Business By The Numbers

Hosted by Hunt Demarest

Business Management

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244

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Hunt Demarest, CPA has consistently provided his financial business acumen to help move the industry toward greater heights of success and profitability. Hunt was recently referred to as a "terrific advocate of the aftermarket." He is the author of the book, Your Perfect Shop: How to Start, Run & Sell a Profitable Shop. In this book, he compiled some of the best practices for auto repair shop owners, whether they are just starting or have been in the business for years. Hunt's podcast will provide a core understanding of the financial aspects of running an auto repair shop.

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August 20, 202625 min

The 5 Blind Spots Quietly Killing Your Shop's Sale Price [E236]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Why do two auto repair shops with virtually identical profits sell for wildly different amounts, one at a nine-time multiple and another at three? And if you're not planning to sell anytime soon, does any of this even apply to you? Recording a preview of the class he's teaching live at the STX World Pac Conference in DC, Hunt Demarest breaks down the factors that quietly decide what your shop is actually worth when a buyer sits down at the table. Hunt walks through why timing your exit three to five years out changes everything, why one client's prized fleet contract almost killed his sale, and why buyers pay for a business that runs without you, not a high-paying job with your name on it. Along the way, he covers the optics of clean financials, how far you can push ad backs before a bank or a buyer walks away, and why new equipment won't add a dollar to your sale price, even though old equipment will cost you one. Whether you're planning to sell next year or you never plan to sell at all, this episode lays out the groundwork every shop owner needs long before a buyer ever walks through the door. What You'll Learn… 01:18) Why Hunt is previewing his STX class on maximizing shop value (03:40) The World Pac Conference and why this class exists (05:54) Why identical shops sell for wildly different multiples (06:20) Timing: the 3 to 5 year rule before you sell (08:09) Your shop is your retirement plan, whether you planned it that way or not (10:31) Customer concentration: the fleet account red flag buyers watch for (12:52) The ambulance contract that nearly killed a client's sale (15:21) Continuity: buyers pay for a business, not a job (17:17) Clean financials: why optics matter as much as the bottom line (19:16) Ad backs: how much "creative" bookkeeping a buyer or a bank will accept (21:36) Equipment: the double-edged sword of new gear Resources Mentioned Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Get Hunt's Book: Beyond the Bays, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0iQ3UuOL Got questions or feedback, connect with Hunt Demarest at: Email: podcast@paarmelis.com Website: https://www.paarmelis.com Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Download the ARPN APP for your smartphone and listen to all our network shows: arpn.app Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Storytelling and Open Discussion Automotive Field Theory with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

August 13, 202640 min

Chris Cotton on Why Less Than 10% of Shops Ever Hit Their True Capacity [E235]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Why are less than 10% of shops operating within even 40% of what they're actually capable of? And if throwing more money at your technicians won't fix your productivity problem, what will? Hunt Demarest sits down with Chris Cotton of AutoFix Shop Coaching, fellow multi-shop owner and host of The Weekly Blitz, to translate this year's Auto Shop Benchmark Report into real, actionable advice. Chris breaks down the three real barriers to productivity, the technician, the environment, and leadership, and walks through the shop floor fixes that took one client from $180,000 a month to $350,000, and another from under $200,000 to nearly $400,000. Along the way, Hunt and Chris dig into why fewer than 20% of technicians today are actually money motivated, why flat rate isn't the productivity silver bullet most owners assume it is, and why the fastest way to fix a struggling shop is almost never to yell at the guys in the back. Whether you're staring at a productivity number you don't understand or you already suspect your shop is leaving money on the table, this episode is a practical field guide to turning benchmark data into a better bottom line. Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. What You'll Learn… 03:49 Track it, measure it, fix it, why coaching outperforms data alone 06:44 The three real barriers to productivity: tech, environment, leadership 08:24 The diesel shop step-counter experiment 12:28 The Rochester shop that went from $180K to $350K a month 17:04 The $90 consultation fee that stopped diag from bleeding money 21:57 Why fewer than 10% of shops hit 40% of their real capacity 26:43 Why 50% of top shops are hourly, not flat rate, and pay isn't everything 30:22 The flexibility that keeps a top tech loyal without a raise 33:45 Car counts, layoffs, and the hard call every owner eventually faces 36:38 How to get a free 30-minute shop consultation with Chris Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

August 5, 202622 min

Is Your New LLC Protecting You Or Quietly Costing You Money?? [E234]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Is your new LLC actually protecting you, or just quietly draining your bank account? Before you file paperwork for that second location, that self rental, or that "clever" loaner car company, there are three questions you need to answer first. In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down the real decision making framework behind one of the most common questions he gets from shop owners: should I create a new entity for that? Hunt walks through four real world scenarios, opening a second location, renting your building to yourself, running a loaner car fleet, and building out a management company for multi location groups, and exposes exactly where shop owners get legal protection wrong, waste money on unnecessary tax complexity, or set themselves up for a self dealing problem they didn't see coming. Whether you're eyeing a second bay across town or you're already juggling five locations and a maze of S corps, this episode is the entity structuring gut check every shop owner needs before signing anything. What You'll Learn... 00:00 Intro 00:16 Should you create a new entity? The real question behind it 02:51 The 3-question test — legal liability, tax implications, and overall cost 04:50 Scenario 1 — Opening a new location 05:09 Ownership structure — the deciding factor that changes everything 06:48 Same entity vs. separate entity — the litigation reality 09:14 What a second entity really costs (and when it's worth it) 10:18 Hunt's rule of thumb — shared customers vs. separate markets 13:46 Scenario 2 — Should your building be in its own LLC? 16:17 Scenario 2.5 — The loaner car fleet trap 18:08 Avoiding self-dealing with your rental car LLC 18:37 Scenario 3 — Management companies for multi-location shops 20:51 C-corp management companies and the benefits strategy behind them Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of Hunt's Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Download Our Free Mobile Podcast App: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Storytelling and Open Discussion Automotive Field Theory with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Quantum Physics and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

July 30, 202624 min

Secured vs. Unsecured: The Borrowing Playbook Every Auto Shop Owner Needs Before They Need It [E233]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve You need money. Maybe it's to cover payroll this week, maybe it's to buy the alignment rack you've been eyeing for a year. Either way, Hunt Demarest, CPA, says the loan you should get depends entirely on two questions banks are already asking about you: do you have cash flow, and do you have collateral? In this solo follow-up to his cash reserves series, Hunt breaks down every borrowing option available to auto repair shop owners and ranks them from cheapest to most dangerous. He walks through real client scenarios — equity in your building, financing new equipment, strong profits with nothing to put up as collateral — and explains exactly what to say (and not say) when you sit down with a bank. He closes with a hard look at credit card advance loans: why they're marketed as easy money, why the interest rate isn't actually what traps shop owners, and why the repayment period is the real killer. Whether you're planning a purchase a year out or you need cash this month, this episode gives you the vocabulary and the game plan to borrow smarter. What You'll Learn... 00:00 Intro: wrapping up the cash conversation with how to actually get the money 03:46 Secured vs. unsecured debt, and why one always beats the other on rate 06:10 The two things every bank is really looking for: cash flow and collateral 07:12 Scenario: You're out of cash, but your building has equity 07:57 Refinance or borrow against it? How to decide, and why today's rates change the math 13:26 Scenario: You're out of cash and need new equipment: financing vs. leasing 15:40 Scenario: Strong profits, no collateral, the situation most bootstrapped shops face 17:25 How to frame your ask so the bank says yes (the tire business pitch) 18:46 Last resort: credit card advance loans explained, and how they actually get repaid 20:48 Why the interest rate isn't what kills you: it's the repayment period 23:34 Wrap-up: share the show and send in your questions Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

July 23, 202626 min

Debt-Free Isn't the Win You Think It Is [E232]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Your bank account just hit zero. What do you do in the next 24 hours? And if you're planning six months ahead instead, is a bank loan really your cheapest option? Following up on last week's episode on cash reserve mistakes, Hunt Demarest, CPA, goes solo again to tackle the other side of that coin: how to actually get cash back into your shop, whether you need it today or you're planning ahead. He draws a hard line between "I need money right now" and "I need money eventually," and walks through the immediate, band-aid moves every shop owner should make the moment they run dry — leveraging credit cards, cutting the right expenses (and not the wrong ones), and diagnosing the real reason the cash dried up in the first place. From there, Hunt ranks every borrowing option available to shop owners, from real estate equity all the way down to credit card advance loans, and explains why "debt-free" can quietly become one of the most dangerous positions a shop can be in. Whether you're staring down an empty operating account this week or mapping out a remodel a year from now, this episode is a practical roadmap for getting and keeping the cash your shop actually needs. What You'll Learn... 00:00 Intro: last week's reserve mistakes come home to roost 03:29 Need cash now or need cash later? The question that changes everything 03:57 Already out of cash? Why it's too late for the "normal" fixes 05:51 Leveraging credit cards as your fastest lever 08:00 Cutting expenses without cutting your own throat 09:27 The real fix: understanding why you ran out of cash 15:05 How much should you borrow? More than you think 16:02 How long should you take to pay it back? Longer than you think 18:11 Real estate equity, the cheapest money you'll ever borrow 20:03 Business lines of credit and what banks actually want to see 21:33 FinCEN loans explained: Amex, PayPal, and Kabbage 23:16 Credit card advance loans, the last resort and its true cost Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

July 16, 202623 min

Debt-Free, Cash-Broke: The Reserve Mistake Nobody Warns You About [E231]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve How much cash did your shop actually make last month — and how much of it is still sitting in the bank? If you paid off every dollar of debt tomorrow, would you have anything left to cover a bad month? In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA, goes solo to tackle a topic he says trips up shop owners more than almost anything else: cash and reserves. He breaks down the simple rule of thumb for how much you should be keeping in the bank, then walks through four specific mistakes he sees shop owners make — from draining the business dry to (on the flip side) hoarding so much cash it becomes a legal liability, to the sneaky problem of debt payoff plans that leave owners debt-free and cash-poor at the same time. Hunt also shares the exact system he recommends clients use to set their own distributions so reserves never dip below where they need to be. Whether you're sitting on six figures in the checking account or wondering why you're always scrambling before payroll, this episode is a practical gut-check on the number that actually keeps a shop alive: cash. What You'll Learn... 02:41 Cash vs. profit — the two flows of money every owner confuses 03:30 The reserve rule of thumb — 3 to 6 months of overhead 05:03 Why your ideal reserve depends on your shop's cash flow pattern 06:55 Mistake #1 — Draining your business of its own cash 09:51 The fix — how to set your monthly distribution the right way 14:24 Mistake #2 — The "champagne problem" of keeping too much cash 16:14 The profit-hold account trick — protecting cash without spending it 17:01 Mistake #3 — Parking reserves where they earn zero interest 19:12 Mistake #4 — Paying off debt too aggressively 21:06 Cash and debt beats debt-free and broke — Hunt's rule If you're ready to stop guessing how much cash your shop should be holding, start building a reserve strategy that actually fits your business, and finally understand why "debt-free" isn't always the win it sounds like — this episode is essential listening. Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

July 9, 202624 min

The 4 P&L Mistakes Quietly Sinking Your Shop's Profit [E230]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Do you actually know how much money your shop made last month? If 90% of new clients walking through Hunt's door don't, what are the odds you do? In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA, goes solo to call out the four most common ways shop owners are unknowingly sabotaging their own profit and loss statements — and the pain points he sees over and over again with new clients. He opens with a timely PSA on a scam email making the rounds targeting EIDL loan holders, then dives into why 90% of the shops Paar Melis brings on board are working off P&Ls that are materially misstated. From overly complicated financials to sales tracked without their matching costs to the owner's own cash and parts habits quietly wrecking the numbers, Hunt breaks down exactly where things go wrong — and how to fix it. Whether you've got a two-bay shop or a twenty-bay operation, this episode is a gut-check on whether the numbers you're using to run your business are actually telling you the truth. What You'll Learn... (02:59) Why this episode — a follow-up to the summer webinar series on P&Ls (03:24) PSA — the EIDL loan forgiveness scam targeting shop owners' inboxes (06:45) Mistake #1 — Why your P&L is flat-out wrong, and the 90% stat that proves it (09:23) Mistake #2 — Your P&L is way too complicated (13:31) The one-page rule — collapsed P&L vs. the four-page mess (15:31) The subaccount fix, using utilities as the easy win (16:26) Mistake #3 — Tracking sales without tracking the cost behind it (18:18) The tire sales trap — how "improving" your P&L can wreck your margins (20:12) Mistake #4 — You're the reason your financials don't add up (22:31) The parts cost leak nobody's stealing — it's just untracked If you've ever wondered whether your financials are actually telling you the truth, why a "good" P&L should fit on one page, and why tracking more sales categories can make your numbers worse instead of better — this episode is essential listening. Summer Webinar Series: Understanding Your Shop’s Numbers Webinar: Replay Link and Passcode: .#TWUc81 Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

July 2, 202628 min

The IRS Flagged His Return: Here's the Playbook That Won the Case [E226]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Why does the IRS really pick a tax return to audit? And if a CPA who does this for a living can still get dragged through a three-year fight, what chance does the rest of us have? In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA, steps out from behind the desk to tell his own story — a three-year audit of his 2023 tax return that started with a suspiciously timed refund and ended with a win built entirely on paperwork. Hunt breaks down what gets a return flagged in the first place, the one habit that separates audits you win from ones you lose, and why "innocent" and "victorious" aren't always the same outcome — proven by a client who did everything right and still wrote a $25,000 check to the IRS. Hunt also pulls back the curtain on what his firm's audit protection covers, why informational requests aren't the same as a real audit, and why a single missing signature nearly cost him a case tax law was already on his side of. Whether you're worried about a deduction on your own return or want to know what triggers an IRS letter, this episode is a real-time look at how audits actually play out — not the version you hear secondhand. What You'll Learn... (02:51) Hunt's own audit story begins — three years, one 2023 tax return (03:58) Why the audit really happened — a refund, then a red flag a month later (04:41) Getting flagged, part 1 — why large credits are an open invitation to audit (08:24) Getting flagged, part 2 — the oversized expense line the IRS can't ignore (09:48) Inside the process — what an IRS "information request" audit actually looks like (15:06) The rule that wins audits — documentation, documentation, documentation (19:15) Audits take time, and time is money — even when you win (19:40) 100+ hours, one frivolous case, and the real cost of defending yourself (22:28) The hardest truth — being innocent doesn't guarantee you'll win (23:12) The $25,000 loss — when the IRS agent simply won't listen (24:24) The call every shop owner dreads — when paying up beats fighting on If you've ever wondered what actually happens after that letter shows up, why documentation is the difference between a two-month resolution and a three-year fight, and why sometimes the smartest move is knowing when to stop — this episode is essential listening Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Storytelling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

June 25, 202634 min

Same Labor Rate, Different Profit: What the 2026 Benchmark Report Reveals About Where You Do Business [E228]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Why is a shop charging $300 an hour in Texas still taking home less profit than a shop in Maine charging $30 less? Does where you're located actually decide how much money ends up in your pocket — or is something else driving the gap? In the final installment of a three-part dive into the 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report, Hunt Demarest, CPA, breaks down the regional, size, and vehicle-type trends separating the most profitable shops in the country from everyone else. From the Southeast's 17% margins to the Southwest's labor-rate paradox, Hunt unpacks why charging more doesn't always mean keeping more — and why "your shop is no different" is only half true. Hunt also dives into the numbers behind general repair, diesel, and European shops, explains why bigger isn't always better, and closes with a sobering look at the technician shortage now threatening the entire industry. Whether you're running a one-bay diesel shop in the Midwest or a multi-bay European specialty shop in the Northeast, this episode is your roadmap to benchmarking against the right peers — not just the averages. What You'll Learn... (00:00) Intro (03:34) Kicking off Part 3 of the 2026 Benchmark Report series — this week, regional trends (05:40) Why productivity — not location — is the real leading indicator of profit (07:34) Where the top shops actually are (hint: the South didn't make the list) (08:36) The Southwest's labor-rate paradox — highest rates, lowest profit (12:40) "Your shop is no different" — the half-truth every owner needs to hear (14:28) The $1.4M myth — why bigger shops aren't necessarily more profitable (19:23) General repair vs. diesel vs. European — which type actually pays best (22:06) Parts margin vs. labor margin — where each vehicle type wins and loses (24:27) Percentages vs. dollars — why a diesel shop can out-earn a general shop (28:06) The 37,000-tech shortfall, and why 67% of techs quit before year one (30:00) Aging fleets, deferred maintenance, and the hybrid boom shops can't ignore If you're ready to stop benchmarking against the wrong shops, start understanding which numbers actually predict profit, and finally see where your region, size, and specialty really stack up — this episode is essential listening. Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Part 1: Auto Shop Benchmarks: Biggest Changes, Key KPI's and Trends [E226] https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/episode/hunt226/ Part 2: What the Top 10% of Auto Repair Shops Are Doing Differently — And What the Bottom 10% Refuse to Fix [E227] https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/episode/hunt226/ Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

June 18, 202629 min

What the Top 10% of Auto Repair Shops Are Doing Differently — And What the Bottom 10% Refuse to Fix [E227]

Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve Is your shop growing in revenue but shrinking in profit? Are you convinced that raising your labor rate is the fastest path to the bottom line — only to discover that your highest-charging competitors are losing money? And what if the real difference between a shop that keeps 35 cents of every dollar and one that loses money has nothing to do with location, specialty, or size? In this solo deep-dive, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, walks through the 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report — specifically, what separates the top 10% of shops from the bottom 10%. It's about the metrics that actually matter: how much of every sales dollar ends up in the owner's pocket, why overhead is silently eating 42 cents on every dollar in struggling shops, and why the shops doing the most are almost always doing it with the fewest people. Hunt strips the report down to what you need to know — and what to do about it. Whether you're a two-bay shop trying to crack profitability or a multi-location owner wondering why growth keeps outrunning your margins — this episode is essential listening. What You'll Learn... (00:01) Why Part 2 shifts from industry trends to what separates winners from losers (04:01) How Paar Melis defines a "top shop" — and why net profit alone doesn't tell the whole story (07:37) The sales volume surprise — why bigger isn't always better, and smaller isn't always a disadvantage (10:56) The metric top shops don't even know they're winning — gross profit per square foot (14:56) Why the Midwest lost all its top shops this year — and who's to blame (19:31) The labor rate myth, debunked — bottom shops charge more per hour and still lose (23:16) The 12-point overhead gap that explains almost every difference in profitability (26:18) Service advisor output — the $18,000-per-month performance gap you probably aren't measuring (26:18) The one fix that moves shops from the bottom 10% to the top — and most already know what it is If you're ready to stop chasing sales volume as a substitute for profit, understand why the shop charging less per hour is likely the one making more money, and finally see the 12-point overhead gap that separates top shops from everyone else — this episode is essential listening. Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0 Part 1: Auto Shop Benchmarks: Biggest Changes, Key KPI's and Trends [E226] https://huntdemarest.captivate.fm/episode/hunt226/ Thanks to our partner, Promotive Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/ Thanks to our partner, WickedFile Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/ Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint Thanks to our partner, Overdryve Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/ Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413 Download a Copy of My Books Here: Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners Wrenches to Write-Offs Your Perfect Shop The Automotive Repair Podcast Network : https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/ Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life. The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size. Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest. The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.