Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.
Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE

Don't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026

Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.
Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitability

Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!
Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros

Shop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.

Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.

Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!

In this episode, Lucas Underwood and David Roman are joined by Colin Thielman, owner of Thielman's Auto Repair in Pemberton, New Jersey. Colin shares his journey from running a busy home-based garage to opening a dedicated shop, emphasizing the steep learning curve and the importance of building out documentation and management systems. The conversation also covers adapting to new automotive technologies and the need for continuous training, as well as the crucial role of detailed financial tracking in scaling a business.

00:00 Facing tough feedback and growth

03:43 Managing workflow and staying busy

09:25 Checking vehicle calibration needs

12:39 Discussing insurance coverage options

13:55 Insurance issues with car lifts

19:14 Adjusting labor rates

21:11 Analyzing car sales and costs

24:42 Prius ABS module recall

27:04 Discussing client concerns and liabilities

29:23 Diagnosing car start issues

35:31 Planning for retirement

36:49 Discussing a faulty Chevy Avalanche

39:47 Documenting vehicle condition with photos

42:39 Hershey management training advice

45:24 Training a New Employee

51:10 Getting into diesel truck repair

51:43 Balancing finances for survival

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.
Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE

Don't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026

Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.
Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitability

Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!
Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros

Shop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.

Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.

Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!

In this episode, Lucas and David are joined by Cavan Robinson and Tony Mercury of Vehlo from STX 2026. Cavan and Tony explore the evolving trade show landscape, discussing how rising costs and market saturation have changed their approach to event participation. They also dive into the growing influence of AI in the industry, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges it brings to shop management and marketing.

00:00 Evaluating trade show expenses

10:25 Finding the right trade show staff

14:31 Attending the Northeast Show and Milwaukee Event

17:37 Improving event attendance strategies

25:47 Issues with recurring trade shows

30:12 Questioning Technical Training Value

35:21 Lunch with Margaret discussing retirement

38:42 Advice for growing your business

46:56 AI's impact on SEO strategies

53:41 Managing AI Data and Partnerships

57:36 Using GuestX for call issues

01:00:29 Catfish leads to divorce

Don't get to the end of this year wishing you had taken action to change your business and your life.
Click here to schedule a free discovery call for your business: https://geni.us/IFORABE

Don't miss an upcoming event with The Institute: https://geni.us/InstituteEvents2026

Shop-Ware gives you the tools to provide your shop with everything needed to become optimally profitable.
Click here to schedule a free demo: https://info.shop-ware.com/profitability

Transform your shop's marketing with the best in the automotive industry, Shop Marketing Pros!
Get a free audit of your shop's current marketing by clicking here: https://geni.us/ShopMarketingPros

Shop owners, are you ready to simplify your business operations? Meet 360 Payments, your one-stop solution for effortless payment processing.

Imagine this—no more juggling receipts, staplers, or endless paperwork. With 360 Payments, you get everything integrated into a single, sleek digital platform.

Simplify payments. Streamline operations. Check out 360payments.com today!

In this episode, Jim Montagner, a traveling GM world-class tech and owner of Valley Motor Auto and Truck, shares his unconventional entry into the automotive industry, beginning as a Vo-Tech student and eventually moving from independent shops to dealerships. Jim details the challenges of transitioning to mobile diagnostics, emphasizing the importance of sound business practices, such as bookkeeping and proper pricing, to sustain and eventually grow his business. The conversation explores the necessity of ongoing education in both technical skills and business management, highlighting the critical balance between delivering quality repairs and ensuring business profitability.

00:00 Choosing a career path

06:27 Discussing the cost of living

06:56 Finding inspiration from others

10:44 Expanding from diesel to general repairs

15:28 Customer perceptions of mobile repair costs

18:39 Talking to shop owners

20:10 Pricing strategy challenges

25:04 Unqualified mechanics hurting reputation

28:38 Managing inconsistent work hours

31:56 Navigating business start-up challenges

33:27 Check Engine Chuck's viral success

36:58 Finding first big job by chance

41:49 Pricing for profitability in auto shops

45:30 Learning ECM and EEPROM Programming

48:39 Vacation scheduling challenges

49:26 Making weekend plans

55:33 Understanding Business Profit Margins

57:27 Reading business books for success

59:39 Planning future recording session