Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve

You need money. Maybe it's to cover payroll this week, maybe it's to buy the alignment rack you've been eyeing for a year. Either way, Hunt Demarest, CPA, says the loan you should get depends entirely on two questions banks are already asking about you: do you have cash flow, and do you have collateral?

In this solo follow-up to his cash reserves series, Hunt breaks down every borrowing option available to auto repair shop owners and ranks them from cheapest to most dangerous. He walks through real client scenarios — equity in your building, financing new equipment, strong profits with nothing to put up as collateral — and explains exactly what to say (and not say) when you sit down with a bank. He closes with a hard look at credit card advance loans: why they're marketed as easy money, why the interest rate isn't actually what traps shop owners, and why the repayment period is the real killer.

Whether you're planning a purchase a year out or you need cash this month, this episode gives you the vocabulary and the game plan to borrow smarter.

What You'll Learn...

00:00 Intro: wrapping up the cash conversation with how to actually get the money

03:46 Secured vs. unsecured debt, and why one always beats the other on rate

06:10 The two things every bank is really looking for: cash flow and collateral

07:12 Scenario: You're out of cash, but your building has equity

07:57 Refinance or borrow against it? How to decide, and why today's rates change the math

13:26 Scenario: You're out of cash and need new equipment: financing vs. leasing

15:40 Scenario: Strong profits, no collateral, the situation most bootstrapped shops face

17:25 How to frame your ask so the bank says yes (the tire business pitch)

18:46 Last resort: credit card advance loans explained, and how they actually get repaid

20:48 Why the interest rate isn't what kills you: it's the repayment period

23:34 Wrap-up: share the show and send in your questions

Thanks to our partner, Promotive

Promotive 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, WickedFile

Turn 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 Owners

You'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/blueprint

Thanks to our partner, Overdryve

Overdryve 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 Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com

Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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