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.
36episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Number One Thing Your Team Needs to Hit Your Goals, And It Has Nothing to Do With Skill [E214]
Mar 1900:32:18Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat if the reason your team isn't hitting your numbers is simply that they don't know what the numbers are?How do you go from being the guy fixing the cars to the guy running the business — and what does it cost you if you never make that mental switch?Hunt Demarest sits down with Brian Rooney, a client, shop owner in Iowa, and author of Protecting Outcomes. Brian's story is one that will resonate with many listeners: a technician who took over the shop he worked in, figured out the financial side on the fly, and built a business he's proud of. He found Hunt through Your Perfect Shop, cold-emailed Paar Melis & Associates from the plane ride home, and has been a client ever since. Now, he's turned his hard-won lessons into a book of his own.This episode covers the full journey — from not knowing what gross profit was to tracking GP percentage, GP dollars, and effective labor rate as his top daily KPIs. Brian shares how going all-hourly works for his team, how he tackled the DVI rollout, and how his shop went from an $85 labor rate in 2019 to $186.70 today. Most importantly, he talks about the single biggest change he'd make if he could go back to day one: communicate your targets to your team from the start.Whether you're a technician thinking about ownership, a newer shop owner still finding your footing with the numbers, or a seasoned operator looking to get better buy-in from your crew, this one is worth your time.What You'll Learn...(03:40) How Hunt and Brian met and more about Vision.(05:25) How Brian grew into mastering the numbers side of the business(07:25) The story behind Brian's book, Protecting Outcomes(09:50) Why communication is at the root of every shop problem(13:10) How Brian built his metrics knowledge one step at a time(18:55) Why Brian runs an all-hourly team — and how he handles the productivity conversation(21:50) Brian's top three daily KPIs and how he improved his effective labor rate(26:00) The one thing Brian would change if he could go back to day onePROTECTING OUTCOMES: Why Thinking Like an Owner Changes Everything by Brian RooneyRooney's Auto and Tire CenterThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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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That Empty Bay Is Costing You $175,000 a Year: The Real Math Behind Recruiting (Or Not Recruiting) [E213]
Mar 1200:47:07Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat if that empty bay in your shop is costing you $175,000 a year?What happens when your best technician walks in on Friday afternoon and says they're not coming back Monday?In this episode, Hunt Demarest welcomes back Chris Lawson from Technician Find — the first returning guest on Business by the Numbers. Chris tackles the question shop owners struggle with most: Can you really afford to invest in recruiting when money is tight? Drawing on real shop data, Hunt and Chris break down the hidden cost of empty bays ($175,000 per year in lost gross profit for the average shop) and why treating recruiting as an optional expense is costing shops far more than any recruiting service ever could.Chris explains why recruiting is fundamentally different from advertising — you're not looking for people actively searching for jobs, you're reaching employed technicians who need a compelling reason to take the risk of leaving where they are. This requires completely different messaging, targeting strategies, and an understanding that ChatGPT-written ads on Indeed all look identical because they're copying each other. The conversation covers everything from why shops get 10+ applicants per opening while others get zero, to the emerging concept of "bench building" — maintaining relationships with potential hires before you desperately need them.This episode also dives into compensation strategy, the importance of running competitive salary surveys, and why the trades are positioned for continued wage growth as AI threatens white-collar careers but can't turn a wrench. Whether you're fully staffed and looking to build insurance against turnover, or scrambling to fill an empty bay, this conversation provides a framework for thinking about recruiting as an investment rather than an expense — and why waiting until you're desperate is the most expensive strategy of all.What you'll learn…(03:05) The real cost of empty bays: $2,000 per day vs. the cost of recruiting(05:00) Why recruiting is viewed as a vendor expense instead of an investment(05:30) The Indeed problem: Why every automotive technician job posting looks identical(07:10) How to write ads for employed technicians vs. people actively looking for work(09:00) Why good techs aren't on job boards — and where to find them instead(12:05) The evolution of technician recruitment(15:00) Optimizing the hiring process(18:00) Building a strong reputation(21:00) The essential role of interviews in recruitment(24:30) Understanding technician recruitment challenges(30:15) The importance of communication in recruitment(35:00) Leveraging AI in recruitment strategies(40:00) Future trends in technician wages and industry perceptionsThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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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Why Profit on a $40 Cabin Air Filter Can Beat a $600 Water Pump Job: Discover the Metric Your Shop Isn't Tracking [E212]
Mar 500:23:19Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWould you swap out wiper blades for $500? Probably yes. Would you replace an entire engine for $500? Absolutely not.But here’s the real question: what if the math behind why you said yes to one and no to the other is the same math that’s silently costing your shop thousands of dollars every month? IIn this episode, Hunt Demarest breaks down one of the most powerful and most overlooked metrics in the auto repair business: gross profit dollars per hour sold.Most shop owners track sales, gross profit, and hours. But very few ask the one question that ties them all together: how fast are you making that money? Inspired by the late Aaron Stokes of Shop Fix Academy, Hunt makes the case that the speed of your profitability, not just the size of it, is what separates thriving shops from ones that are always busy but never ahead.Hunt walks through real examples that make this impossible to ignore — including why tire shops with terrible margins can still be wildly profitable, and how a $40 cabin air filter can outperform a $600 water pump job. Whether you're setting targets, pricing jobs, or wondering why a record sales month still left you short, this is the framework that explains it. And if you're already using Tekmetric or Shop-Ware, this metric is likely already on your end-of-day report; it's time to start using it.What You’ll Learn(00:10) It's not how much you make, it's how fast you make it(02:14) A tribute to the late Aaron Stokes of Shop Fix Academy(03:05) Understanding gross profit dollars per hour(03:45) Hours open vs. hours sold — the two versions of GP$/hour explained(06:00) The importance of speed in profitability(06:45) Why tire shops with terrible margins can still be wildly profitable(08:50) Setting targets for success(09:15) Why chasing hours alone can leave you working harder and earning less(12:00) Calculating gross profit dollars per hour(14:54) Maximizing profitability through pricing and productivity(17:50) Real-world examples of profitability(20:50) Conclusion and key takeawaysThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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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How to Build a Commission Plan for Your Advisor or Manager Without Getting Burned [E211]
Feb 2600:26:21Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileYou already know how to pay your technicians, but what about everyone else? Your service advisors, your counter staff, your shop manager... how do you build a pay plan that actually motivates them to perform?In this follow-up to last week's technician pay plan episode, Hunt Demarest walks through the three most common commission structures for front-office and management staff: paying off total sales, paying off gross profit, and paying off net income. Using a real client example, a shop owner who wants to reward his son for growing the business from $2 million to $2.5 million in annual sales, Hunt breaks down exactly how to calculate each structure, what percentage makes sense, and how to stress test the plan before you hand it to your employee.The big theme running through all three structures is: only reward people for what they can actually control. Paying a manager based on net income sounds fair in theory, but what happens when you buy a $30,000 side-by-side for the shop and write it off?Hunt explains why net income plans almost never work in practice, why gross profit plans are more aligned but more complex, and why a simple percentage of sales, with a few key guardrails around gross profit floors, is often the most transparent and motivating option for most shops.Whether you're building a plan from scratch or rethinking one that isn't driving the behavior you want, this episode gives you a clear, repeatable framework and a reminder that none of it matters unless your employee actually understands the plan and knows how their daily actions will move the needle.What you'll learn in this episode:(03:15) The benchmark that might surprise you about flat salaries(05:15) The rule every pay plan must follow relating to compensation and penalization. (08:30) A real case study and step-by-step instructions on building a payment plan.(10:20) The base pay ratio that makes or breaks a commission plan(12:00) How to protect yourself from a sales-based plan backfiring (including gross profit floors and percentage-of-increase structures)(17:40) Sales vs. gross profit plans(19:50) Shop management software vs. QuickBooks: why Hunt is adamant you should only use one of them to calculate commissions(23:40) The $30,000 side-by-side problem: why paying a manager off net income almost always ends in resentment and what to do instead.Thanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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 Your Technician Pay Plan Is Really Telling You [E210]
Feb 1900:31:28Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat if the pay plan you've been debating isn't actually the problem?In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest tackles one of the most argued topics in the auto repair industry: how to pay your technicians. After seeing it debated online once too often, Hunt pulls from hundreds of real shop benchmarks to cut through the noise — and his answer might surprise you.Hunt breaks down the three main structures — flat rate, hourly/salary, and hybrid — explaining what each one actually incentivizes, where each one breaks down, and why half of his top-performing shops use flat rate while the other half don't. The takeaway: no pay plan alone will fix a production problem.From the classic flat rate with no minimums to California flat rate, tiered hourly structures, and spiff-based systems, Hunt walks through the real-world mechanics of each — including the overtime trap that catches shop owners off guard when non-discretionary bonuses are in play.This episode also covers team-based vs. individual pay plans, with a detailed real-world example of a six-tech shop that saw production climb for six months after switching to a team bonus structure — then slide consistently for the next 18. Hunt explains exactly why it happened and what the senior tech said that made it all make sense.The bottom line: if you change the pay plan without changing how you manage, communicate, and operate, you're just changing the numbers on a piece of paper.Hunt also previews next week's episode on manager and advisor pay plans, and announces that Reed Melis of Paar Melis & Associates will be teaching a class on shop pay plans at Vision in Kansas City.What you'll learn…(00:08) Why Hunt dedicated a full episode to tech pay plans(01:30) Why half of top benchmark shops are flat rate — and half aren't(02:59) Understanding flat rate: the core appeal for money-motivated players(06:46) Can flat rate mask a bad manager — and can hourly survive one?(09:00) The downsides of flat rate: comebacks, culture, and sick time(12:00) California flat rate explained(14:38) Hourly and salary: the easiest pay plan — and its one massive drawback(17:00) The awkward conversation every hourly shop owner eventually has to have(19:30) The compliance issue most shops don't know they have(21:00) The most important rule of any pay plan: if they can't understand it, it won't work(22:05) Hybrid and tiered rate structures: how they work and who they work for(24:00) Spiff systems: how a simple $100 bonus can drive a 10% production increase(25:30) Team-based vs. individual pay plans: the theory, the appeal, and the culture risk(27:30) Why a team bonus structure boosted production then quietly tanked it(30:00) Pay plans as a forever-moving target: why honest conversations matter more than the structure itselfThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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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From MBA to the Bays: Why the Next Generation Isn't Taking Over Family Shops (And What One Second-Gen Owner Did Differently) [E209]
Feb 1200:53:11Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat if you left college with an engineering degree and an MBA, only to realize your best opportunity was back home in the family auto shop?In this episode, Hunt Demarest sits down with Brad Templin of Scott's U-Save, a fourth-generation automotive professional and second-generation owner running multiple locations across the Midwest. Brad shares the real story of what it's like to return to a family business after pursuing a corporate career, work alongside your mom, and navigate the challenges of succession planning in an era when private equity is knocking on every door.Drawing on his own journey from aerospace engineering to MBA to tire tech, Brad explains why he spent his first six months working in the bays, how he and his mom built mutual respect through honest communication, and what it takes to grow a business when you're competing against both private equity buyers and the temptation of a comfortable corporate salary.This episode tackles the hard conversations every family business faces: working with parents, handling disagreements when personal relationships are on the line, deciding between private equity offers and building something on your own, and why succession planning doesn't have to mean selling to the next generation or selling out completely.Brad also shares practical advice on how to maintain family relationships when business tensions run high, and why honesty — even when uncomfortable is the foundation of making it work.What you'll learn…(03:15) How a fourth-generation automotive family built and rebuilt across 100 years(04:35) Why Brad's great-grandfather invented the hub-and-spoke model in the 1920s—the same strategy private equity uses today(08:50) The influence of education on career paths(12:00) Cultural shifts in the automotive industry(15:33) Building trust and respect in a family business(18:15) Why Brad spent six months as a tire tech before taking on leadership(24:50) Investigating family dynamics in business(28:59) Navigating growth and trust: Separating business disagreements from personal relationships(30:00) Why Brad admits he's not the 'bootstrap entrepreneur' — and why that's okay(34:15) Private equity: How Brad and his mom decided whether to sell or keep building(37:35) The real question: 'Are we still having fun?' — and why that matters more than the money(43:10) The future of the industry(48:30) Brad's advice for struggling family businessesThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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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Everything You Need to Know About Life Insurance for Your Shop (Without the Sales Pitch) [E208]
Feb 500:26:38Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileShould your shop carry life insurance on a key employee? What if one employee's unexpected death could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars?In this episode, Hunt Demarest tackles everything you need to know about life insurance for auto repair shop owners and their teams — covering key person insurance, term vs. whole life policies, tax implications, and how much coverage actually makes sense for your situation.Unlike most conversations about life insurance, this one comes with zero sales agenda. Hunt breaks down the real economics of life insurance, why it's almost never tax-deductible (and why that's actually a good thing), and the five critical questions every shop owner should ask before buying a policy.Drawing on real client situations, from key employee coverage to bank-required policies, this episode explains when life insurance is essential protection versus when it's an unnecessary expense, and how to think through coverage amounts based on debt, dependents, and the true cost of losing critical team members.What you’ll learn…(02:20) Why shop owners are suddenly asking about life insurance (03:00) What key person life insurance actually is and whether you need employee permission to buy it(06:20) The real cost of losing a key employee: calculating the financial impact of a technician, manager, or yourself(11:55) Term life vs. whole life vs. universal life: the real differences explained without the sales pitch(14:35) Why term life insurance is the better choice for 99% of shop owners and when it isn't(18:50) Can you write off life insurance premiums? The non-deductible expense rule explained(19:40) Why writing off life insurance premiums is a terrible deal, even though you technically can(22:55) The five questions to ask yourself before buying life insurance: debt, dependents, goals, and money(24:15) Why life insurance is statistically a bad deal and why you should probably have it anywayThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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 Tax Mistakes That Get Auto Shops in Trouble (and How to Avoid Them) [E207]
Jan 2900:30:50Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you unknowingly doing things that make the IRS take a closer look at your shop?What if one “small” filing mistake dramatically increases your audit risk this tax season?In this episode, Hunt Demarest walks through the most common tax mistakes that raise red flags with the IRS — and why many well-intentioned shop owners accidentally put themselves in the audit spotlight every year.Drawing on real audit cases from auto repair shops, Hunt explains how filing late, amending returns, underreporting income, and mismatched 1099 reporting can quickly escalate into full-blown audits, even when nothing dishonest was intended.This episode also breaks down why Schedule C amendments are especially dangerous, how credit card deposits and sales tax reporting can trigger IRS scrutiny, and what shop owners should do before filing to minimize risk, close the books cleanly, and move into the new year with confidence.What you’ll learn…(03:00) Understanding IRS audits and common mistakes(05:45) Hunt’s personal experience with being audited(06:40) How to prevent ever getting audited(09:00) What actually increases audit risk — and what doesn’t(11:50) Income reporting and its applications(15:05) The impact of K1’s and other income sources(17:55) High-risk income types and their audit potential(21:15) Losses and their effect on audit risk(24:00) Filing strategies to minimize audit risk(27:00) Final thoughts on tax preparation and auditsThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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 New Tax Rules That Could Save (or Cost) Your Shop Thousands in 2026 [E206]
Jan 2200:29:12Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you sure you’re capturing every tax deduction your shop — and your employees — are entitled to this year?What if missing one small detail hands more money to the IRS than necessary?In this episode, Hunt Demarest kicks off the new tax season by breaking down the most important tax rule changes shop owners need to understand for 2026, and just as importantly, who actually qualifies for them.From overtime deductions and tip taxation to the surprisingly nuanced rules around car loan interest and a new senior tax break, Hunt explains what’s real, what’s misunderstood, and where shop owners should (and should not) be taking action.Using real-world payroll examples and clear math, this episode cuts through the headlines to show how these changes affect employees, owners, and families differently — and why failing to understand the details could mean leaving thousands of dollars on the table or creating unnecessary IRS risk.What you’ll discover…(02:00) The four major tax changes affecting auto repair businesses this year(04:49) Why most auto repair shops do not qualify for tip deductions(07:15) How overtime deductions actually work — and what “qualified overtime” really means(09:55) How state overtime rules can complicate federal tax deductions(14:55) Why owners, spouses, and many family members do not qualify for overtime deductions(16:55) The new car loan interest deduction — and why most shop owners won’t qualify(18:00) The hidden rules that eliminate many vehicles from the car loan write-off(22:05) Why “made in the USA” matters more than brand name(23:10) When buying a new car might make more sense than a used car financially(25:25) The new senior tax deduction and who benefits most from itThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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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Why Your Sales Goal Might Be Leading You Toward Disaster [E205]
Jan 1500:28:45Tap to summarizeThanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you setting sales goals that actually make you more money — or just more tired?What if your biggest growth goal is quietly setting your shop up for failure?In this episode, Hunt Demarest breaks down one of the most common (and dangerous) mistakes shop owners make when planning for growth: setting sales targets without understanding the real constraints behind them.Building on the ideas introduced in Episode 200, Hunt walks through how to set profit-driven goals instead of vanity sales numbers — and how to pressure-test those goals against your people, pricing, productivity, and physical space before they turn into stress, burnout, or shrinking margins.Using real shop examples and simple math, this episode shows how to reverse-engineer a sales target from profit, identify your true limiting factors, and decide whether growth should come from pricing, car count, ARO, staffing, or capacity — not guesswork.What you’ll learn…(00:01) Why every shop owner needs a growth goal — and why the wrong one can lead to disaster(03:00) Setting sales goals vs profit goals(05:10) How to work backward from profit into gross profit and sales(06:35) Why sustained 30–50% growth is unrealistic for most auto repair shops(08:25) The danger of planning future years before fixing today’s constraints(10:40) Calculating sales targets for profit(13:30) Why labor rate is often the biggest lever — not car count(18:00) How to identify limiting factors in business growth(19:55) Using ARO versus car count to find the least painful path to growth(24:40) How to maximize profitability and resourcesThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. 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 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/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:Wrenches 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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