• Survey shows Americans Find Comfort in Their Cars During Pandemic
• Survey on 70 shop owners: How will you get out?
• More new cars find more tech problems
• A vacation tax credit. What now?
• Shop Tour: Farmington Garage, MI with owner Andy Massoll
• Why keep a clean car
• Anniversary of Corvette Stingray today. 67 years ago first Stingray came off the assembly line

Andy Massoll second-generation owner from Curt’s service in Oak Park, Michigan was featured in episode 29. He and his dad Curt build their 15,000 sq ft dream shop in 2012 and you can hear about all the Green Capabilities of his shop in episode 29. His main location focuses on specialized services such as European, Asian, hybrid and fleet. Andy recently opened his first branch with a partner in a more rural setting. He and his partner Jim were consulting for the business but decided to buy it instead. He is also a member of CCPN and ASA. Andy’s previous episode HERE.

John Long started to gain more interest in vehicles and just after his 21^stbirthday he accepted a position working at National Tire & Battery as a service advisor.  He knew nothing about tires or vehicle systems and how they worked, but he learned as much as he could.

In 2005, John and his wife decided it was time for a move. He arrived in San Antonio late on a Friday night after driving 24 hours straight and interviewed with Mark Roberts on Saturday morning.  Mark hired John, and for the next several years he helped grow the new mechanical repair shop business. Listen to John’s previous episodes HERE.

Tom Ham, with the help of his wife Deb, is the creator and owner of Automotive Management Network a 12,000 plus member website dedicated to the exchange of vehicle service management information. Tom got his start in the auto service industry pumping gas in the late ’60s. Tom and his wife operate Auto Centric, an import specialty shop in Grand Rapids, MI. Tom and Deb have five children including two sons and a daughter who served in the Iraq War as U.S. Marines.  He writes extensively on industry topics.  Discover Tom’s previous episodes HERE.

Key Talking Points:

• Big take-a-way is Budgeting and the Profit First Strategy
• Create a budget on every category of the business and share it with your people. They need to know of the entire plans for revenue, margin, and costs in the business
  • A budget needs to be in-depth
  • A budget is not a saving plan but an earning and spending plan
  • Tom Ham: An oversimplified 25/25/25/25 budget plan. Simply put of your sales you can allow 25% for payroll, 25% Expenses, 25% for Parts, 25% for profit. 
• Dave Ramsey financial goals will help your people live within their income
• Long-range goal: Will the shop run without you.
  • Make the plan and work the plan
  • Set yourself up to succeed
• You should not get yourself into debt as you grow your business
• The family must be on the same page on how you spend money. What is your incoming and live within your means.
  • Spend less than what you take in both personal and business
• Money needs to be there for investment in technology, tools, equipment
  • Can’t spend what you don’t have
  • Must budget: set aside money for every aspect of the business
  • Monies/funds available must be earned through running a great business
• Andy and Tom are in a twenty-group. This really helped them focus and grow their business
• There are two different types of shop owners as it relates to increasing labor rates
  • One’s that will immediately change their labor rate
  • Other, will worry and labor over the decision
• Managing your profitability and running a successful business allows you to may a great wage to your team and keep them.
• Many techs turned business owners manage their business by what is in the bank.
  • The worse way to manage
• Andy suggests ‘reverse engineer’ your cash. Allocate taxes, payroll, profit and so on.
• The book Profit First will help. Find it HERE.
  • Podcast episodes on Profit First HERE.
• Rarely businesses will go out of business if they have high prices
• Never borrow to pay parts bill. This shows that your core fundamentals are broken.
  • Use debt to grow the business
• If you are in trouble paying your bills. Suggestions:
  • Find an accountability partner. Admit you need help. Can help you and give you guidance
  • Stop the bleeding. Not hard to find areas that are bleeding money
  • The family must be on boards (spouse)
• Learn to be uncomfortable as you learn. Get out of your comfort zone
• If you are struggling you are not alone
  • Ask for help
• Don’t let finances scare you, however, you must learn
  • Get educated, get help
  • Don’t just keep track of what you want, you must look at every performance indicator and find ways to improve them
•  Be content with where you are and also be aggressive in going forward.
  • If you are not content figure out what doesn’t make you content

Resources:

• A special thanks to Andy Massoll, Tom Ham, and John Long for their contribution to the aftermarket.
• Books Page HERE
• Leave me an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one of them.

Facebook   Twitter   Linked In   Email

Subscribe to a mobile listening app HERE

Thanks to Shop Ware and Jasper:

This episode is brought to you by Shop-Ware Shop Management. It’s time to run your business at its fullest potential with the industry’s leading technology. Shop-Ware Shop Management will increase your efficiency with lightning-fast workflows, help your staff capture more sales every day, and create very happy customers who promote your business. Shops running Shop-Ware have More Time and generate More Profit—join them! Schedule a free live demonstration and find out how 30 minutes can transform your shop at shop-ware.com

This episode is brought to you by Jasper Engines & Transmissions. When a car’s engine or transmission fails, it’s not the end of the road. A re-manufactured drive-train product from Jasper Engines & Transmissions will give your car a new lease on life. JASPER has over 2000 Associates, three manufacturing facilities, two distribution centers, and 45 branch offices across the country. They’re all working to produce, transport and deliver the perfect product. That’s what they do best… keep customers happy. Visit jasperengines.com

• Jose Bueso is partner in Dynamic Automotive in the Maryland Washing DC area. Along with partners Dwayne Myers and Lee Foreman they’ve have three locations, been a Motor Age top shop in 2014 is involved with the Auto Care Association, Car Care Professional Network. This partnership team was just recognized with a ‘Head Of The Class’ award from the Auto Care Association Education Committee for companies that continually invest in their employee education and training. Hear Jose and his partners, Dwayne and Lee in episodes 2 – 3 & 4.
• Andy Massoll second-generation owner from Curt’s service in Oak Park, Michigan was featured in episode 29. He and his dad Curt build their 15,000 sq ft dream shop in 2012 and you can hear about all the Green Capabilities of his shop in episode 29. His main location focuses on specialized services such as European, Asian, hybrid and fleet. Andy recently opened his first branch with a partner in a more rural setting. He and his partner Jim were consulting for the business but decided to buy it instead. He is also a member of CCPN and ASA.
• Jeff Matt from Victory Auto Service in Minneapolis and St. Petersburg was featured in episode 48. Jeff owns six locations with one being in Florida. Why would a Minnesotan have a branch in Florida??? (LOL). 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. His growth offers up a great view of multi-shop ownership.

Curt’s Service started out as so many shops did back in the day as a Sunoco Station. That was 34 years ago that Curt Massoll got the bug. Andy Massoll, second generation owner of Curt’s Service in Oak Park Michigan. Guest Andy Massoll is second generation owner and has a top shop designation from Motor Age.

Their DNA: New shop built in 2012 is a 15,000 SQFT operation with 14 Bays, a total staff of 15 that includes 8 techs, 3 service advisors, a general manager, and a parts person. Listen to Andy discuss what he calls his ‘dream shop’ because of the many unique features built into the facility that makes this a very GREEN operation. You can see a video with Andy describing the new shop on their website … curtsservice.com. Among many environmental friendly features is water pneumatic lifts, radiant floors and 100% recycled waste oil.

Andy has great thoughts on where the future techs are going to come from and what shops owners need to do for young talented techs. Andy talks about leadership and the fact that he is a tool junkie; find out his latest purchase and what type of equipment he’s investing in. He is a member of CCPN and ASA.

He also talks about what he looks for in a parts supplier, his latest work flow improvement and about his recent purchase of his 1^st branch and where he sees his future as an MSO. There are many great take-a-ways including a big one on his brand called Detroit Hybrid.com.

Curts Service Web Site

Detroit Hybrid.com

Curt’s Service You Tube Video