Flat Rate vs Hourly-Bonus Hybrid Pay Plans [THA 157]

The Panel: Jeff Matt from Victory Auto Service in Minneapolis and St. Petersburg, FLA, was featured in episode 48. Jeff owns six locations with one being in Florida. He has over 40 team members and has grown through acquisition. Jeff opened Victory in 1997 as a one-bay shop and has slow steady growth over the years.…

Don’t Get Over-focused on KPI’s Without Putting the Customer at The Center [RR 505]

Ken Criste is the Chief Financial Officer of the Australian Bank division of National Australia Bank. In addition to this fulltime role, Ken is a passionate car owner and collector and has a 50% equity ownership in an Independent BMW & MINI workshop in Melbourne Australia “BM Performance Centre”. This ownership with Mark Higgins blends his…

Steve Finzel – Too Many Fluids [FTR 082]

Steve Finzel, Finzel’s Master Tech, Terre Haute, IN is not a happy camper as it relates to transmission fluid. You may just relate to his rant or maybe even offer some advice. Listen to the frustration Steve has over transmission fluids. Find Steve’s previous episodes HERE. Talking Points So many transmission fluids Low viscosity and…

Brian Sump – Never Let Your Foot Off The Pedal [FTR 081]

FTR 081 Brian Sump – Never Let Your Foot Off The Pedal Multi-shop operator Brian Sump from Avalon Motorsports and Ubran AutoCare brings a whole lot of passion to this episode as he shares some self-reflection on a rocky time he experienced and what he learned. He says that you’ve got to review what works…

Cash is King and Important to Your Business [THA 154]

Bob Greenwood, AMAM (Accredited Master Automotive Manager) is President and C.E.O. of Automotive Aftermarket E-Learning Centre Ltd. (AAEC). AAEC is a company focused on providing Business Management Resources and Development for the Independent Sector of the aftermarket industry. AAEC content and technology is recognized as part of the curriculum of the Fixed Operations Diploma and the…

Bonus Episode 2 – Little Effort – Big Benefit

Just a few minutes of your time. Some important one on one time because I believe you’ve missed some excellent shows we’ve produced for you. Please subscribe to the Town Hall Academy and For The Record podcasts on your listening app. These shows have been separated from the Remarkable Results subscription. So you don’t miss these…

What Worked – What Didn’t – Success Has Its Ups and Downs [RR 500]

I want to thank the thousands of listeners who make our purpose meaningful. We do it for you. To the sponsors of the podcasts over the years. THANK YOU. Guests for the 500th Episode Amy Mattinat is the owner and manager of Auto Craftsmen in Montpelier, VT. Her shop is an ASE Blue Seal Shop, AAA…

Matt Fanslow – Kobayashi Maru – Lessons From Star Trek [FTR 77]

Matt Fanslow is the diagnostic tech/shop manager at Riverside Automotive in Red Wing, MN. His primary responsibilities are to diagnose driveability and electrical/electronic issues, and perform most all programming, coding, initializing, adoptions, etc. Basically, if it needs to be figured out or has wires, it goes to Matt. He’s been a tech since 1996. Matt is also…

THA 150: Three Financial Challenges – Coaches Perspective

David Justice has been an auto care professional for over 30 years. He grew up in the family business working for his father. At, a young age David purchased his father’s business and went on his own. Over the years David had multiple Shell Gas stations. Find David’s other episodes HERE. Cecil Bullard is President of the Institute for…

RR 493: Do More of 2020 – Goals – Standards

RR 493 Do More in 2020

Since 2020 is on our doorstep you may just write down a few thoughts that get sparked by this discussion. The whole idea here is to share this with you so you can work toward greatness. If you are successful, I know you work at it and strive to get better each day. I also know your fuel comes from learning new things and inspiration from others.

This discussion originated as a CarmCast broadcast live on my Facebook Page. I thought it so good I wanted to share on Remarkable Results Radio My panel is Tom Palermo from Preferred Automotive Specialists and Danny Sanchez from AutoShop Solutions. I asked ‘What are you going to more of in 2020?’ The result was so good that I wanted to share their insights with a much larger audience, hence releasing it here as an RRR podcast.

RR 492: YouTube – Benefit or Burden Part 2

RR 492: Youtube – Benefit or Burden Part 2

Welcome to the second installment of Youtube: Benefit or Burden Part 2. As you go through this episode you’ll discover the stimulus for this discussion. There are many passionate people on both sides of the value of YouTube as it relates to auto repair.

The episode’s expert guests include: Paul Danner, ‘Scanner Danner’ fame, Brin Kline, shop owner and member of Trained By Techs, Shop owner and Technician Michael Broccolo, from Rochester, NY Sara Fraser from Hass Performance Consulting and Matt Fanslow shop manager and lead diagnostician Riverside Automotive.

You’ll hear some sparks fly as the passion for training and quality diagnosis was front and center. The debate over the words diagnostic vs testing was prominent and the real facts that many shops are not really diagnosing they are retrieving a fault code and using statistical diagnostics therefore shooting the parts cannon and in many cases not doing right by the customer.

THA 149: Top Financial Challenges to Overcome – Shop Owner Perspective

THA 149Top Financial Challenges to Overcome- An Owners Perspective

We’re serving up a strong discussion on Financial Challenges with me are shop owners John Long, Schertz Automotive, Schertz, TX, Tom Ham, Auto Centric, Grand Rapids, MI and Andy Massoll, Detroit Garage, Farmington, MI

You may not be surprised as to the big take-a-way from this episode. It is only logical and will have a huge impact on your business immediately. The panel agrees that your family needs to be on board with any financial decision you make in the business. You’ll get advice on what to do if you get into financial trouble, also the power of sharing your financial status with your team and if you are in financial trouble, you are not alone.

THA 147: Overcoming Debt

THA 147 Overcoming Debt

A big problem for many service professionals is learning how to manage cash flow. The cash in the bank isn’t there for spending. It is generated by sales and the gross margin dollars that are earned on those sales is used to pay expenses. The remainder is profit. If cash is spent before allocations then it is very difficult to pay obligations. In many instances, loans are taken to pay bills and overspending stresses the business and the owner.

The panel for this Town Hall Academy includes Kim Walker from Shop Marketing Pros and former shop owner, AJ Nealey from Nealey Auto Service, Edgewater, MD and Tom Lambert owner of Shadetree Automotive. They each have a story on how to manage or eradicate debt, grow sales and scrutinize expenses. Knowing your financial states including Profit or Loss Statement and most importantly your Balance Sheet will help. Knowing what your metrics or tolerances of spending and cash management will lessen your dependence on borrowing and putting your company in harm’s way.

THA 146: The Value of Twenty Groups

THA 146 – The Value of Twenty Groups

If you are a struggling shop, I’d like to introduce you to three shop owners who were in your position once. They climbed out to find great success. One of the tactics was to join a twenty group.

Keep in mind that so many struggling shops discovered the way out of their situation just in time before they closed the doors. Two of my guests are not bashful to say they were on the brink of failure.
With me on the Academy is: Judi Haglin, Haglin Automotive, Boulder, CO, Lisa Eckler, Foreign Car Specialists, Poughkeepsie, NY, John Eppstein, John’s Automotive Care, San Diego, CA and Keith Williamson, Williamson’s Repair and Tire, Bondurant, IA

Listen to this team as they point out that they didn’t know what they didn’t know and their discovery came by being with their industry colleagues in a twenty group. Many in the group have special strengths, will hold you accountable and can provide you a different view of your pathway to remarkable results than you ever thought of yourself.

THA 145: The Extreme Value of Shop Tours Part 2

THA 145 Shop Tour Part 2

This is our second year in a row to visit a shop in Las Vegas at the end of Industry Week. We were welcomed with open arms at Ted Wien’s Tire and Auto. Our gracious host Jennifer Wiens not only shared her thoughts on the episode but presented a great tour of her facility.

Remember shop tours go both ways. It is good to take them, but also important to host them. You can learn from both. Be open, honest and constructive and benefit from the investment of your time to learn from your peers.

You’ll learn the value of shop tours from these guests,

Our host, Jennifer Wien, Ted Wiens Tire and Auto, Host, Las Vegas, NV
John Long, Shertz Automotive, Shertz, TX
David and Jeanie Light
Eric and Jammie Carlson, Ervine’s Auto Repair and Grand Rapids Hybrid
Frank Scandura, Franks European, Las Vegas
Vic Tarasik, Shop Owner Coach

THA 144: Drug Testing in the New Age of Legalized Cannabis

THA 144 Drug Testing in the New Age of Legalized Cannabis

We are talking about Drug Testing in the New Age of Legalized Cannabis. You’ve got to pay attention to your HR policies and procedures as states continue to rule on medicinal cannabis, recreational Marijuana and the decriminalization of pot.

As drug testing is something shop owners do, what are the guidelines now with states legalizing Cannabis. What about an accident on a test drive. What type of tests are required? Have you talked to your liability insurance or workman’s comp carriers?

The panel does their best to sort this out and provide you with plenty to consider. I’m with Judy Zimmerman Walter, attorney Noah Frank, and Frank Scandura.

RR 481: David Saline – Start or Grow Your Fleet Business

RR 481: David Saline – Start or Grow Your Fleet Business

Fleet is a growth strategy only if you and your people and shop are equipped to take the challenge head-on. It is easy to start small. David shares how to break into a fleet and he gives you the blueprint on what to say and do on your first cold call visit. This episode sheds light on how to start, build and grow fleet business.

David Saline, VP Sales at Drive, is a proven industry leader in the automotive and truck repair business.

RR 471: Vin Waterhouse on Intensive Labor Rates & Financial Benchmarks

RR 471: Vin Waterhouse on Intensive Labor Rates and Financial Benchmarks

Are you aware that you are selling fewer parts? Do you understand that the hours of diagnostic work you do does not reflect the typical parts sales per hour that your financial business model has generated in the past?

So what you say. Ouch! The wrong attitude. You are bleeding to death and the math exists to prove it. You must pay attention to having an intensive or recovery labor rate. In this episode with legacy aftermarket coach and trainer, Vin Waterhouse, we get into the power and value of benchmarks and how to calculate a recovery labor rate.

If you are not happy with your net operating income (your bottom line) vs the hard work and time you spend at your business, then Vin may just help you formulate some next very important moves you need to make, so your financial strength improves.

Vin Waterhouse is President and Founder of The Waterhouse Group, an automotive Accounting, Training, and Coaching.

RR 468: Mitch Schneider – Misfire: What to Do When Things Aren’t Running on All Cylinders

Mitch Schneider – Legacy Industry Influencer.

You know Mitch Schneider. He is truly a legacy icon of our industry. He has dedicated his life to run a great shop for decades and at the same time write and speak to help our industry grow. There isn’t an issue that he hasn’t tackled where his reader could take his wisdom and improve themselves and their business.

One thing I wanted to know is how did it all start. If you are a Mitch Schneider fan or follower you may not know this story. You’ll hear how Mitch found his stride and passion for helping the industry by writing and speaking on industry challenges and solutions.

Coming up is a very transparent and personal discussion with Mitch in a way that you may have never heard before. He is also sharing with you his biggest challenge of his life and his extreme confidence in his total recovery. It is in nature to win.

RR 466: Mike Davidson – Compliance to Wage and Hour Rules for Aftermarket Professionals

RR 463: Mike Davidson – Wage and Hour Laws and Keeping Compliant

As you go through this episode you’ll understand the intricacies of getting your employee’s pay reflective of the department of labor laws. It is not as easy as you have come to manage.

Mike Davidson from Parkway Automotive in Little Rock, Arkansas, been in the industry for more than 30 years and a business owner for over 18. Mike Davidson is an AMI graduate, an ASE Master Technician, is a part-time Elite Worldwide coach and was recognized as the Arkansas NAPA/ASE tech of the year seven years in a row. Mike helped start the Little Rock chapter of ASA and is currently an officer.

Mike tells the story of why he wrote the book. He’s been a big contributor to his aftermarket peers and this book is another example of Mike’s tenacity to get it right.
There are a lot of things to take note of especially when you need to conform to the letter of the law both Federal and State as it relates to wage and hour.

This is no smoke and mirrors. I recall friends who got burned on paying bonuses and which employees qualified to be salary.

THA 136: Branch Growth Strategy

THA 136 Branch Growth Strategy

Here are two voices that have grown branch stores and they tell a story you need to hear. Find out if they were successful right out of the gate. What they learned as they continued to grow. The importance of people, processes, finances and how to they like to grow. Is it a brownfield, scratch startup or through acquisition.

Listen to Austin Miller from Tire Star with 3 stores who is only 29 years old and to aftermarket veteran Jeff Moore from Moore Tires with 5 stores. Jeff and Austin will tell you what they believe is the most important thing you need to do well before you decide to grow. They also get into the people factor and the importance and strength of your profitability before you ever decide to grow. Don’t make the same mistakes they did.

Growth in stores is an exciting strategy. It can be rewarding for all the right reasons and it could be the most costly and hardest thing you’ve ever done. My panel shares their reality for growth. Between them, they have eight stores.