Free Auto Repair Management Tips Blog

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Have you ever heard the phrase “Don’t burn your bridges”?

In business, nothing is more important than the relationships we foster. We are all familiar with networking and how critical it can be to success. On the other hand, negative networking can be even more critical. Like any school locker room, hair salon, or restaurant, nothing gets around faster than bad news!

In a worst-case scenario, one soured relationship could lead to an entire network of soured relationships. Your best bet is to treat everyone with equal respect. Good news gets around too, and before you know it, people will be recommending you as the go-to person for mentorship, advice, and service.

Which business relationships matter the most?

This is a trick question; they all matter! Why, you might ask? Because you can never predict or influence how one thing might affect another. We previously mentioned that with the phrase “burning your bridges.” If you outwardly show that you value one person or one relationship differently than another, you risk the chance of affecting things down the line. We highly suggest that you set a minimum standard for how you treat people. That means showing everyone respect. Go out of your way to ask them about their lives and interests, and request their help when you need it.

How do I build important business relationships?

That is an excellent question. It comes naturally for some people, but for others, it is a learned skill. We would like to urge you to look at this sector of your business development like you would any skill. Pour time, attention, and intention into it.

So, what does that mean? That means going out of your way to let people know how much you appreciate them. Reach out to them, ask if they need help, or request their help. Begin making emotional deposits with the individuals in your life; build up that bank account!

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Do you ever feel like you should be doing better? Even though your business is so successful and so busy, you aren’t seeing the return you should be. This is a very common scenario, so don’t worry. We all get tied up in the daily operations labyrinth, and then we lose sight of the intricate problems weaving in-between. The truly frustrating thing is that the more you grow, the better you do. The more successful you become, it’s more likely your shop is losing money to silent thieves.

What if we told you that you are more than likely the victim of what we call “Silent Thieves”? When these sneaky business problems exist, they ever-so-quietly eat away at your bottom line. Silent thieves are process problems which go unseen and unheard beneath the hustle and bustle of daily operations.

Money losing “Silent Thieves” include poor:

• Leadership processes
• Management processes
• Front counter processes
• Staffing processes
• Inventory management
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• How-to Manuals

The list goes on, and these may seem like obvious things that you already have documented. However, we consistently find that businesses do not effectively produce these processes across the board.

How do you get everyone on the same page when dealing with your staff? What methods can streamline your processes? How do you increase efficiency as a byproduct? These are all questions that you can answer by getting rid of your silent thieves!

How Can I Get Rid Of My “Silent Thieves”?

If it was easy, everyone would have already figured it out. Just like every superhero needs a sidekick, you need a helping hand in your business. Two heads are better than one, and sometimes, we become blinded to what is beyond the trees (so to say). Effective business coaching can help restore your business vision to 20/20; and beyond!

It starts with:

• Identifying your KPIs
• Evaluating your books
• Examining your daily operations
• Restructuring your Standard Operating Procedures
• And more

If you can’t measure it, then you can’t fix it. That is, if you don’t know how big or how bad the problem is, then you can never produce an effective solution. But where do you start? How do you measure it, and how do you quantify those measurements? Don’t worry, because we can help you with every step of that process.

Losing Money? Worried You Can’t Turn Your Shop Around? You Can Do This!

Looking deep inside your business and coming to terms with the shortcomings can be a humbling experience, but that is the necessary step to bring you and your family closer to your dreams. Today is the day that you start. When we work together, we can do this.

Carm Capriotto’s Friday Town Hall Academy #265 streamed live on February 25, 2022. The subject was “Coaches Lab: Turn Around a Struggling Shop”. The guests Chris Cotton (AutoFix), YNR’s own Brian Gillis, and Murray Voth (RPM Training) circled around the mic to discuss the ways that automotive service centers can turn their fortunes around.

Opening Up About Struggling Shop Issues

Murray Voth opened up the discussion, emphasizing that your employees probably have an idea that the business is struggling. This may be a conscious or subconscious suspicion, but generally, owners control the flow of information. There is such a thing as telling your people too much about the status of your business. However, if rumors about your auto service center closing are swirling, you need to set the record straight. When you’re having trouble keeping up with the channels of communication, hiring a business coach may be necessary.

Do you see signs of an unavoidable downturn in business? Don’t wait until it’s too late to seek help. Chris Cotton detailed some shop owners calling him when they were three weeks away from closing. When he asked how long they were on the decline, they told him six months. They should have called at the first sign of trouble. Depending on the actual issues, a few weeks may be enough reverse course, but it’s unlikely.

Brian chimed in to agree that no automotive shop owner is an island. We can’t do it alone. Sharing the overall health with your team creates buy-in from them. Your transparency and honesty will motivate your employees to help improve your business’ fortunes. Regularly scheduled, mandatory meetings help accomplish this goal.

How NOT To Fix Your Issues

Murray reiterated that delegating more tasks to your team needs to happen, so you can focus on improving the business. Chris agreed, adding that flat rate technicians can work more hours, but it will only help them and not the business. When systems and processes within the business are broken, working harder just means hastening the inevitable.

Chris mentioned that we must ask our team members for help, but reaching out to other shop owners is also crucial. Many of his referrals have come from shop owners in  Facebook Groups.

When inquiring about a struggling shop’s financial records, Murray often finds out there are none. Many shop owners think a CPA or Bookkeeper isn’t affordable. They often learn the hard way that not hiring one is even less affordable. Shops in financial trouble may or may not be salvageable. Again, the key is catching your problem early.

Another issue many struggling shop owners face is the temptation to pay themselves last. While caring for your employees and their families is important, when you don’t cash your own checks, you are putting your own family last. Sometimes, showing compassion means helping a technician find another job when you truly can’t afford to keep paying them. Do what you need to do to keep your business going, but don’t neglect your family at home.

Bottom Line – This Is Your Passion. Get Help If You Need Help.

If you need help, ask for help. We in the auto repair industry are independent. Often, we auto service center owners haven’t felt like we fit in, be it in school or past jobs. We landed in a niche that catered to our learning challenges, and we are passionate about it. This is too important to you to keep spinning your wheels.

Do You Own A Struggling Shop? Can A Coaching Company Really Help Your Auto Repair Business?

Have you owned a struggling shop for years? Then you have probably had some bad experiences with business coaches that serve the automotive service industry. After all, not every one of the auto repair shop coaching companies out there are created equal! For instance, some coaching companies are strong with financial matters, yet weak regarding phone sales techniques. We here at You Net Results want to help you focus on the total picture and get the results you need. Contact us today for a free strategy session.

There is power in mastering your actions. It gives customers the peace of mind that your auto repair shop will stand the test of time. You want the people in your personal to understand that your actions are backed by practiced consistency and dedication to your goals. This translates to your automotive business as well; how consistent are you?

How do you document invoices?

With Consistency?

Are you documenting every transaction and every invoice you produce? Is there a dedicated method for documenting invoices? Does your auto repair shop use an SOP for logging and filing your invoices? Is everyone on your staff on board with the process, or are things getting lost in translation? This is where you can really benefit from structure, which includes documented SOPs and Action Flow Charts.

Poorly?

Do your invoices lack details? Is it difficult to discern what information is relevant when you need to reference it? “The devil is in the details,” as they say, and this has never been more true than with your invoices.

What are your step-by-step procedures?

Where exactly do you start? Do you have the entire process documented? Have you written SOPs, and is everyone on board with following the process? A well-documented step-by-step procedural outline is essential for both seamless training and consistent improvement over time. 

Beyond that, if and when you sell your business, you want the buyer to know what makes you so great. Why does your business consistently achieves great results, and how can they replicate them when they take over? Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) serve as a handbook to all of your success, and, furthermore, they will net you a higher selling price when you decide to sell your business. They make it easier to phase yourself out of day-to-day operations, thus giving you more time with your family and loved ones.

Action Flow Charts – WHY?

How can Action Flow Charts help you run your shop?

We believe in the power of consistency! When you center your operation around effective action-based flow charts, it will create a consistent business. You can reduce bottlenecks and lead to a less stressful business future.

Communication is the key to success, so action flow charts fill in the gaps where humans naturally fail. It’s impossible for everyone to communicate perfectly, every time. However, we can design a system of Action Flow Charts, tools that fill the spaces where we fall short.

Through YOUR Power of Consistency

In the end, it comes down to your power of consistency and how ready you are to take your dream future into your hands. We all have a vision of what we want our future to look like, so let’s work together to turn that into a reality.

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