My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERE

Tekmetric opened my eyes to just how much a good SMS will do for a shop. Their software is top of the line, and with them, so is my shop. Try them for yourself HERE

Make your techs happier with Detect Auto. They'll stop getting "check noise" or "check vibration" from advisors with the customer concern tool. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Book a demo HERE

For years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HERE

AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE

Sam Freeman is the Partner Manager with Promotive Ethan Whidden is a Sales Representative. Today, they share with Mike what they've learned about the challenges of recruiting in the automotive repair industry. They discuss the unrealistic expectations shop owners often have when looking for that elusive “A tech” and why most owners should reconsider what they truly need in their shops. The conversation covers the importance of clear communication—both when hiring and when working with vendors—and the need for accountability on both sides of the hiring process.

Timestamps:
00:00 - The reality of open bays & shop hopping
01:14 - Walking the trade show floor & exhibitor life
03:23 - Ethan Whidden on joining Promotive, shop culture, and genuine conversation
07:27 - Mike Allen confesses: why he hesitated to use Promotive
08:45 - Effort vs. results in recruiting—Matt Lofton’s tough love
09:01 - Why most shops think they need A-techs (and why they’re wrong)
14:47 - Defining technician levels (and what “A-tech” really means)
17:26 - Expectations vs. reality: shops, techs, and unicorn hires
18:09 - The shop owner who took “unrealistic” to new levels
19:31 - Diagnosing your real hiring needs
20:01 - Chaos coordinators & fixing the front office
21:02 - You don’t need a unicorn—you need to be a better owner
24:01 - Shop competition: Mario Kart, go-karts, and Monopoly battles
27:02 - Epic neighborhood parties and community building
33:06 - Localized guerrilla recruiting vs. Promotive (can you DIY?)
34:03 - Why shop owners make terrible customers for vendors
35:09 - Communication, unspoken expectations, and messy outcomes
37:58 - Candidate screening, accountability, and whose fault is it, really?
41:41 - Hiring stories: ghosting, no-shows & offers used as leverage
51:14 - Why techs really leave—(hint: it’s not always money)
01:00:05 - What you SHOULD pay your B-techs and A-techs in 2026
01:06:09 - Boasting moms, cheer championships, and motivation
01:11:08 - Code yellow, code red: shop bathroom confessions

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Turnkey Marketing takes the stress of doing something I'm not good at off my plate. And gives it to someone who is. Click HERE for more.

Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do HERE

For years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HERE

AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE

Today, Ashley Butler and Rochelle Gotsdiner join Mike Allen to break down how to scale your repair shop through strong processes. Ashley shares how clear communication and consistent customer updates can set your shop apart—because most of your competitors get it wrong daily. They also chat about how embracing AI and innovative training methods can solve the industry’s notorious people problem and unlock serious growth.

Timestamps:
00:00 Why “saying yes” matters and how to stop losing business
03:56 Ashley Butler introduces her shop story and scaling to 14 stores
04:46 How Ashley Butler structures her week for maximum impact
08:42 Succession planning, family business, and running on “auto-pilot”
10:18 The secrets to working with your spouse without disaster
12:05 Turning crisis into opportunity: Creating a top-tier training center
14:51 On a mission for talent: Training novices into flat-rate techs
15:56 Why community involvement and university ties pay off
18:18 Maximizing space, remodeling battles, and why your waiting room matters
20:39 The “speed” advantage: Serving customers before they even ask
27:31 Game-changing customer communication habits—so the phone never rings at 3pm
32:22 Trust, integrity, and what it really takes to keep your reputation bulletproof
35:14 Shop processes, procedures, and how competitors make you look good
35:59 Integrating AI into shop training and HR: first steps and big potential
41:10 How anyone can build custom AI tools for their shop
43:35 Private equity, big chains, and why it’s opportunity (not threat!) for indies
46:11 Guerrilla recruiting: real-world tactics for poaching top techs and advisors
49:57 Shop owner black belt: Using networks and timing to score the best deals
51:26 Why perfect policies don’t exist (and that’s okay!)

If you're like me and aren't good at marketing, don't do it on your own. Let the experts handle it. Touch HERE for more on Turnkey Marketing.

Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE

When I used the maintenance tool for the fist time with Detect Auto, my mind was blown. My advisors had the same reaction - and then SO MUCH MORE TIME. Learn more about Detect Auto and book a free demo now!

AI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERE

In this episode, Matt Lofton and Mike Allen talk through Mike's shop's performance in March. Matt talks about the importance of pre-building estimates and leveraging tools like Detect Auto to maximize tech average quote and streamline workflow. Mat also shares his approach to combating misleading "vanity flush" services in the market, emphasizing transparent communication with customers.

Timestamps:
00:00 – The “Vanity Flush” Confession: Why $99 Services Aren’t What You Think
02:24 – eBay Hero Cards, Shop Swag, and Why Autographs Still Matter
04:14 – Record First Quarter, March Recap, and Looking Ahead
05:50 – Fly With the Eagles Recap: What High Performers are Learning
08:52 – DIY Shop AI: How to Create Your Own AI Agents and Save Big
12:03 – Struggling with Close Rates? Blame (or Bless) Your Advisor
14:09 – Prebuilding Estimates for Maximum Tech ARO
16:13 – Setting Up Customers: Deferred Work, Maintenance, and Upsells
17:33 – BG Programs, Fluid Service Sales, and Overcoming Industry Myths
20:01 – How Corporate Store Pricing Drives Shortcuts (and Dirty Tricks)
23:05 – Value-Add vs. Price-Only: The Ruth’s Chris Cheeseburger Analogy
24:49 – How to Fill Tomorrow’s Bays with Opportunity, Not Just Oil Changes
28:16 – The Pit Stop Program: Getting Customers Back 4x Fast
30:48 – The Loyalty Cliff: Retaining vs. Losing First-Time Customers
33:12 – Risky Repairs and the Real Cost of Saying “Yes”
39:45 – Ritz Carlton vs. Motel 6: Finding Your Shop’s Sweet Spot
43:04 – Social Media “Rage Bait”: Marketing Tactics and Lessons Learned
44:58 – Worry About Your Own Shop! Why Community Trumps Competition
48:21 – Peer Groups and Getting Ahead—Why You Shouldn’t Go It Alone