTA 2025, Ryan Ragan, Executive Director of ASTA, discusses the explosive growth of the event, Ragan’s long-term vision, the wildly creative opening-night party, and the industry-wide push to elevate professional language in the automotive field.

Episode Highlights

Record-Breaking Growth:
ASTA 2025 moved to a larger venue and saw a 34–35% increase in registrations, reaching four-digit attendance. Ragan restructured the expo for better vendor ROI, including a shop-owner-only show-floor window on opening night. His biggest hurdle wasn’t logistics—it was convincing people that such a massive upgrade was even possible on a tight timeline. The payoff came when an attendee told him the show felt like the “SEMA of the East.”

“Out of This World” Theme:
ASTA’s first themed expo featured an alien-inspired opening night with a mechanical bull, giant dartboard, sumo matches (announced by Carm), and 10-ft champagne-serving aliens.

Education & Professionalism:
Ragan stressed the importance of ongoing training in an era where cars are “rolling computers.”
A major topic: shifting industry language—embracing titles like mechanical specialist to elevate professionalism and attract new talent.

Ragan hopes every attendee left with three things:

New knowledge to solve future shop challenges

A fun memory to brighten tough days

A new connection they can call for advice

remarkableresults.biz/e1068