Podcast
Business By The Numbers
Hosted by Hunt Demarest · EN
Hunt Demarest, CPA has consistently provided his financial business acumen to help move the industry toward greater heights of success and profitability. Hunt was recently referred to as a "terrific advocate of the aftermarket."
He is the author of the book, Your Perfect Shop: How to Start, Run & Sell a Profitable Shop. In this book, he compiled some of the best practices for auto repair shop owners, whether they are just starting or have been in the business for years.
Hunt's podcast will provide a core understanding of the financial aspects of running an auto repair shop.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The 4 P&L Mistakes Quietly Sinking Your Shop's Profit [E230]
1w ago00:24:18Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveDo you actually know how much money your shop made last month? If 90% of new clients walking through Hunt's door don't, what are the odds you do?In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA, goes solo to call out the four most common ways shop owners are unknowingly sabotaging their own profit and loss statements — and the pain points he sees over and over again with new clients. He opens with a timely PSA on a scam email making the rounds targeting EIDL loan holders, then dives into why 90% of the shops Paar Melis brings on board are working off P&Ls that are materially misstated. From overly complicated financials to sales tracked without their matching costs to the owner's own cash and parts habits quietly wrecking the numbers, Hunt breaks down exactly where things go wrong — and how to fix it. Whether you've got a two-bay shop or a twenty-bay operation, this episode is a gut-check on whether the numbers you're using to run your business are actually telling you the truth.What You'll Learn...(02:59) Why this episode — a follow-up to the summer webinar series on P&Ls(03:24) PSA — the EIDL loan forgiveness scam targeting shop owners' inboxes(06:45) Mistake #1 — Why your P&L is flat-out wrong, and the 90% stat that proves it(09:23) Mistake #2 — Your P&L is way too complicated(13:31) The one-page rule — collapsed P&L vs. the four-page mess(15:31) The subaccount fix, using utilities as the easy win(16:26) Mistake #3 — Tracking sales without tracking the cost behind it(18:18) The tire sales trap — how "improving" your P&L can wreck your margins(20:12) Mistake #4 — You're the reason your financials don't add up(22:31) The parts cost leak nobody's stealing — it's just untrackedIf you've ever wondered whether your financials are actually telling you the truth, why a "good" P&L should fit on one page, and why tracking more sales categories can make your numbers worse instead of better — this episode is essential listening.Summer Webinar Series: Understanding Your Shop’s Numbers Webinar: Replay Link and Passcode: .#TWUc81 Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comGet the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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The IRS Flagged His Return: Here's the Playbook That Won the Case [E226]
2w ago00:28:01Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveWhy does the IRS really pick a tax return to audit? And if a CPA who does this for a living can still get dragged through a three-year fight, what chance does the rest of us have?In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA, steps out from behind the desk to tell his own story — a three-year audit of his 2023 tax return that started with a suspiciously timed refund and ended with a win built entirely on paperwork. Hunt breaks down what gets a return flagged in the first place, the one habit that separates audits you win from ones you lose, and why "innocent" and "victorious" aren't always the same outcome — proven by a client who did everything right and still wrote a $25,000 check to the IRS.Hunt also pulls back the curtain on what his firm's audit protection covers, why informational requests aren't the same as a real audit, and why a single missing signature nearly cost him a case tax law was already on his side of. Whether you're worried about a deduction on your own return or want to know what triggers an IRS letter, this episode is a real-time look at how audits actually play out — not the version you hear secondhand.What You'll Learn...(02:51) Hunt's own audit story begins — three years, one 2023 tax return(03:58) Why the audit really happened — a refund, then a red flag a month later(04:41) Getting flagged, part 1 — why large credits are an open invitation to audit(08:24) Getting flagged, part 2 — the oversized expense line the IRS can't ignore(09:48) Inside the process — what an IRS "information request" audit actually looks like(15:06) The rule that wins audits — documentation, documentation, documentation(19:15) Audits take time, and time is money — even when you win(19:40) 100+ hours, one frivolous case, and the real cost of defending yourself(22:28) The hardest truth — being innocent doesn't guarantee you'll win(23:12) The $25,000 loss — when the IRS agent simply won't listen(24:24) The call every shop owner dreads — when paying up beats fighting onIf you've ever wondered what actually happens after that letter shows up, why documentation is the difference between a two-month resolution and a three-year fight, and why sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to stop — this episode is essential listeningThanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comGet the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Storytelling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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Same Labor Rate, Different Profit: What the 2026 Benchmark Report Reveals About Where You Do Business [E228]
3w ago00:34:22Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveWhy is a shop charging $300 an hour in Texas still taking home less profit than a shop in Maine charging $30 less? Does where you're located actually decide how much money ends up in your pocket — or is something else driving the gap?In the final installment of a three-part dive into the 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report, Hunt Demarest, CPA, breaks down the regional, size, and vehicle-type trends separating the most profitable shops in the country from everyone else. From the Southeast's 17% margins to the Southwest's labor-rate paradox, Hunt unpacks why charging more doesn't always mean keeping more — and why "your shop is no different" is only half true.Hunt also dives into the numbers behind general repair, diesel, and European shops, explains why bigger isn't always better, and closes with a sobering look at the technician shortage now threatening the entire industry. Whether you're running a one-bay diesel shop in the Midwest or a multi-bay European specialty shop in the Northeast, this episode is your roadmap to benchmarking against the right peers — not just the averages.What You'll Learn...(00:00) Intro(03:34) Kicking off Part 3 of the 2026 Benchmark Report series — this week, regional trends(05:40) Why productivity — not location — is the real leading indicator of profit(07:34) Where the top shops actually are (hint: the South didn't make the list)(08:36) The Southwest's labor-rate paradox — highest rates, lowest profit(12:40) "Your shop is no different" — the half-truth every owner needs to hear(14:28) The $1.4M myth — why bigger shops aren't necessarily more profitable(19:23) General repair vs. diesel vs. European — which type actually pays best(22:06) Parts margin vs. labor margin — where each vehicle type wins and loses(24:27) Percentages vs. dollars — why a diesel shop can out-earn a general shop(28:06) The 37,000-tech shortfall, and why 67% of techs quit before year one(30:00) Aging fleets, deferred maintenance, and the hybrid boom shops can't ignoreIf you're ready to stop benchmarking against the wrong shops, start understanding which numbers actually predict profit, and finally see where your region, size, and specialty really stack up — this episode is essential listening.Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0Part 1: Auto Shop Benchmarks: Biggest Changes, Key KPI's and Trends [E226] https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/episode/hunt226/Part 2: What the Top 10% of Auto Repair Shops Are Doing Differently — And What the Bottom 10% Refuse to Fix [E227] https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/episode/hunt226/Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comGet the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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What the Top 10% of Auto Repair Shops Are Doing Differently — And What the Bottom 10% Refuse to Fix [E227]
Jun 1800:29:08Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveIs your shop growing in revenue but shrinking in profit? Are you convinced that raising your labor rate is the fastest path to the bottom line — only to discover that your highest-charging competitors are losing money? And what if the real difference between a shop that keeps 35 cents of every dollar and one that loses money has nothing to do with location, specialty, or size?In this solo deep-dive, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, walks through the 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report — specifically, what separates the top 10% of shops from the bottom 10%. It's about the metrics that actually matter: how much of every sales dollar ends up in the owner's pocket, why overhead is silently eating 42 cents on every dollar in struggling shops, and why the shops doing the most are almost always doing it with the fewest people. Hunt strips the report down to what you need to know — and what to do about it.Whether you're a two-bay shop trying to crack profitability or a multi-location owner wondering why growth keeps outrunning your margins — this episode is essential listening.What You'll Learn...(00:01) Why Part 2 shifts from industry trends to what separates winners from losers(04:01) How Paar Melis defines a "top shop" — and why net profit alone doesn't tell the whole story(07:37) The sales volume surprise — why bigger isn't always better, and smaller isn't always a disadvantage(10:56) The metric top shops don't even know they're winning — gross profit per square foot(14:56) Why the Midwest lost all its top shops this year — and who's to blame(19:31) The labor rate myth, debunked — bottom shops charge more per hour and still lose(23:16) The 12-point overhead gap that explains almost every difference in profitability(26:18) Service advisor output — the $18,000-per-month performance gap you probably aren't measuring(26:18) The one fix that moves shops from the bottom 10% to the top — and most already know what it isIf you're ready to stop chasing sales volume as a substitute for profit, understand why the shop charging less per hour is likely the one making more money, and finally see the 12-point overhead gap that separates top shops from everyone else — this episode is essential listening.Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0Part 1: Auto Shop Benchmarks: Biggest Changes, Key KPI's and Trends [E226] https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/episode/hunt226/Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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Auto Shop Benchmarks: Biggest Changes, Key KPI's and Trends [E226]
Jun 1100:44:49Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveYour technicians got more productive in 2025. Your labor rate went up. Your parts margins improved. So why is the average shop owner keeping almost exactly the same percentage of every dollar as they did the year before?The answer is hiding in your effective labor rate — and most shop owners haven't looked at it once.In this episode, Hunt Demarest breaks down the headline findings from Paar Melis & Associates' 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report — the largest study of its kind, built from more than 200 real shop locations across the country. From average repair order trends to technician productivity, overhead creep, benefits adoption, pay structure breakdowns, shop management software rankings, and the labor rate shame list nobody wants to be on, this is the financial state-of-the-industry episode you didn't know you needed. And it's only Part One.What You’ll Learn(00:00) Intro — the 2026 Benchmark Report is live and how to get your free copy(03:16) Who made this report possible — methodology, participation, and what Paar Melis clients get that nobody else does(05:30) How to read benchmark numbers without misleading yourself — context, outliers, and the ARO trap(13:15) Sales are up 10-11% — but how much of that is real production vs. a labor rate increase you already gave yourself?(16:20) Productivity jumped from 47% to 55% — so why didn't net profit follow?(18:30) Effective labor rate: the silent margin killer hiding in plain sight in 2025(27:30) Benefits adoption hits an all-time high: 73% of shops now offer health insurance(29:30) Retirement plans, tool reimbursement, Trump Accounts, and the fringe benefits arms race(30:45) Four-day work weeks and non-cash comp — how shops are winning the talent war without raising base pay(34:30) Good management makes money, not good pay plans(36:30) 83% of shops are doing digital vehicle inspections — Hunt thought it would be closer to 100%(37:30) Shop management software rankings: Tekmetric at 56%, Mitchell likely on the way out, Shopware and Protractor tied for third(40:30) The labor rate shame list — 11% of shops haven't raised their rate in 18 months or moreIf you're ready to stop guessing where your numbers stand, start benchmarking against 200+ real shops across the country, and finally understand why doing more work doesn't always mean making more money — this episode is essential listening.Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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529, Roth, or Trump Account? What Shop Owners Actually Need to Know [E225]
Jun 400:25:53Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveWhat if the government — and a few well-known billionaires — were offering to deposit cash directly into an account for your child or grandchild, no strings attached, starting July 4th? Would you sign up?In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down everything currently known about the newly announced Trump Accounts — officially called 530A plans — before they go live. Hunt cuts through the political noise to answer the only question that matters for shop owners and their families: is this worth your time, and how do you get your share of the free money on the table?From the $1,000 Treasury Department seed deposit for children born between 2025 and 2028, to the $250 Dell family contribution available in qualifying zip codes, to how self-employed shop owners can structure employer contributions for a legitimate tax deduction — Hunt walks through what we know, what's still uncertain, and how these accounts stack up against the 529 plans and Roth IRAs you're probably already using.Whether you're a shop owner with young kids, a grandparent looking for a smarter savings vehicle, or a business owner thinking about a new fringe benefit for your team — this episode is essential listening.What You'll Learn...(03:05) What a Trump Account actually is — and why the 530A plan isn't as new as it sounds(06:02) The $1,000 government seed deposit — who qualifies and why Hunt says everyone eligible should sign up immediately(09:07) Contribution limits, employer deductions, and the fringe benefit opportunity for your employees(10:14) Withdrawal rules — why the money is locked until the child turns 18, and what it can be spent on(11:15) Using a Trump Account to buy a first home or start a business — and the creative opportunities that creates(12:27) The Dell family's $250 zip code contribution — why Hunt says don't risk missing it, just sign up(17:14) Trump Accounts vs. 529 plans — the key differences that actually matter for your family(19:45) Trump Accounts vs. Roth IRAs — the side-by-side comparison for shop owners who pay their kids through the business(22:23) Hunt's honest take on what he's actually doing for his own kids — and why the employer deduction changes everythingIf you're ready to stop letting politics get in the way of free money, understand exactly how these new accounts fit alongside the strategies you're already running, and find out whether July 4th is a deadline you actually need to worry about — this episode is essential listening.Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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The Parts Reconciliation Gap Costing Auto Repair Shops Six Figures [E224]
May 2800:35:56Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveIs your shop management system telling you one number while QuickBooks says something else entirely? Are parts credits going unclaimed? And if someone were quietly skimming off the top, would your current process ever actually catch it?In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, sits down with Alex Saladna from Wicked File — the AI-powered back office reconciliation platform built for auto repair shops. From the employee who snuck through ceiling tiles to steal cash, to the eight-location shop that cut back office workload by fifty percent overnight, Hunt and Alex break down what's leaking out of your business, why your team can't catch it manually, and how technology has made a once-unsolvable problem into a morning coffee routine.Whether you're a single-location shop hemorrhaging credits you didn't know you were owed or a multi-location owner who's quietly accepted that being remote means accepting losses — this episode is essential listening.What You'll Learn…(03:01) What Wicked File actually does — and why the gap between your shop management system and your accounting software is exactly where the money disappears(06:02) The #1 cause of theft is confidence — why 100% of owners who've been stolen from said it would never happen to them(07:38) Theft stories from the field — Mission Impossible through the ceiling tiles and $2,000 a month in soda nobody ordered(11:58) From 200 invoices to 20 — how 80–90% of parts reconciliation gets automated and what your team can do with the time back(20:09) The 2–3% burn — at $1M in sales that's up to $30,000 walking out the door, and why most owners don't treat it that way(22:36) Why treating your financials as a final score is costing you — and what watching your business like game film actually looks like(28:19) Why the right employees will love this tool — and what resistance to it tells you about your culture(35:16) Bad data makes bad decisions — why it all starts with clean numbers at the invoice levelIf you're ready to stop assuming your vendor credits are being processed, understand why the confidence that "it doesn't happen here" is exactly what makes it happen here, and finally know what's actually leaking out of your back office before it becomes a six-figure problem — this episode is essential listening.Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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The Big Four: Why Your Overhead Isn't the Problem — Until It Is [E223]
May 2100:29:57Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveIs your advertising budget working for you, or quietly draining you? Are you paying a credit card processing premium you didn't even know existed? When did insurance stop being a routine expense and start becoming one of your biggest threats? And is that rent number on your P&L actually telling you the truth?In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down the four overhead categories that show up most often in his firm's annual benchmark report — and the ones where shop owners are most likely throwing money away without realizing it. From the 3% advertising rule to why the cheapest insurance policy might be the most expensive decision you ever make, Hunt walks through real numbers, real client stories, and a framework for getting your overhead under control without kneejerk cost-cutting that tanks your business.Whether you're a two-bay shop trying to understand your first P&L or a multi-location owner wondering why your margins keep shrinking despite steady revenue — this episode is essential listening.What You'll Learn...(02:45) The overhead mindset reset — why cutting costs isn't always the answer when profit is down(04:38) How to benchmark without lying to yourself — why comparing the wrong shop misleads you(05:52) The 3% advertising benchmark — what it means and when it actually matters(08:40) The one overhead expense where spending more makes it relatively cheaper(11:34) Credit card fees decoded — the 2.5% benchmark and why your card mix matters more than your rate(13:53) When paying more for integrated processing is the right call — and when it isn't(20:25) Why insurance is a relationship, not a commodity — and the two-shop fire story every owner needs to hear(24:09) The 6–9% rent rule — and why renting from yourself is distorting your numbers before you sellIf you're ready to stop confusing "reviewing overhead" with "cutting overhead," understand why a cheaper insurance policy could put you out of business faster than any slow month, and finally know what your rent is actually costing you before you try to sell — this episode is essential listening.Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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The Hiring Playbook Auto Shops Are Missing: PTO, Tool Allowances, and the 3-Day Interview Rule [E222]
May 1400:54:24Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveAre your PTO policies scaring off the technicians you actually want? Could a $100-a-week tool allowance or a reimbursed truck payment beat a $10,000 raise — and cost you less? In today's tight labor market, the shops winning top talent aren't always paying the most. They're being the smartest.Recorded live at the Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo in Kansas City, Hunt Demarest sits down with Lisa Coyle and Sam Freeman from Promotive — the auto industry's leading recruiting firm — to break down the real reasons shops are losing candidates before the first interview ends. From outdated PTO structures to tone-deaf job ads, Lisa and Sam pull back the curtain on what technicians are actually looking for, what's working in 2026, and how shop owners can compete with Rivian, Tesla, and municipalities without blowing up their payroll. Whether you're running two bays or twenty, this episode is a field guide to building a shop people choose — and stay at.What You'll Learn...(03:03) PTO reality check — why one week after year one is a dealbreaker in 2026(06:58) How flat-rate shops should actually calculate paid time off(10:38) Why shops are their own worst enemy when it comes to hiring timelines(14:37) The A-tech unicorn problem — and the better hire you're walking past(15:44) The training model the industry has backwards — and the fix that grows your whole team(16:39) Always be recruiting — why two weeks notice is not enough runway(36:34) The 3-day interview rule and why speed is the only hiring strategy that matters(40:22) Creative comp that wins top techs without blowing up payroll(43:25) The fringe benefit rules every shop owner needs to know before getting creative(51:37) Job hopping — tech problem or shop problem? The answer might surprise youIf you're ready to stop losing top techs to shops with smarter benefit packages, start competing with Tesla and Rivian on PTO without blowing up your payroll, and finally understand why the candidate who applied Sunday is already hired somewhere else by Thursday — this episode is essential listening.VISION Hi-Tech Training & Expo: https://visionkc.com/Promotive: https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/
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How Cutting Costs Doesn't Always Mean Keeping More Profit [E221]
May 700:29:23Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and OverdryveYou bought a slower machine to save money. You kept the cheap tech to avoid risk. You sent the customer home with the cheaper repair to do right by them. What if every one of those decisions quietly cost you more than the thing you were trying to avoid?In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down three real conversations with auto repair shop owners — each one a different version of the same costly mistake: confusing what something costs with what it's actually worth. From a sluggish alignment rack to an underperforming technician to a parts decision that looked smart on paper and cost $45,000 in lost production, Hunt walks through the math behind each scenario with blunt clarity.Whether you're staring down a lease payment you think you can't afford, debating whether to upgrade a technician, or choosing between a $4,000 and $6,000 parts ticket — this episode reframes how you look at time, labor, and money in a way that will change how you run your shop.(00:00) Intro, sponsor roll, and the week's theme: time and money are inseparable(02:53) Equipment: why a $2,500/month alignment rack lease would pay for itself(10:12) The takeaway: time is the only thing auto shops are truly selling(14:09) People: why spending $400 more on a better tech generated more profit(21:08) Parts: the cheaper job that cost the shop $45,000 in lost production(26:45) Buy once, cry once — quality in equipment, people, and parts always connectsIf you've ever kept old equipment running to avoid the expense, convinced yourself that the cheap tech is better than no tech, or assumed you were doing a customer a favor by choosing the lower-cost repair — this episode is essential listening.Thanks to our partner, PromotivePromotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our partner, WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop OwnersYou're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprintThanks to our partner, OverdryveOverdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive RepairVisit us Online: www.paarmelis.comEmail Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.comText Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413Download a Copy of My Books Here:Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop OwnersWrenches to Write-OffsYour Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open DiscussionDiagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.
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