Tekmetric Multi-Shop is designed to give owners everything they need to manage multiple shops in one place. Our goal is to help your team gain back time, make more informed decisions, and maximize your shops’ margins!
Our latest update for Tekmetric Multi-Shop, Shared Customer History, does just that! With stronger cohesion between different locations, multi-shop owners and service advisors can simplify their workflow and provide a more seamless customer experience.
Tekmetric Multi-Shop Shared Customer History allows users to connect customers across shops and view history for those customers across all locations within their organization in Tekmetric. With just a few clicks, shop owners and general managers can quickly add customers from one shop location to another without actually typing out all their information again. This means shops can provide a seamless customer experience across all locations and easily maintain customer information without worrying about duplicating entries.
Gain a better handle on your customer information and provide a better experience at the same time.
By linking customer data so that service writers have access to all past information -- digital vehicle inspections, estimates generated, approved or declined work, and completed repairs -- you can save your shop time while enabling a more personalized experience for the customer.
Remind customers of that declined brake job from your other location, or check up on the status of the leaky oil line to see if it's finally time for replacement. To the customer, this will feel like the truly modern experience they've grown accustomed to in this new digital age.
And they'll be impressed with how on-top-of-things your shop is!
Fewer clicks on your end means a more cohesive and streamlined process, which results in a smooth, frictionless experience for the customer:
Overall, Shared Customer History enables your shop to provide your customers with the same experience, no matter what location they visit. It’ll be like they're visiting the exact same business, with the same care and support they’ve already come to expect.
So, if that customer is on vacation or a business trip and has to stop by a different location for the first time, your shop will immediately have visibility into the history of everything they've done at your other locations, and you can pick up from where they left off like it’s the exact same shop.
And the benefits really don't stop there. There's so many ways to fuel your business's growth with the right multi-shop platform.
When thinking about how to run an auto repair shop, we might start by thinking about a well-managed football team. The different players know what they’re responsible for, show up to accomplish their jobs, put their best effort into everything they do, and perform their best as a team. Players have each others’ backs both on the field and off the field. They can think on the fly, and move as a unit toward the end zone.
How do your players work together? When mechanic shops assemble the right team, devise the right strategy, and run the right plays, they can win, too. Service advisors can stay informed about what’s going on with every repair order at any given moment in time, switch easily between tasks even when the shop is busy, and provide excellent customer service. Technicians are able to focus on their work and spend more time turning wrenches. And customers? They’ll get their cars back fast and drive away with a good impression of your shop.
Shop owners who think more deeply about how to manage a mechanic shop are rewarded for their efforts. Well-managed shops see exponential returns. Stellar team performance leads to customer satisfaction and repeat business. The more successful your shop, the more you can invest back into your team, continuing the cycle of success for all involved.
As a shop owner, you aren't just selling a car repair; you are selling expertise, specialized equipment, and peace of mind. If your rates are too low, you’ll struggle to keep the lights on. If they’re too high without the value to back them up, customers may opt for a competitor.
In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to find that "sweet spot" for your labor rate so you can build a sustainable, profitable shop.
Mechanic shops should charge a labor rate that is competitive in their area, covers their overhead costs (rent, utilities, employees, etc.), and allows them to maintain a healthy profit margin (40-70%) to run the shop. Whether you are an independent shop or a large dealership, your labor rate and parts markup are your primary vehicles for maintaining profitability.
Before we dive into the math, we need to understand these concepts.
Setting your rate shouldn't be a guessing game based on what the guy down the street is charging. It should be a data-driven decision. Here is a step-by-step approach to finding your labor rate.
First, determine exactly what it costs you to pay an employee. This isn't just their hourly wage. You should include:
Divide this total annual cost by the number of billable hours that the employee produces in a year. This is your "loaded" cost and does not include any profit margin.
Your labor revenue needs to cover more than just the employee. It must also cover the overhead costs of running an auto repair business:
In the automotive industry, labor profit margins vary greatly, but most shops aim for 40-70%. If your loaded cost for a technician is $45 per hour and you want a 65% profit margin, your base mechanic labor rate should be at least $128 per hour.
While your internal numbers should be your primary focus, you shouldn’t ignore the local market. If your labor rate is $128 per hour but every other independent shop in your town is at $100, you need to either justify your value through superior service or find ways to reduce your overhead. Make sure you benchmark against competitors of similar size, services offered, and geographically nearby.
Not every repair order is the same. Many successful shops use a labor guide combined with a labor matrix that slightly increases the rate for more complex jobs or diagnostic work. Shops that perform more specialized repairs or focus on specialty vehicles should heavily consider implementing a labor matrix.
Your rate shouldn't be static. Several external and internal factors will influence how much you can—and should—charge for car repair services.
Tekmetric can help you be more profitable by providing the features and reporting you need to make better business decisions. Tekmetric shops average a 65% labor profit margin by utilizing modern features that help you build trust with your customers and keep them coming back year after year.
Setting your labor rate requires constant attention to your local market, your internal costs, and the evolving complexity of car repair. By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your shop doesn't just keep cars running—it keeps your business thriving. If you have questions about Tekmetric or how we can help your shop be more profitable, book your free demo today.
Shop Management
Thought Leadership
March 19, 2026
In auto repair, there are many moving parts to keep track of—both the literal parts your shop uses to repair vehicles, and the parts of your business that determine your shop’s efficiency, security, and ability to grow. If you want your shop to flourish, it’s crucial to devote part of your business to keeping track of the parts you order.
Many shops track parts in terms of cost of goods sold. The parts you need for the job are included on every repair order, so it’s easy to see what parts your customers are paying for as long as you have a solid process for building repair orders.
But what about in terms of accounts payable? How does your shop track how much you’re spending for parts from the supplier?
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)