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

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, the conversation focused on real-world challenges faced by shop owners and technicians, including the complexities of managing customer expectations and navigating negative reviews. One concept discussed was the need for transparent diagnostic processes and detailed communication, especially when customers question pricing or feel they already know the issue with their vehicles. A key theme that emerged was the importance of accurate shop management—covering everything from parts inventory to internal controls in software like Shop-Ware—to ensure profitability and reduce clerical errors.

00:00 Out-of-province vehicle inspections

06:53 Florida driver's license language law

15:54 Construction mistake with leaning structure

16:42 Visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum

23:08 Challenges of Replacing Headlights

27:58 Car repair frustration and miscommunication

32:35 Discussing diagnostic trouble codes

37:32 Introducing Whisperflow for Note-Taking

47:24 Customer dissatisfaction with tire pricing

50:29 Dealer pricing and customer experiences

56:11 Adjusting labor rates and pay structure

01:01:02 Evaluating Business Efficiency and Labor

01:09:15 Old machinist's inventory strategy

01:09:52 Buying and selling steel

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 Trey Holley, a shop owner from Thomaston, Georgia. Trey shares his journey from being a lifelong mechanic to learning the ropes of business ownership, highlighting the unique challenges faced in small Southern towns. The conversation touches on the importance of supporting fellow shop owners rather than viewing them purely as competitors, and Trey offers insight into the work-life balance struggles that led him to prioritize both his health and the building of a strong, supportive team.

00:00 Atlanta airport's massive scale

03:41 Long walks at airports

06:27 Thunder Valley racetrack experience

10:30 Southern business challenges with generosity

13:29 Overwhelmed by business demands

19:09 New guy in town setting up

20:59 University town business challenges

22:34 Building Industry Relationships

26:46 Discussing business challenges with spouse

31:14 Discussing labor cost strategy

35:32 Quality control and final checks

38:55 Balancing work and family time

40:33 Dealing with family anxiety

44:57 Balancing multiple responsibilities

47:21 Discovering the Enneagram for Communication

49:12 On choosing the right people

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 Tonnika Haynes. Tonnika shares her experiences navigating trade shows like Vision and ASTA, highlighting the challenges of scaling events while maintaining their community feel. The conversation touches on the struggle to balance profitable training with meaningful content for shop owners. They also discuss the importance of grassroots networking and accountability within industry associations, emphasizing the need to evolve while remembering what made previous events special.

00:00 Trade show insights and takeaways

04:45 Struggling to secure instructors

09:25 Improving trade show quality

11:08 Evaluating training investment costs

15:18 Investing in employee training

18:21 Challenges in Automotive Training

22:41 Getting great deals at the show

23:30 Boosting vendor sales at trade shows

27:40 Considering a move to a convention center

30:58 Regional networking events in Asheville

35:07 Adjusting content for wider appeal

37:22 Demand for hands-on Tesla class

41:53 Early board experiences discussed

42:36 Addressing organizational dysfunction

46:57 Launching the new podcast

52:03 Discussing video production deadlines

53:03 Braxton starting a media company

56:04 Introducing the next topic

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, Emily Oliver joins the podcast to share her journey of taking over a small family auto repair shop in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Emily talks about the challenges of modernizing operations, from adopting new software like Shop-Ware to implementing more thorough documentation and communication processes with customers. The conversation also highlights the complexities of hourly billing in auto repair, the challenges of managing family roles in business, and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation as the shop grows.

00:00 Family auto shop's history

08:56 Simple billing system explained

10:55 Tracking time in auto repair bays

19:04 Standardizing Inspection Processes

23:10 Issues with technician pricing

30:07 Convincing family about car maintenance

36:33 Communicating with customers

39:47 Dealing with other mechanics' issues

46:27 Early challenges and learning curve

54:21 Managing finances and staying focused

56:10 Discussing parts pricing strategy

01:01:21 Gaining insights from peer feedback

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 Sam Freeman, Alexandra Pare, and Daniel Ekstrand from Promotive. The group demos “Paige,” Promotive’s AI-powered virtual recruiter, showcasing how AI is transforming the hiring and prescreening process in the automotive industry. The conversation dives into current industry trends, including why technicians are leaving dealerships for independent shops and the top reasons candidates are looking for new positions. They also get candid about the frustrations of online reviews, sharing stories and strategies shop owners use to respond to feedback—both good and bad.

00:00 Overview of Promotive's Services

11:55 Managing morning priority calls

15:43 Handling Language and Mumbling Issues

18:44 Automated messaging for applicants

27:21 Icy disaster during bachelor party

32:58 Early adoption of Facebook and DVI

37:41 Missed email confusion

42:59 Hotel room negotiation challenge

44:38 A quick conference trip

52:30 Challenges of running a car shop

59:36 Trying the Worst BBQ in KC

01:03:25 Handling negative feedback

01:07:19 Feedback on Uber improvements