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Auto repair shops might bulk order carbon copies, or you might find a template online and print as many copies as your shop needs. Or, if your shop uses digital templates, you might have to deal with time-consuming digital file management.

Filling out the forms over and over, be it by handwriting or typing, can become tedious. And both options are less than ideal for record-keeping.

Paper can get lost, and digital files can become overwritten or corrupted. Both approaches are inconvenient and ultimately slow things down at your shop. And the impression you give during the payment process can determine whether those customers return or not.

Here are four reasons why a shop management system is better than an auto repair invoice template approach for your business.

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By streamlining your auto repair shop workflow, you can help your shop create a memorable customer experience that will keep them coming back next time they have a problem.

From the moment customers walk in the door to when they pick up their vehicle, your shop’s service advisors play a crucial role in creating a smooth, enjoyable experience.

Shop management software makes it easy to establish a standardized intake process so that shops can provide the same level of care to their customers every single time.

Service advisors can build repair orders in seconds, apply the right digital vehicle inspection templates with just a few clicks, and quickly text or email the results to the customer for approval.

This frees up their time to focus on the customer directly, address their concerns, and create a stress-free experience. If things go well the first time, and customers feel like they can trust your shop's recommendations, work they'll more than likely come back for future repairs.

There are many reasons you might want to sell your auto repair shop.

You might be ready for another venture; you might be trying to fund your retirement; or you might just be curious about the value of your business if you do decide to sell. 

Whether you're actively in the market to sell your shop, or you just want to know how to value an automotive repair shop just in case, you’ve come to the right place.

How to value your auto repair shop

The industry standard for establishing a sale price for an automotive repair business is to use total owner benefit (TOB) multiplied by four (or TOBx4).

So, if you took home an average of $50,000 a year for the past three years, the price of your business will likely be valued around $200,000. Keep in mind this TOB value does not include property value.

For those who are reading this with the hopes of selling in the near future, that valuation method might seem low to you. And it is.

The good news is that you can go above and beyond the industry standard, and sell your shop for a higher value, if you stay on top of your numbers.

Not only will diligent reporting and good customer service increase your TOB, but you’ll also have more leverage when negotiating offers from buyers.

Here are three steps you can take to improve the valuation of your business and secure the money that you worked hard to earn. 

It’s easy for most auto shops, myself included, to mimic what other shops are doing. Asking other shop owners questions like, "Hey, how do you do this?" or “What do your customers like?”

I definitely started off that route, and although we were growing, it was a slow growth.

When I began implementing newer, more modern strategies, my shop’s growth really took off. I first implemented a digital vehicle inspection (DVI) system with Tekmetric when I had about four team members in 2017. We were doing about 100 cars a month.

It was an adjustment. There were a couple of things I had a hard time with at the beginning. Essentially, I tried to run our shop’s physical systems—like our whiteboard—the exact same way as the DVI software.

What I didn’t realize was I needed to make two changes. One being that I needed to make the full switch to the new, modern-day auto repair shop software. The second being that I needed to adapt our physical systems to the software’s programs, or completely move them from physical to digital.

Once we did the full switch to the auto repair shop software, we were ready to rock n’ roll.

Racing-crew-chief-turned-shop-owner Mark Darragh knows exotic vehicles. From his days at the Indianapolis 500 to his decades running an exotic vehicle repair shop, he has become a go-to resource for examining some of the world's finest cars. 

Buckle up for some of Mark’s timeless insights into how to break away from the pack and put your auto repair shop in the fast lane.

Maintaining an efficient workflow is crucial to the success of any auto repair shop. A breakdown in workflow can lead to delays, a frustrated team, and unsatisfied customers. One key area where workflow can break down is during the inspection and estimate process. 

By investing in a more modern, cloud-based shop management system, you can establish a transparent, replicable digital vehicle inspection and repair estimate process, and streamline parts ordering so that service advisors can dispatch repair orders quickly to technicians.