Where Do You Place Value in Your Automotive Repair Shop Business?

As shop owners, we all entered this industry for a reason: whether it was the love of cars, the challenge of diagnostics, or the dream of running our own business. But if you're like many of us, you’ve learned that the real key to long-term success isn’t just knowing how to fix vehicles. It’s knowing where to place value. The choices you make every day—how you invest your time, your money, and your energy—ultimately define the kind of business you run and the life you lead.

So let me ask you: Where do you place value in your automotive repair shop business?

A Story That Might Sound Familiar

As I write this, I find myself reflecting on the journey, the wins and the losses, the defeated days when I thought about giving up, and the one unexpected victory that kept me going just long enough. I've been in business for 17 years. I started with a fair budget and opened full-time with six months of wages in reserve. We planned smart. Still, life had its own plans. My wife lost her job twice—once right before the full-time launch and again within the first year. Even so, we were blessed. The business grew quickly, and I thought we were doing well. At least, that's what my accountant told me.

In 2013, I started going to training events and felt the urge to hire a coach. My wife, ever my biggest supporter, believed I didn’t need to spend that kind of money. She told me I was smart, capable, and could figure it out on my own. So I tried. And we did okay. Okay enough to buy a second shop. We had some momentum and decided to go for it.

But we were in over our heads, we nearly lost everything. We drained our investments, refinanced property, and hit a wall. That’s when I got serious and hired a coach. Six months later, we were not just surviving—we were profitable. Not just because the accountant said so, but because I knew we were. I finally understood the business I was running. And when my wife looked back on everything we’d gone through, she said something I’ll never forget: “I knew you could do it, but you needed that.”

Better Life: Taking Care of Yourself and Your Team

If you’re not intentional about how you live and work, burnout isn’t a possibility, it’s a certainty. As owners, we carry a lot: decisions, stress, staffing, finances, and customer satisfaction. Prioritizing your health, your time with family, and your mental well-being isn’t a luxury, it’s a leadership responsibility. When you do, you set the tone for your entire shop.

The same goes for your team. Your technicians and service advisors deserve an environment where they’re respected, trained, and fairly rewarded. A shop that values people will always outperform one that just runs them hard. Creating a space where people want to work where they feel appreciated and supported is one of the most strategic things you can do.

Better Business: Running Smart, Not Just Hard

A successful shop isn’t about how many cars go out the door, it’s about how well things run behind the scenes. Do you have systems in place, or are you winging it based on who’s on the schedule that day? Are you tracking your KPIs regularly or running on gut feeling? Are you in control of your shop, or is it in control of you?

Operational excellence means embracing the right tools, setting clear goals, and refining processes that create predictability and peace of mind. Profitability comes from structure, strategy, and sustainability.

Better Industry: Raising the Bar Together

We’ve all seen the outdated stereotypes and ongoing challenges in this industry—from the shady mechanic image to the shortage of skilled techs to customers who only shop on price.

But things improve when shop owners raise the bar together. Professionalism, transparency, and collaboration are contagious. When we attend training, show up for leadership events, connect with peers, and run ethical, customer-focused businesses, we’re not just bettering our own shops, we’re improving the reputation of the entire industry. One shop making a change sets an example. Many shops? That’s a movement.

So… Where Are You Placing Value?

If you’re chasing numbers but sacrificing your team, your sanity, or your standards—it’s time to step back and recalibrate. This industry can be more than a grind. It can be fulfilling. It can be impactful. It can be the vehicle (pun intended) for a better life, a better business, and a better industry.

I’ve lived this and I’m still walking the path. And I want to share more of that journey—because I bet some of it mirrors your own. If you're ready to talk more about what really matters, to connect with other shop owners who are figuring it out just like you are, let’s have that conversation. We’re all trying to go the same direction: forward, upward, together.