Repair Shop Reckoning

In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin takes the conversation beyond numbers and into what every shop owner is really chasing… freedom.Freedom from chaos.Freedom from bad customers.Freedom from living week to week.Freedom from having to say yes to things you know are wrong.Kevin breaks down why knowing your numbers is about far more than spreadsheets and reports. It’s about building a profitable shop that gives you leverage, confidence, and control.Because when your business is broke, desperate, or disorganized, everybody owns a piece of you.Customers push you around.You discount jobs you shouldn’t.You take bad work.You bend your standards.You stay stuck in survival mode.But when your shop is run right, everything changes.Kevin gets into how systems, pricing, process, and leadership create real freedom—not just more money. He also shares real stories from inside the shop that show how confidence wins sales, how standards protect profit, and why desperation is one of the most expensive ways to run a business. You’ll hear why:-Knowing your numbers gives you leverage-Scarcity causes bad decisions-Process protects profit-Confidence closes jobs-Freedom comes from control, not chaosAt the end of the day, this episode is about one thing: Building a business strong enough that nobody gets to own you.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin takes the conversation beyond just understanding your numbers and gets into what actually separates profitable shops from the ones constantly feeling the squeeze.Most shop owners look at their P&L like it’s the finish line. It’s not. It’s the scoreboard of what already happened. By the time you’re looking at it, the money’s already been made or lost.This episode is about what happens before that.Kevin breaks down the real difference between a P&L and a budget, and why the budget is the tool that actually gives you control. If you’re not actively watching your costs, adjusting your pricing, and managing your numbers week to week, your profit isn’t slipping because of one big mistake… it’s getting eaten alive by a hundred small ones.Parts creep up. Labor gets inefficient. Overtime stacks. Sublet gets easier than doing it right. Advisors miss markups. Discounts get handed out. Subscriptions, insurance, and utilities quietly climb. None of it feels like a big deal in the moment, but together, they will wreck your bottom line.Kevin walks through exactly how that happens using simple, real-world numbers and shows how fast a healthy shop can turn into a struggling one without anyone realizing it.He also gets into why your front counter is the real control center of your business. If your service advisors aren’t pricing correctly, using your system properly, and understanding what the numbers need to be, your budget doesn’t stand a chance. The software won’t save you. The systems only work if your people are trained to use them.You’ll hear why:The P&L is the past and the budget is the futureSmall leaks in parts, labor, and expenses will destroy your profit faster than one big problemOvertime, discounting, and missed markups are silent killers in most shopsWhy your shop management system is either a weapon or a liability depending on how it’s usedAnd why “we’ll see how the year goes” is one of the most dangerous mindsets a shop owner can haveAt the end of the day, this isn’t about spreadsheets. It’s about control.A profitable shop isn’t built by accident. It’s built by knowing your numbers, watching them in real time, and making decisions before the P&L tells you it’s too late. If you’re still guessing, still reacting, or still hoping it all works out… this is the episode that should snap you out of it.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Most shop owners don’t have a pricing problem. They have a numbers problem and it’s costing them more than they realize.In this episode, Kevin breaks down what actually happens to every dollar that comes into a shop and why so many owners are busy, working nonstop, and still wondering where the money went. Because the truth is, you can be doing millions in sales and still be losing money if you don’t understand your numbers.Kevin walks through a simple breakdown of a $100 repair order to show exactly where the money goes from the true cost of doing the work to the overhead that eats away at your margins every single month. Payroll, insurance, subscriptions, fuel, taxes… it all adds up faster than most owners realize.This isn’t theory. This is real shop math and real-world patterns that show up every single day. In this episode, we get into:• The difference between gross and net—and why most people get it wrong• Why being busy doesn’t mean you’re profitable• How overhead creep quietly destroys your margins• Fixed vs variable pay—and who’s actually carrying the risk• Why discounting jobs to make payroll is a losing game• How bad pricing decisions start before the job is ever sold• Why QuickBooks and a real shop management system are non-negotiableAt the core of this episode is a hard truth too many shop owners are guessing. Guessing on pricing, guessing on margins, and guessing on what it actually costs to run their business. And when you guess long enough, it catches up to you.If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t have control. And if you don’t have control, you don’t have a business.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Everybody keeps talking about the technician shortage like it just showed up out of nowhere. It didn’t. We built it.For the last 30 years, we told kids not to go into the trades. We stripped hands on training out of schools. We pushed college as the only path. Then we built workplaces that burn out the very people we depend on. And now everyone’s asking where all the good techs went.Here’s what nobody’s saying… Supply and demand has shifted.There aren’t enough skilled people, and the ones who can actually do the work are becoming more valuable by the day. That means something most people still haven’t realized. The trades are no longer the fallback option. They’re the opportunity.In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin zooms out and connects the dots. This is not just about mechanics. This is about a system that devalues real skill while depending on it more than ever. Kevin breaks down why the technician shortage was created, not accidental, how schools and culture steered an entire generation away from the trades, what is really happening inside dealerships and larger operations, and why good technicians are leaving while broken systems keep the wrong people in place.He also gets into what actually fixes the problem. Leadership. Training. Pay. Standards. Not talk. Not excuses.If you are a shop owner trying to build a team, a technician feeling the pressure, or a parent trying to guide your kid down the right path, this is a conversation you need to hear. Because at the end of the day, the world still runs on people who can fix things. And the people who can are about to get paid.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Flat rate worked in Kevin’s shop for years. But the world outside the shop has changed.Parts backorders. Fleet approval layers. Training the next generation of technicians.Jobs sitting in bays waiting on things nobody inside the shop can control. And when that happens, flat rate stops rewarding productivity and starts punishing the wrong people.In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin explains why he made the decision to move his entire shop off flat rate and onto hourly and salary pay.This isn’t a rant about pay plans. It’s a real conversation about what happens when the system around your shop creates friction you can’t control.Kevin breaks down what changed, how the team approached the transition, and why leadership, training, and procedures matter more than the pay plan itself.Because the real issue isn’t flat rate. In this episode• Why flat rate worked for years and why it’s getting harder to make fair• How training younger technicians exposes the flaw in the flat rate system• The real impact of parts delays and fleet approval layers• Why rushing for hours hurts quality and culture• The system Kevin put in place to protect production, training, and his teamIf you run a shop, manage a team, or want to understand why technicians are leaving the industry, this is a conversation you need to hear.Because at the end of the day, it’s not about pay plans. It’s about running a shop that actually works.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t control your business!In this episode, Kevin sits down with Maria Montie, partner at Shindel Rock and a key resource inside the Repair Shop Reckoning network, to talk about what most shop owners avoid their backend. Cash flow. Oversight. Internal controls. Tax structure. And the dangerous assumption that “my accountant has it handled.”We break down:Why bookkeeping and real accounting strategy are not the same thingHow overstated revenue can quietly create six-figure tax billsThe internal control mistakes that lead to embezzlementWhy “no surprises” should be your financial standardThe difference between delegation and responsibilityAnd here’s the part that should get your attention:A shop owner we were working with received a six-figure tax bill. After reconstructing the books and filing an amended return, that bill was dissolved.Not reduced.Dissolved.Because when you don’t understand your structure, your revenue classification, and your reporting you can end up paying for mistakes you didn’t even know existed. This episode isn’t about accounting theory.It’s about control.You can delegate tasks.You cannot delegate ownership.If you’re serious about leading your shop instead of reacting to it, this conversation matters.No fluff. No tax hacks. Just the reality of what it takes to run a business the right way.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

In this episode, Kevin breaks down his exact service advising system step by step from the first phone call to after-hours pickup. This isn’t theory. It’s a process built from getting burned, plugging holes, and tightening the operation until the front office actually controls the day.We talk about:-Why most shops lose trust on the phone in the first 10 seconds-How “free estimates” screw your techs and kill customer confidence-The check-in process Kevin uses to eliminate wasted time and miscommunication-How they use AI to capture the full customer story, write cleaner estimates, and stop details from getting lost-The workflow that keeps keys, approvals, parts, and tech time organized-Why the customer experience is the difference between getting shopped on price or getting trustedIf your front office feels chaotic, your estimates sit too long, your techs get stuck waiting, or customers constantly question your value this episode is a blueprint. Subscribe on YouTube for the full episode and weekly shop truth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

This episode of Repair Shop Reckoning didn’t end the way we planned due to technical difficulties, but the conversation was too real not to release.Jessica shares her story of starting in the trade at 16, helping build a successful mobile operation into a shop, and then watching it fall apart because of bad leadership, flat rate abuse, unpaid labor, and broken promises. From 1099 misclassification to technicians doing office work for free, this episode exposes exactly how good shops fail and good techs burn out.We break down what happens when a shop grows without systems, boundaries, or accountability and why flat rate without structure destroys morale. Jessica opens up about being overworked, underpaid, and finally walking away to start her own mobile business.We also talk about being a woman in the trade, earning trust through competence, choosing profitable work as a mobile tech, and why customers follow technicians not shop names.This episode is raw, honest, and unfinished because real shop life is messy. Jessica will be back, but this conversation stands on its own.If you are a technician fed up with bad shopsIf you are a shop owner growing faster than your systemsIf you are thinking about going mobile or starting your own businessThis episode is for you!Repair Shop Reckoning isn’t about complaining.It’s about calling out what’s broken and showing what actually works.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

What happens when you put a real Corvette guy in the room… and let him talk?In this episode, Kevin sits down with Alan Johnson from Matick Chevrolet, one of the most dialed-in Corvette minds you’ll hear anywhere. This isn’t “car talk” for clicks. It’s a deep dive into what’s actually happening inside GM right now… and why so many dealerships are falling behind.They hit everything from the 3.0 Duramax being the best-kept secret in the truck world, to the reality behind the 6.2 uncertainty, to what really creates trust and consistency in a dealership: systems, talent development, and leadership that gives a damn.And then they go straight into the chaos that sparked this episode: the brake fluid war. If you’ve ever heard someone say “brake fluid is sealed, it doesn’t matter,” Alan is about to ruin your day...in the best way possible.This is the intersection of:-High-performance driving-Real-world dealership service operations-Maintenance that actually keeps people safe-And the uncomfortable truth about how the industry is being gutted by short-term thinkingIf you’re a technician, shop owner, advisor, service manager, or car nerd who actually wants to understand what’s real… this one hits hard.Here is how you can find Alan on social media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivenwithalanInstagram: @drivenwithalanYouTube: @drivenwithAlan ​Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

WARNING: This episode is not scripted, polished, and it sure as hell is not safe for soft ears...Welcome to the Christmas Special you always dreamed of. A behind the scenes look into shop life, recorded with the full Garrett Truck and Auto crew.The team come straight from the shop, with the doors open and the truth turned all the way up. No guests. No filters. Just the people who actually do the work sitting down and talking about what really happens when you are building a shop, a team, and a culture from the ground up.We start by doing something most shops never do publicly. Everyone around the table owns their screw ups. Real mistakes. Real consequences. From missed cotter pins and wrong parts to wiring nightmares, bad calls, and expensive lessons that stuck because they had to.This episode pulls back the curtain on what shop culture actually looks like when accountability is real. People get called out. People get corrected. People learn. And then they get better. That is the difference between yelling for ego and demanding excellence because lives, reputations, and paychecks depend on it.We dig into flat rate, leadership, policies and procedures, and why so many shops fail to take care of their people even when they think they are trying. You will hear why most owners are stuck, why technicians are pissed, and how bad systems create bad behavior on both sides of the counter.This is also a direct response to the internet narratives. The clips. The comments. The people who think shop culture can be judged from fifteen seconds on social media. So Kevin brought the team on to speak for themselves and explain what it is actually like to work here, why people stay, why people grow, and why the shop works.If you are a shop owner trying to build something real If you are a technician tired of broken systems If you care about doing the job right and going home proudThis episode is for you.And this is only Part One of Two!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Welcome to another episode of Repair Shop Reckoning! Buckle up, because this one is a straight punch to the throat of the collision industry.Kevin sits down with Jim Gray, partner at Motor City and a 40-year veteran of the collision world, to break down everything the insurance companies never want shop owners, techs, or customers to know. If you think you’ve heard Kevin talk shit before… this episode takes it up ten levels. Jim exposes how DRPs really work, why adjusters with zero hands-on experience dictate how trained techs “should” repair cars, and how insurance companies flat-out manipulate labor rates, parts sourcing, supplements, and customer claims to pad corporate profits. The stories in this episode are so insane you almost wouldn’t believe them, until you realize every shop in America has lived the same nightmare. This episode is not theory. It is not opinion.It is the lived reality of two shops who deal daily with:Surprise inspections from adjusters who have never fixed a car in their lifeDRP rules that punish shops for doing repairs the right wayInsurance companies writing garbage photo estimates, mailing checks directly to customers to avoid supplements, and then blaming shops for the chaosLabor rates being CUT while tech shortages get worseAdjusters arguing repairs without ever seeing the damn vehicle“Profit calculators” that magically make your profit disappearDRP scare tactics that manipulate customers into thinking independent shops are riskyEndless hours of unpaid admin work forced onto shops because insurance companies eliminated adjustersBut this episode goes deeper into culture, leadership, and the bitch generation that cannot survive in a real shop environment. Jim and Kevin call out weak work ethics, victim mentalities, and the fantasy-land expectations younger techs walk in with. At the same time, they break down what REAL leadership looks like inside Motor City: structure, autonomy, accountability, standards, loyalty, and taking care of the guys who earn it. No fake praise. No trophies. Just grown-ass men doing real work for real money.If you run a shop, manage techs, work in the industry, or simply want the truth behind the bullshit this is the episode you send to everyone.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

This one is for the keyboard warriors and the men that are soft as tissue. The TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE...BUT FIRST IT WILL PISS YOU OFF. Or if you are our type of people it will make you laugh your ass off. We sure had a ton of fun recording it.In this episode Kevin brings in two of his own, Phil at the front counter and Jake the Marine turned mechanic, to pull the curtain back on what really happens inside their shop and why weak men do not last there very long.For everyone in the comments screaming toxic culture and bad boss because they saw a clip where Kevin said get your head out of your ass or watched the alignment guy walk out this is the answer. Not from internet experts but from the guys who actually work there every day.Phil and Jake talk about the constant stream of techs who oversell themselves in the interview then fold the first time someone calls them on their work. The front end specialist who could not set a steering wheel straight. The kid who said he could drive stick but could not get a truck onto a lift. The loop tech who ignored clear instruction and cracked a coolant filter then quit when it got hard.They break down what real accountability looks like in a shop that charges serious money and refuses to send junk out the door. You will hear the story of the loose tie rod that fell apart after a decline, how they owned it, paid the tow, fixed it right, and why you have to know your numbers and charge properly if you want to be able to stand behind your mistakes like that.You will also hear what real culture sounds like when you are not hiding behind HR talking points. Snowball fights in the lot. Pranks and sarcasm that fly in every direction. Busting each others chops and then dropping everything to help a coworker or a customer in a bind. They talk about the homeless guy sleeping in a customer bus, the lady with the mold filled coach and a short week in the hospital, the guy who paid dirt cheap for a liftgate and got exactly what he paid for.Underneath all the jokes is a simple message...Weak men quit because they cannot handle standards, can not handle correction, and can not handle the pressure of being responsible for heavy equipment rolling down the road. Strong men stay, grow, and laugh through the chaos because they know the difference between abuse and accountability.If you are a shop owner or a tech who is tired of being lectured about your tone by people who have never held a wrench this episode will feel like home. If you think reading a wiring diagram is toxic or believe every hurt feeling is a safety violation this episode will probably piss you off.Either way you will finally get a real peek inside their shop culture from the only people qualified to talk about it.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Buckle up because this week Kevin and Jason crack open the ugly truth behind the collision repair industry, and it’s a full-on reckoning.Kevin goes off on how insurance companies have hijacked the business by setting prices, dictating parts, and forcing shops into losing money on every “approved” repair. From fake adjusters behind desks to clueless inspectors who’ve never turned a wrench in their life, the industry’s gone off the rails. They dive deep into how independent collision shops are being crushed by corporate control, fake “prevailing wage” surveys, and AI-driven desk estimates written by people who couldn’t tell a fender from a file cabinet. Kevin lays out real-world examples that will make any shop owner’s blood boil. From motorhomes patched with bondo to adjusters arguing over $600 supplements after promising to pay. But this isn’t just a rant, it’s a roadmap. Kevin shares how he’s outsmarting the system by expanding into trailer repair, sandblasting, and parts sales to keep profit margins alive while others drown in red tape. Stories You’ll Hear in This Episode:Why collision shops are going broke faster the harder they workHow insurance “desk adjusters” and AI estimates are wrecking the tradeReal examples of fraud, cheap parts, and complete industry insanityWhy Kevin refuses to cut corners — even when insurance pushes shops to do itThe $90,000 engine story that proves doing it right still mattersHow adding trailer repair saved Motor City Truck Collision from the chaosBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.