Customer Stories

Parker Branch grew ARO from $583 to more than $1,000 with Tekmetric’s inspection tools and streamlined workflows

Parker Branch started Branch Automotive with a two-bay emissions testing station and one guiding principle: earn trust through clear communication. Today, his 14-bay diesel specialist shop runs on that same principle — backed by results that earned him Tekmetric's 2026 Shop Excellence Award for Sustained Growth.

The path from solo technician to award-winning shop owner didn't involve shortcuts. Branch built systems that freed his Highlands Ranch, Colorado, team to focus on two things: fixing diesel trucks and helping customers understand exactly what's happening under the hood.

Starting with a Strategy

Branch worked in dealerships and independent shops for more than 20 years before opening his own business during the 2008 financial crisis. He knew attracting customers to a new shop would be the hardest part, so he opened a diesel emissions testing station in Colorado to get trucks in the door.

“I thought, if people come for emissions testing, I can talk to them about their trucks,” Branch said. “I could show them my background, my training, and hopefully convert them into service customers.”

He stood on County Line Road in Highlands Ranch with handheld signs on slow days, waving at diesel trucks to advertise the new testing station. He even built a basic website with a $300 Google Ads budget. The phone didn’t always ring in the beginning, but word of mouth from 15 years of working in the area started bringing customers through the door.

Growing Through People and Process

Within months, Branch realized he couldn’t answer phones, run the dynamometer, fix trucks, and manage the business alone. He hired a helper who could share emissions testing duties. Then he hired a second technician to use the other bay. Eventually, he brought on an office manager who had worked with him at a dealership.

By 2012, Branch Automotive was generating $850,000 in revenue from two bays while charging $80 per flat-rate hour. The problem was Branch had been running the entire operation without shop management software and no clear understanding of margins or labor rates.

“I was shooting from the hip,” Branch said. “I didn’t know what I was doing with pricing.”

He invested in his first shop management system, which gave him visibility into parts ordering, cost control, and performance tracking for the first time. Through industry training programs, Branch learned how to use software to understand his business.

“That was revolutionary,” Branch said. “I could finally see what was happening.”

In 2014, Branch bought an eight-bay AAMCO facility down the street for $1.2 million and moved the business into a space that could support real growth. With more bays came more technicians, more advisers, and more need for systems that could keep everyone aligned.

Finding the Right Platform

As Branch Automotive grew, Branch kept looking for tools that would streamline operations and remove friction. He tried different platforms over the years, but the process always required advisers to flip between screens and manually create sub-estimates for every finding marked on an inspection. The workflow slowed down his team.

When Branch heard about Tekmetric’s reporting capabilities and the one-click feature that creates a sub-estimate for every yellow or red finding on the inspection, he knew it was time to make a change.

“That feature streamlined everything,” Branch said. “It creates a bucket for every finding, and the adviser just cruises right down through them. The process got faster, and we could handle more work without adding friction.”

Branch Automotive switched to Tekmetric two-and-a-half years ago, and the decision paid off immediately.

“It’s definitely been the right decision,” Branch said. “It’s an improvement for us.”

How Digital Vehicle Inspections Drive ARO Growth

Branch Automotive’s average repair order was $583 before adopting Tekmetric. Today, it sits over $1,000, with many months pushing toward $1,300. When emissions testing is removed from the blended calculation, the shop’s ARO is about $2,700.

Branch attributes the 77% increase in ARO directly to consistent use of digital vehicle inspections and the systems Tekmetric provides to make sharing those inspections seamless.

“There’s a direct correlation between using Tekmetric and the results we’ve seen,” Branch said. “If you’re using the tool right and following through with the 300% rule, the numbers will move.”

The 300% rule is an industry standard: 100% of vehicles should be inspected, 100% of findings should be estimated, and 100% of estimates should be shared with the customer. Tekmetric’s DVI platform makes that process efficient and repeatable.

Branch’s team follows strict internal standards for how many photos and videos to include in each inspection. They document both good and bad components to give customers a complete picture of vehicle health. Every finding includes clear verbiage explaining what the issue is, why it matters, what should be done, and what happens if it’s deferred.

When the inspection is complete, advisers send the customer a link and ask them to review it before calling to discuss it together. If the customer is in the shop, advisers use monitors that pivot so they can walk through the inspection side by side.

“We train advisers to address the primary concern first, then talk about overall vehicle health,” Branch said. “We ask them not to jump straight to pricing. If you tell someone it’s going to be $2,000 for the repair they came in for, they stop hearing anything else you say. We talk about the general health of the truck first, then we can discuss what needs to be done now and what can wait.”

For a diesel shop where repairs can be complex and expensive, that level of transparency builds trust. Customers can see what’s happening with their trucks and make informed decisions about what to fix.

“We’re not trying to sell them something they don’t need,” Branch said. “We’re showing them what we found and letting them choose. That’s what the DVI does.”

Tracking Performance and Coaching the Team

Tekmetric’s reporting tools give Branch visibility into metrics that matter.

“I can look at each adviser and see where they are on those numbers,” Branch said. “If someone’s close ratio is lower than the rest of the team, that tells me they need some help. Maybe they need training. Maybe they’re not following the process.”

That data helps Branch identify which advisers to put into performance coaching programs to give them the tools and peer support they need to improve.

The inspection reporting also shows Branch how many inspections each technician completes and how thoroughly they document findings. If one technician has significantly more green findings than the rest of the team, it’s a signal to check in and see if they need retraining on the shop’s standards.

“It’s not cookie-cutter,” Branch said. “But over time, you can see patterns. Tekmetric makes it easy to see those patterns and take action.”

Investing in the Team

Branch closed the shop and brought his entire team to VISION this year to make sure they got the same training and motivation he receives when he attends industry events.

“I used to go to trainings and come back with a list of ideas,” Branch said. “Some of it would get implemented, and some wouldn’t. I realized my employees needed to have that same experience. They needed to be there, not hear it secondhand from me.”

Everyone chose the classes they wanted based on their career goals. Some focused on improving their technical skills. Others explored leadership development because they’re interested in eventually owning a shop or moving into management.

Branch believes providing a development path is essential to maintaining a strong team culture. Employees want to feel like they’re growing and improving, not just stuck in a position with no future.

“It’s human nature,” Branch said. “Everyone wants to feel like they have a path. Training and growth opportunities are part of how we keep people engaged and proud of what they do.”

Weathering Economic Challenges and Looking Ahead

Branch isn’t chasing numbers just to chase numbers. He’s focused on maintaining culture, delivering great customer experiences, and making sure his team feels proud of the work they do.

“You can get caught up in the numbers and it starts to take the fun out,” Branch said. “We’re focusing on the customer experience and being happy. Most of us here like fixing stuff. We feel good when we’re successful and the customer is happy.”

Behind the scenes, Branch is working on strategies to bring more customers through the door. But the systems are in place. The team is trained. The tools work. When traffic picks up, Branch Automotive is ready.

The Advice for Other Shop Owners

Branch won Tekmetric’s 2026 Shop Excellence Award for Sustained Growth because his ARO trajectory reflects years of deliberate decisions about how to run the business. He didn’t get there by accident.

“If you’re a shop owner sitting at $500 or $600 average repair order thinking that’s just the nature of your market, you’re wrong,” Branch said. “The tool is there. The process works. You just have to use it.”

For shop owners considering Tekmetric, Branch’s advice is simple: look at the reporting, look at the inspection process, and see how easy it is to track performance at the adviser level.

“Let me show you the reporting,” Branch said. “Let me show you how we look at average written, average repair order, and close ratios for each adviser. The tool makes it so easy to see where the opportunity is and who needs coaching.”

Branch knows changing systems isn’t easy, especially for a mature business. But he’s always been willing to make changes that streamline operations, reduce friction, and help his team perform better.

“Tekmetric makes it easier to do the things we were already trying to do,” Branch said. “The inspection process is faster. The reporting is better. The sub-estimate feature saves time every single day.”

After two and a half years on Tekmetric, Branch has no regrets about making the switch. The results speak for themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

What results did Branch Automotive see after switching to Tekmetric?
Branch Automotive increased average repair order by 77%, from $583 to over $1,000, with actual repair work averaging $2,700 when emissions testing is excluded. The shop processes 10,000 to 15,000 digital vehicle inspection images and videos per month and won Tekmetric’s 2026 Shop Excellence Award for Sustained Growth.

How does Branch Automotive use digital vehicle inspections to increase ARO?
Branch Automotive follows the 300% rule: inspect 100% of vehicles, estimate 100% of findings, and share 100% of estimates with customers. The team documents both good and bad components with photos and videos, includes clear explanations for every finding, and uses Tekmetric’s one-click sub-estimate feature to create estimate buckets for each yellow or red inspection item.

What made Branch Automotive choose Tekmetric?
Branch needed better reporting capabilities and a faster inspection-to-estimate workflow. Tekmetric’s one-click feature that creates a sub-estimate for every yellow or red finding eliminated the manual process of creating individual estimate buckets. The platform also provides detailed reporting on average written, average repair order, and close ratios by individual adviser.

How does Branch Automotive train advisers to present estimates?
Advisers are trained to address the primary customer concern first, then discuss overall vehicle health before talking about pricing. They send inspection links to customers for review before discussing repairs, and use pivot monitors to walk through inspections side by side with in-store customers. This approach prevents sticker shock and builds trust through visual evidence.

What metrics does Branch Automotive track in Tekmetric?
The shop tracks average written, average repair order, and close ratios for both the shop overall and individual advisers. Branch also monitors how many inspections each technician completes and how thoroughly they document findings to ensure consistent quality standards across the team.

About Branch Automotive

‍Branch Automotive is a diesel specialist shop in Littleton, Colorado, serving customers with Cummins, Duramax, and Powerstroke repairs. The shop operates eight bays with a team that holds more than 100 years of combined technician experience and includes GM World Class Master certification, ASE World Class technicians, and Ford factory-trained diesel mechanics. Branch Automotive is one of the few Colorado-certified diesel emissions testing facilities in the state.

About Tekmetric

‍Tekmetric is a cloud-based shop management platform built for independent auto repair shops. About 15,000 shops use Tekmetric to increase revenue, improve efficiency, and deliver better customer experiences through digital vehicle inspections, streamlined workflows, and real-time reporting. Learn more at tekmetric.com.

‍Overview

Main Street Auto, a growing network of community-rooted automotive shops, has expanded rapidly under the ownership of Northern Rock – from 6 locations in 2022 to over 115 by late 2025. But growth hasn’t come at the cost of local flavor.

Main Street Auto doesn’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Their model is built around acquiring trusted neighborhood shops and letting them keep what makes them special while supporting them with systems that work at scale.

They found that platform in Tekmetric.

‍“Tekmetric has built an auto repair platform that anyone can use, whether you’re running a single location or managing a multi-store operation, and it comes packed with features and flexibility.” — Austin Reid, Director of Systems, Main Street Auto

The Challenge

By mid-2023, Main Street Auto had grown to 41 locations. But their shop management system wasn't keeping up. As new shops joined the network, many arrived with outdated, server-based tools that made it harder to unify operations, standardize reporting, and deliver a consistent guest experience.

Main Street Auto was looking for:

• A modern, cloud-based platform that could roll out smoothly across different shop formats
• A way to give shops the freedom to operate locally while maintaining network-wide visibility
• Flexible reporting and integration options to bring financial and operational data into one view
• A long-term technology partner who understood the unique needs of both independent shops and multi-location operators and could support the magnitude at which Main Street Auto was moving

The Solution

Main Street Auto selected Tekmetric in June 2023. The platform’s combination of intuitive design, robust feature set, and enterprise readiness made it the clear choice.

Benefits at every level:

• Service advisors and technicians enjoy a modern, easy-to-learn interface that speeds up workflows and improves customer communication.
• Local managers have the freedom to tailor services to their market, without losing process alignment.
• Corporate leaders gain visibility across all locations with real-time data, custom financial reports, and API-driven insights.

“Tekmetric gives us the freedom to make the platform whatever we need it to be. That flexibility is important to us because we operate general repair, tire, express, and heavy-duty shops.” — Austin Reid, Director of Systems, Main Street Auto

The Results

Tekmetric is now the central platform for more than 100 Main Street Auto locations across the U.S. from general repair and tire shops to express lube and heavy-duty facilities. It enables consistent operational execution, while giving each shop the tools and autonomy they need to serve their community.

The result: a single, flexible platform that supports growth, simplifies operations, and helps every shop put its best foot forward.

“Tekmetric makes it simple to present everything to the customer in a transparent, easy-to-understand way. That combination of ease of use and trust really improves ticket development and boosts ARO.” — Austin Reid, Director of Systems, Main Street Auto

What’s Next

Main Street Auto continues to grow rapidly, onboarding new shops, expanding into new regions, and refining its MSO playbook.

With Tekmetric, every new location is brought into a platform that supports community-driven service at the shop level and clear, centralized control at the corporate level.
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Looking ahead, the team is also planning a transition from Shopgenie to Tekmetric Marketing, bringing customer engagement and shop operations under one roof. The goal: a true all-in-one platform to run the business and build lasting customer relationships.

“Tekmetric understands the magnitude at which we’re growing, and I’m 100% confident they will help us keep scaling rapidly.”  — Austin Reid, Director of Systems, Main Street Auto

How a franchise-first brand drives operational clarity and brand consistency across hundreds of shops with Tekmetric as their partner for growth.

Overview

With more than 315 locations across 30 states, Christian Brothers Automotive (CBA) has become a trusted name in automotive repair and redefined the auto care experience. Their unique franchise model prioritizes owner-operators, consistent guest experiences, and long-term cultural alignment over aggressive growth.

When CBA needed a modern shop management system to support expansion while protecting brand consistency, they turned to Tekmetric.

‍“It was a high-stakes, high-risk bet. And it’s gone even better than expected.” — Josh Eddy, Director of Strategy & Innovation, CBA

The Challenge

By 2018, CBA was operating on an outdated, server-based system. Each franchise managed data in silos, creating inconsistent processes and preventing a unified customer experience.

CBA needed:

• A cloud-based platform that would scale with 20–25 new shops added each year.
• Real-time visibility into financials, shop metrics, and technician performance across the network.
• A true partner, not just a vendor, to co-innovate and adapt to the needs of a fast-growing franchise system.

The Solution

After evaluating more than 30 systems, CBA selected Tekmetric in late 2019. The decision came down to Tekmetric’s cloud-native foundation, cultural alignment, and willingness to act as a collaborative partner.

Highlights of the rollout and ongoing partnership:

• Nationwide rollout in 3 months: ~200 stores migrated in Q4 2019 through a carefully staged, highly supported plan.
• Cloud agility during COVID-19: Remote workflows kept shops open and guests safe during lockdowns.
• Continuous innovation: Tekmetric’s accelerated feature releases – from sublet profitability tracking to custom API capabilities – directly reflect franchisee needs.
• Integrated payments: Merchant services adoption has streamlined reconciliation and improved subscription offerings.

The Results

Today, Tekmetric is the standard across CBA’s 300+ shops, giving every franchisee and corporate leader clarity and consistency in operations.

That consistency has translated into measurable performance gains across the network. Between 2020 and 2024:

• Average sales per shop increased by 72.59%
• Average car count per shop rose by 14.56%
• Average sales per car (ARO) grew by 50.65%

These outcomes were made possible by a platform that brings together shop operations, data visibility, and a true spirit of partnership:

• One universal platform for shop management, payments, and customer engagement.
• Real-time KPIs across every location – down to technician performance and profitability.
• Consistent guest experience across franchises
• Trusted partnership with a vendor that listens, responds, and co-develops solutions.
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‍“It’s an easy, accessible platform to drive insights and value. Any shop owner that transitions to Tekmetric can see the value instantly.” — Josh Eddy, Director of Strategy & Innovation, CBA

What’s Next

CBA continues to expand at a steady pace of 20–25 new shops each year. With Tekmetric, every new franchise can be onboarded quickly, standardized easily, and operated with confidence.

The partnership between CBA and Tekmetric ensures that as the brand grows, its culture, guest experience, and profitability scale right alongside it.

In 2019 Will Rivera returned to his family business, CarTech Auto Center, determined to modernize the five-location operation his father had started in 1986.

“I came in with expectations of using my experience at PwC and being able to plug in new processes and operations, which I had already seen in other industries that have been tested and proven. I quickly learned that auto shop reality is completely different.”

At the time, the company was two years from having to close its doors. Will needed a system that could tighten processes across every bay, motivate technicians, and give him real-time visibility, store by store.

‍Challenge

“We were losing a lot of money in the small stuff that our old system couldn’t track.”

CarTech Auto Center’s legacy software couldn’t keep pace with a multi-location business:

• No holistic view of the five shops meant Will had to log into each store separately to see sales or inventory.
• Inefficient quoting and invoicing slowed staff, capping daily car count.
• Manual parts sourcing required juggling supplier websites.
• Limited technician tracking blocked the performance-pay plan needed to recruit top talent.
• No automated reminders left revenue on the table for deferred work and maintenance follow-ups.

Solution

“Tekmetric is the best shop management solution in the industry right now—if you know how to use it, it’ll make you a lot of money.”

CarTech was able to unlock rapid, multi-shop growth:

• Organization Oversight: One dashboard for every location provides real-time KPIs, easy inventory transfers, and cross-shop scheduling when a store fills up, giving Will total control of five shops in a single view.
• Faster Quoting: Five-minute digital quotes & invoices, complete with photos, video, and text messaging, cut front-counter time in half and doubled daily car throughout.
• Time Tracking: Built-in billable-hour tracking enabled a tiered commission plan that “made techs’ pockets fatter and they worked harder,” driving productivity and staff retention.
• Streamlined Parts Ordering: Quick parts ordering via integrated supplier catalogs eliminates browser-tab juggling and speeds parts arrival.
• Partnership: In response to feedback from CarTech and other multi-location users, Tekmetric enhanced its inventory transfer feature to better support multi-shop workflows.
  

Results

“If Tekmetric grows, I grow, because they reinvest in the product and they listen when multi-shop owners need something.”

In just nine months with Tekmetric, CarTech’s five shops grew monthly revenue 48%, from $155K to $230K, and the flagship store doubled sales. Digital quotes now take five minutes instead of ten, allowing the team to move 20+ cars a day without requiring extra staff. Real-time billable-hour tracking allows techs to earn well over the industry standard, making hiring and retention easier.

What’s Next

“We’re expanding, not selling. Tekmetric will scale with us—store by store, bay by bay."

Will plans to:

• Standardize all five shops on Tekmetric, pushing monthly revenue to $270–$280K.
• Open a sixth shop and a joint-venture location in the continental US.

Learn directly from Will on how to improve your shop's operations in our upcoming webinar on June 19th @ 2pm ET! Register Here.

Tomi Oliva, owner of SJ Automotive in Chicago, took over his family's auto repair business in 2016 and has transformed it into a thriving shop. He faced typical challenges for many shops, including inefficient workflows, difficulties in tracking key metrics, and the need for better customer communication. Tomi recognized the need for change and embraced Tekmetric, a decision that led to dramatic results.

Challenge

“I started noticing that my shop management system was really, really bad.”

SJ Automotive relied on a cumbersome system that slowed operations and hindered growth, resulting in:

• Time-consuming quote generation
• Difficulties in tracking technician productivity
• Limited visibility into shop performance metrics
• Slower customer communication

Solution

Tomi chose Tekmetric for its ability to provide real-time data, streamline shop operations, and enhance customer communication. The platform automated processes, improved financial tracking, and facilitated a transparent repair process.

Results

Doubling Car Count and Revenue

"Tekmetric is a tool in my tool bag that's helped me become profitable.”

Tomi has driven significant growth across key metrics at SJ Automotive:

• Revenue: Monthly revenue has doubled, growing from ~$20–25K to ~$40–50K.
• Average Repair Order (ARO): Increased by approximately $200 per vehicle.
• Efficiency: Estimate creation time reduced from 40 minutes to about 10 minutes.
• Car Count: SJ Automotive’s car count has doubled since switching to Tekmetric. 

Data-Driven Decision Making

"I didn't even know some of these metrics before, and now they're in front of my face every time I open it."

With Tekmetric’s real-time reporting and data insights, Tomi now has a clear view of key metrics like technician hours, employee productivity, and profitability. This visibility helps identify areas for improvement and optimize overall performance. In addition, integration with SEO tools enables SJ Automotive to track marketing ROI and fine-tune campaigns for greater effectiveness.

Improved Customer Communication

"I really love the ease of communication and authorization."

SJ Automotive has improved their customer communication by streamlining estimate and authorization processes. As a result, estimates, approvals, and payments happen faster, creating a more efficient and transparent repair process and improving overall customer satisfaction.

What’s Next

Tomi is focused on continued growth. SJ Automotive's future goals include doubling their car count, opening another location, and implementing new growth strategies.

For nearly a decade, Tony Perez, owner of Euro Car Doctors in Orange County, California, has been committed to delivering premium auto care. But as business grew, outdated software made it harder to keep up, and customers started to feel the impact. 

Challenge

"We'd have 10 appointments for the day, and by 11 a.m., only two quotes were out. We still had eight to go.”

Tony’s team was bogged down by:

• Estimates that took 4-5 hours to complete
• Inefficient workflows between techs and service writers
• A backlog of appointments that led to delays and customer frustrations 

Solution

“We needed something that could keep up with our intake and let us grow without being bottlenecked.”

Tony knew his customers deserved better - faster service, clearer communication, and less time waiting. After exploring his options, he chose Tekmetric for its ability to streamline operations and deliver a more efficient, transparent experience from check-in to estimate.

Learn about Euro Car Doctors' customer experience:‍

Results

Increased Efficiency and Productivity:

Creating estimates now takes less than 90 minutes, down from 4–5 hours. That means more vehicles in the shop and more satisfied customers driving away.

Increase in Average Repair Order (ARO):

Faster quoting and comprehensive digital vehicle inspections means customers see everything their car needs right away. The result? An increase in average repair order to $900 and more confident decisions from customers. 

"Our numbers were through the roof because I was able to quote more items on those tickets that the car needed."  

Improved Customer Satisfaction:

Each customer receives a detailed quote informing them about the services needed and associated costs, empowering them to make confident decisions. Transparent, timely communication has built trust with customers and it shows in the reviews with a 4.8 star rating on Google.

"We tell the customer what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Everything we see gets quoted to be fully honest and transparent with our customers."  

Expansion to a Second Location:

Improved operations allowed Tony to open a second shop, without sacrificing quality.

“As we grow, we won’t open the next store until the last one runs on autopilot.”

What’s Next

Euro Car Doctors isn’t slowing down. As each shop reaches capacity, Tony plans to expand, driven by his commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, with Tekmetric helping power the growth behind the scenes.

In late 2020, Jim Kellas bought TL Auto Repair, in Union City, California. The location was strong, but the shop’s systems were holding it back—outdated software, lack of key integrations, and inefficient processes all contributed to a poor customer experience. 

Determined to find a solution, Jim explored various shop management systems before switching to Tekmetric. After making the switch, the impact was transformative for TL Auto Repair.

“Stop looking at the other ones. You're done searching.”  

Challenge

Before switching systems, TL Auto Repair faced:

• Frequent software downtime disrupting operations
• Lack of integrations with key tools, creating manual work
• Limited visibility into performance metrics

Solution

After exploring several options, Jim chose Tekmetric for its seamless integrations, reliable performance, and features that made it easier to connect with customers. With Tekmetric, TL Auto Repair streamlined operations, improved communication, and set the foundation for future growth.

Results

Streamlined Operations That Drive Revenue

Integrations with tools like Affirm through Tekmetric’s Payments and adding Marketing solutions helped TL Auto Repair simplify workflows and boost sales. Offering financing made higher-ticket repairs more accessible for customers, leading to over $2 million in revenue.

“I was able to integrate with so many other programs. I'm able to know revenue-wise it's been a boom because I'm able to tie everything together.”

‍More Efficiency, Less Overhead

Running on a reliable, browser-based system saved time and cut hardware costs. Staff work faster, from anywhere, using devices like Chromebooks. 

"The time savings have been substantial, allowing for increased efficiency"

‍A Better Experience for Every Customer

Text message updates, digital vehicle inspections, and contactless invoicing and payments create a more transparent and convenient experience for their customers. This has earned them trust, repeat business, and a 4.7-star rating on Google. 

"Customers love getting text message updates, online inspection reports, and the option for contactless service - it keeps them coming back." 

What’s Next

With a proven model and the right technology support in place, Jim plans to expand and is in the process of acquiring new shops. He is applying the same focus on operational efficiency and customer experience that turned TL Auto Repair into a thriving business.

In 2020, Jeremy and Holly Hansen purchased Mission Auto KC, an old-school shop with no desire to grow or adapt to new customers. From day one, they faced operational challenges—outdated systems, manual processes and a lack of visibility into key business metrics. Most importantly, they struggled to deliver the level of customer service they envisioned. 

Determined to find a solution, Holly researched various shop management systems and after careful evaluation, made the switch to Tekmetric in July 2021. The impact was immediate and transformative.

Challenge

Before Tekmetric, Mission Auto KC relied on outdated methods—pen-and-paper invoicing, limited reporting, and inefficient customer communication. This led to:

• Slow invoicing and difficulty tracking finances
• Inconsistent customer updates, causing frustration and lost business
• Limited reporting capabilities, making it hard to identify areas for growth
• Revenue stagnation, with monthly sales hovering around $40,000 to $50,000

Solution 

After evaluating multiple options, Holly chose Tekmetric because it provided real-time shop insights, streamlined operations, and better customer engagement. With Tekmetric, Mission Auto KC automated processes, improved financial tracking, and provided customers with a transparent repair experience—all essential to driving growth.

Results

Revenue Growth: Doubling Monthly Sales

With Tekmetric optimizing operations, Mission Auto KC experienced a dramatic financial transformation, doubling its monthly revenue from $40,000–$50,000 to $90,000. By streamlining workflows, improving job tracking, and enabling faster repair approvals, the shop significantly increased productivity, allowing them to complete more jobs per day. These improvements not only boosted revenue but also led to a 20% increase in gross profit, as better pricing accuracy and operational efficiency maximized profitability.

“Our typical [revenue before Tekmetric] was $40,000 to $50,000. Then $90,000 became our norm right away. So the top number did double.”

Data-Driven Financial Management

With automated reporting and real-time financial tracking, Holly gained complete visibility into the shop’s performance, allowing for daily revenue tracking, expense management, and more accurate accounting.‍

“QuickBooks is what I use for our accounting, and it’s up to date every day because I come in the following morning, enter my end-of-day report, enter all my expenses, and I know where I'm at.”

Faster Turnaround and Improved Customer Experience

Tekmetric’s text and photo-sharing features allowed for faster, clearer communication with customers, improving trust and increasing repeat business. Customers could see photos of repairs in progress, eliminating doubts and streamlining approvals.‍

“Customers love it. They love transparency. I'm not just saying your filter is dirty—you see a picture of your filter.”

What’s Next

Fueled by their commitment to exceptional service and operational excellence, Mission Auto KC is setting ambitious goals for the future. As demand continues to grow, they plan to expand their team, increase efficiency, and strengthen customer relationships to reach $2 million in annual revenue. By prioritizing transparency, quality work, and trust, they are building a loyal customer base that keeps coming back. What started as a struggling shop has now become a thriving, data-driven business, poised for long-term success and continued expansion.

Business picked up over the years, and Karl was able to assemble a small team and build his own on-premise shop management system. In 2010, he decided to move Ultimate Auto Repair to a larger space two miles from his house. He was able to employ more people but eventually hit a growth cap.

After switching to Tekmetric, Karl was able to accelerate over the hump and more than double his business. Today, they’re still growing every month.

Ripping the Band-Aid Off

With my old system, I was stuck. Each technician would have five or six clipboards, and they'd have to shuffle and figure out what was authorized and what wasn't. To find out anything, I had to do it manually. It's no fun at the end of the month trying to count how many cars and work orders we did.

There was no way that we were going to make it any further without a lot of changes.

I was afraid to make the change. I thought, "Tekmetric has a lot of good stuff going, but I'm not sure". And then everything came to a head. My laptop crashed. I couldn't get into the old program. We had been talking about making the change, so I grabbed my service writer and said, "We're making the change right now". It was like ripping off the band-aid.

By day three, I said to my team "Hey guys. I'm sorry about the stress". And they said, "Stress? Are you kidding me? This is way better! We don't have to look for a work order on the wall!" They took to it right away.

The immediate result was that everybody could instantly see with a click what everyone else was talking about. The technician could put his notes in there: what he saw and what he didn't see. It's so nice for the service writer to be able to see the customer's notes and the technician’s notes. The customer came in with this complaint. We addressed it. This is the problem. The technician also found this. And everybody can see that live, instantly.

Ticket to Freedom

I was welded to the place without Tekmetric. If I wasn't there, nobody knew what to do. Now, they know.

You can't run a million dollar shop off of one guy having to be there. At the end of the day, the world runs on math. If you don't know what the math is, you don't know what you're doing; you have no clue whether you made money or you lost money. You're just throwing quotes out there and hoping things are there.

But with Tekmetric, I can see in realtime what my markup is, what it's going to be, and what it should be. I can give my service writers a bottom dollar: what they need to sell it for. I can tell them how much they need to discount for, and they can quickly see all that right in Tekmetric. I can set up matrices, even labor matrixes now, which is crazy to me!

I call it their 'guard rail'. They know how high they can go and how low they can go to make a sale. At some point, if you don't have a technician working, and that's their job for the day, and if you don't sell that job, they’re not going to be working. That service writer needs to know how low they can go to make that sale.

Tekmetric gives me the freedom to leave for days at a time and everything keeps running. It has basically allowed me to duplicate myself, to show the guys: this is the system, and these are the steps you need to take. I can show the guys what to do, and they can replicate it.

Before, vacations were almost impossible. Now, I can leave, and I know the shop will keep running. With Tekmetric, it's all right there. My team has everything they need.

Realizing the Potential

As a business owner, Tekmetric helps me make quick decisions, which is what it's all about. I have to be able to know where I’m at and where I’m going to project it. And then we need to be able to operate with consistency, too. Because when the customer comes back the second time, we need to be able to quote it the same. There's so much background information in there that I don't know how I'd run anything over $500,000 without Tekmetric.

We're moving into commercial diesel. In Jackson, there are a lot of general contractors, plumbers, and electricians. I'm cleaning out the spare building on my property and putting in four bays, so we can concentrate on commercial diesel customers over there and get their trucks in and out quickly. It's awesome because I can set that up in Tekmetric as its own repair shop. I can track the efficiency of service writers and technicians in each building.

Growing my business allows me to get people good jobs - jobs that weren't necessarily available to me. The possibilities are limitless.

Making the Dean's List

My daughters have been helping around the shop, too. My 21-year-old comes in after hours and spends three to five hours a week cleaning the shop and does interior details. She started her own cleaning business, and she cleans houses.

My youngest is our Quality Control. She QCs all the cars when we're done. And she wants to be a service writer, so we're training her to be a service writer. She works with me every day. It's pretty awesome. She likes accounting, and she actually does our end-of-day reporting, so she loves Tekmetric. She can jump in there and go through and close out all the cars and make sure they're all paid for. She gives me the final count.

I'm happy that I can teach her a trade where she can make some money, whether she’s working at Ultimate Auto Repair or another shop.

And both kids made the dean’s list this semester! So I’m proud of that, too.

For more information about Ultimate Auto Repair, visit ultimateautorepairmi.com

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