Confessions of a Shop Owner

Mike Allen
  • 4.3 (15)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

Confessions of a Shop Owner is hosted by Mike Allen, a third-generation shop owner, perpetual pot-stirrer, and brutally honest opinion sharer.  In this weekly podcast, Mike shares his missteps so you don’t have to repeat them. Along the way, he chats with other industry personalities who’ve messed up, too, pulling back the curtain on the realities of running an independent auto repair shop. But this podcast isn’t just about Mike’s journey. It’s about confronting the divisive and questionable tactics many shop owners and managers use. Mike is here to stir the pot and address the painful truths while offering a way forward. Together, we’ll tackle the frustrations, shake things up, and help create a better future for the auto repair industry.

  1. Sep 8

    Ep 114 - Turnkey Marketing Call #1 | The $84,000 Mistake Hiding in Your Shop

    Keep shop management, payments, marketing (all the things) all in one place with Tekmetric. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Click HERE ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE Turnkey Marketing has made my life SOOO much simpler, AND they've helped keep the phone ringing. Do you need these two things too? Learn more HERE Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more 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! Elite Worldwide's Ignite 2027 is coming up in February and NOW is the time to sign up. It's happening in Vegas February 4-6 and it will be the best 3 days of your shops year when you attend. Learn now HERE Mike Allen sits down with Carrie-Lynn Rodenberg of Turnkey Marketing to kick off a new monthly series that lets listeners sit in on the marketing side of running Mike's shops. They break down marketing budgets, customer acquisition, direct mail, attribution, branding, customer retention, phone performance, and why simply making the phone ring means nothing if the shop can’t convert the opportunity. Carrie-Lynn also uncovers a painful number at Mike’s flagship store: hundreds of first-time callers but only a fraction turning into customers, potentially representing tens of thousands of dollars in missed revenue. Along the way, Mike admits he may be Turnkey’s worst client, explains why shutting marketing off when you’re busy can come back to haunt you months later, and learns that sometimes the marketing isn’t broken — the operation is. Timestamps: 00:00 Seven Years Since Turnkey First Visited Carfix00:41 Mike Used to Sleep at the Shop03:15 Meet Carrie-Lynn Rodenberg and Turnkey Marketing05:24 Mike Buys Marketing Tools… Then Forgets to Use Them07:05 How Mike Started Working With Turnkey08:57 Mike Tried Doing His Own Marketing — Then Came Back09:07 Why We’re Recording Mike’s Marketing Calls11:21 The Hidden Cost of Bad Marketing13:25 Sniper Marketing vs. Spray and Pray13:41 Carrie-Lynn Went From Doing Everything to Building a Team14:44 Mike’s 115-Episode Long Con 😂15:51 Stop Making Your Marketing About Yourself17:28 Why Most Small-Business Marketing Becomes White Noise20:14 Your Competition Is Better Than You Think21:36 How a Business Responds When Things Go Wrong23:07 Every Shop Says They Have Great Service23:53 How Do You Actually Stand Out?26:24 Why Direct Mail Takes Time to Work28:50 Every Shop Has Blind Spots29:33 Want to Ruin Mike’s Day? Listen to His Phone Calls30:12 Did Your Marketing Actually Make the Phone Ring?30:59 Why Marketing Attribution Is So Difficult32:27 The Creepy Side of Modern Targeted Marketing34:29 Can You Target Technicians at a Competitor’s Shop?36:12 What Turnkey’s Marketing Onboarding Looks Like37:26 SEO, AI Search and Building the Right Marketing Mix40:04 Bad Marketing Can Cost You Technicians Too40:24 Mike Confesses He Might Be Turnkey’s Worst Client42:34 Carrie-Lynn Finds a Painful Number43:41 What Should Your Call Conversion Rate Be?44:25 229 New Callers… Only 56 New Cars44:55 Mike Explains Where Carfix Dropped the Ball46:16 How Service Advisors Say “No” Without Saying No47:06 More Staffing Means More Opportunity to Say Yes49:54 Did Carfix Leave $84K on the Table?50:24 The Marketing Worked — Carfix Didn’t Convert It50:49 Why You Shouldn’t Turn Marketing Off When You’re Busy51:23 Today’s Marketing Decisions Affect Your Slow Season52:47 The Cheapest Customer Is the One You Already Have53:16 Why Customer Retention Matters So Much54:18 Why Shops Should Prebook the Next Appointment54:54 Convenience May Be Your Biggest Competitive Advantage55:21 You Might Be Paying to Market Your Competition56:20 A $100 Lead Could Become a $32,000 Lost Customer57:33 What This New Monthly Marketing Series Will Look Like58:51 Mike Finally Promises New Pictures

  2. Sep 1

    Ep 113 - Saurav Kumar & Kamran Rahman | Why Generic Social Media Is Killing Your Shop

    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 ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code Confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERE Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more 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 Send your service advisor to hands down the BEST service advisor training in the industry (even other coaching companies agree). It's Elite Worldwide's Masters Program. The next one is happening in Dallas Texas, September 10-12. Learn more HERE Mike Allen sits down with Saurav Kumar and Kamran Rahman from 47C to talk about what actually makes social media work for an auto repair shop—and why going viral might be the wrong goal entirely. They break down the difference between generic content and real brand-building, why local relevance matters more than raw views, how shops can create trust before a customer ever needs a repair, and why the right audience is more valuable than a huge one. Mike also admits one of his shops is now charging for diag, gets on a soapbox about technician pay and training, and somehow turns a discussion about marketing into another story about his pants coming off. Timestamps:00:00 Generic Social Media Is Everywhere00:59 Was This the Worst Recording Day Ever?01:27 What It’s Really Like Filming Inside a Repair Shop03:00 Can Shop Owners Mix Their Own Content With Professional Content?04:00 Mike’s First Impression of 47C05:53 Why Saurav Never Carries His ID08:08 Mike Admits He Didn’t Understand 47C at First09:47 The Confessions Lounge and Studio12:00 The Story Behind Mike’s Throne13:51 Meet 47C17:10 Why They Chose the Automotive Industry18:33 Are Repair Shops Actually Bad at Business?20:05 Why Automotive Attracts Private Equity21:56 What 47C Actually Does for Repair Shops25:19 Why Customers Want to Feel Like They Belong26:45 Mike Finally Buys Into Social Media Brand Building28:52 Are Repair Shops Still Early to Short-Form Video?30:11 Why Mike Doesn’t Want to Be the First Early Adopter31:05 Landscape vs. Portrait Video34:24 Mike Is Now Charging for Diag at One Shop35:58 Learning Dynamic Pricing From an Ice Cream Truck37:36 Technician Pay, Training and Labor Rates41:18 The Reality of Entrepreneurship43:22 No Booze, No Cocaine While We’re Working44:46 You Can Run a Good Business and Still Have Fun45:52 Why 47C Limits How Many Clients It Takes49:55 The Biggest Problems Facing Repair Shops52:55 Focus on What You’re Good At and Hire Out the Rest54:00 Why Generic Social Media Isn’t a Strategy55:00 Are Viral Shop Videos Actually Useful?56:00 Mike’s Million-View Video Reached the Wrong Audience58:40 Mike Learns What Kind of Content His Audience Really Wants59:09 Closing Thoughts

  3. Aug 25

    Ep 112 - Coaching Call #20 | Mike is Going to Charge for Diag??

    Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE 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. Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more HERE Send your service advisor to hands down the BEST service advisor training in the industry (even other coaching companies agree). It's Elite Worldwide's Masters Program. The next one is happening in Dallas Texas, September 10-12. Learn more 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! Mike Allen sits down with Matt Lofton for another open-book coaching session, digging into the real numbers behind one of Mike’s shops and figuring out what has to change to push it past 20% net profit. They break down car count, closing ratio, effective labor rate, gross profit per billed hour, staffing capacity, revenue per employee, and why a shop can look busy while still leaving a lot of money on the table. The conversation eventually forces Mike to reconsider one of his favorite controversial strategies—free diagnostics—and whether qualifying customers and charging for testing could actually improve the shop. As usual, there’s plenty of math, sarcasm, questionable financial decisions, and Mike reluctantly admitting that Matt may have a point. Timestamps00:00 Mike Forgot the Most Important Podcast Preparation: A Drink01:21 A $734 Power Bill vs. Matt’s Accidental Backyard Rainforest04:25 Growing the Business Just Creates New Problems07:35 Are Shop Owners Bad at Celebrating Wins?11:33 Opening the Books: $115K Revenue, $530 ARO & 24% Closing14:40 The Shop’s Best Month of the Year15:18 Building a 20%+ Net Profit Goal18:18 How to Calculate the Revenue Your Shop Actually Needs20:41 Can the Current Team Produce Enough Hours?25:45 “I Have No Excuse Not to Put $25K–$30K in the Bank”27:04 Could This Be a 30% Net Profit Shop?27:45 The Gross Profit Per Billed Hour Every Shop Needs to Know30:21 The Problem With a 24% Closing Ratio31:47 Your Loss Leader Doesn’t Have to Be for Everybody34:29 23 Cars Out of 110 Generated $034:57 “We’re Not Hospice for Cars”35:19 Should Repair Shops Have an Age Limit on Vehicles?36:32 Mike Admits He’s About to Make a Bad G-Wagon Decision39:58 Matt Sees Mike’s Effective Labor Rate and Gets Sad41:12 Mike Calls Capacity Calculators “Mental Masturbation”42:02 Should Mike Finally Start Charging for Diagnostic Testing?43:15 What McDonald’s Can Teach Repair Shops About Pricing44:04 Qualifying Customers Before Giving Them Something Free46:25 Mike Promises to Rage-Bait Matt Again46:54 Raising Effective Labor Rate Could Add $500K in Capacity49:11 What Should the Entry-Level Diagnostic Fee Be?51:41 The Revenue-per-Employee Hiring Benchmark55:05 Is It Already Time to Hire Another Technician?55:49 Why Your Shop Can’t Operate at Redline Forever57:17 “Good Dude Is Not a Qualifier for Employment”59:42 Mike Prepares to Admit He Was Wrong About Free Diag

  4. Aug 18

    Ep 111 - Mike and Bryan | Technicians Want More Money… But Won’t Do the Work

    Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE 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. Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more HERE Send your service advisor to hands down the BEST service advisor training in the industry (even other coaching companies agree). It's Elite Worldwide's Masters Program. The next one is happening in Dallas Texas, September 10-12. Learn more 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! In this episode of Confessions of a Shop Owner, Mike Allen and Bryan Pollock get into technician pay, work ethic, training, shop culture, and whether today’s owners are expecting too much from the modern workforce. Bryan questions whether the self-motivated technician is disappearing, while Mike pushes back on the idea that someone should receive six-figure pay before developing a six-figure skill set. They also get into government regulation and price-gouging enforcement, bad repair shops, Mike’s anonymous Facebook trolling, and why sometimes the industry’s problems feel impossible to fix. And because this is Confessions, Mike also explains how he managed to injure himself playing kickball on the beach. Timestamps:00:00 Mike’s Casino Decisions & Bryan’s Corvette Disaster04:54 Mike Gets a Letter From the Attorney General07:34 Fraud Alert…Live During the Podcast08:05 Mike’s Fake Career as a Professional Blimp Folder12:23 Confession: Mike Has Been Trolling Shop Owners Anonymously17:17 Why There’s More Than One Right Way to Run a Shop19:37 Three Shop Owners With Completely Different Business Models21:44 David Roman Wants Absolutely Nothing to Do With Mike24:19 Cheap Labor Rates & Buying Failed Shops’ Equipment25:07 Is Bryan Becoming a Cranky Old Shop Owner?27:05 Are Technicians Becoming Too Dependent on Shop Owners?29:22 Bryan’s Crash Course Into Becoming a Technician32:26 Is the Self-Motivated Technician Disappearing?33:23 Should You Make $100K Before You Have $100K Skills?35:31 What Happens When Newer Cars Get Even More Complicated?35:58 “I Want to Learn”…But Won’t Use Free Training37:10 Technicians Who Say Training Is “Too Basic”39:18 Bryan’s Government Intervention Rant Begins41:00 Price Gouging vs. Shops That Can’t Fix Cars43:43 Who Gets to Decide What an Auto Repair Shop Should Charge?47:01 Why Government Regulation Won’t Fix the Real Problem48:10 Should Shops Call Out Bad Repairs From Other Shops?52:44 Mike Adds Four Employees to His Shops55:10 Mike’s Most Embarrassing Kickball Story57:02 Mike Defends His Sumo Wrestling Record58:25 Why You Need to Be at ASTA Expo

  5. Aug 14 ·  Bonus

    BONUS AUDIO ONLY EPISODE: Lauren Langston & Jared Haleck | The Auto Repair Industry Earned Its Bad Reputation

    Keep shop management, payments, marketing (all the things) all in one place with Tekmetric. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Click HERE ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE Turnkey Marketing has made my life SOOO much simpler, AND they've helped keep the phone ringing. Do you need these two things too? Learn more HERE Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more 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! Elite Worldwide's Ignite 2027 is coming up in February and NOW is the time to sign up. It's happening in Vegas February 4-6 and it will be the best 3 days of your shops year when you attend. Learn now HERE In this bonus audio-only episode, Mike Allen sits down at Tektonic 2026 with Tekmetric President Lauren Langston and Chief Product Officer Jared Haleck for a conversation that starts spicy and quickly heads into the future of automotive repair. They discuss whether industry coaches can remain relevant after years away from shop ownership, why repair shops have earned some of the public’s mistrust, and what real-world data says about the massive impact of consistent DVIs. Mike also gets an inside look at SmartDVI, automated estimating, integrated phone systems, AI call assistants, and other technology that could dramatically change how service advisors and technicians work. Timestamps 00:00 The Coaching Question That Made the Panel Spicy01:01 Can Coaches Stay Relevant After 10 Years Away From Shop Ownership?03:23 Why Tektonic Stands Out From Other Industry Events04:26 Tekmetric Digital Ads & Why Google Maps Matters08:08 The DVI Numbers That Should Shock Shop Owners09:00 Longer DVIs = Nearly $200 More ARO?09:32 SmartDVI: Using AI to Build Better Inspections Faster13:48 Can AI Understand Your Technician’s Accent?15:27 Building New Features vs. Fixing What Customers Already Use19:15 We’re 20 Minutes In…Maybe We Should Introduce the Guests22:41 Every Shop Owner Thinks They’ve Built the Next Great AI Tool24:35 What Happens When Software Companies Build Your Integration’s Feature?27:06 SmartDVI, Meta Glasses & Hands-Free Inspections30:24 How Close Are We to Fully Automated Estimates?34:17 Let Service Advisors Build Relationships—Not Estimates35:53 Personalized Service Plans & Eliminating Customer Surprises37:21 Has Auto Repair Earned Its Bad Reputation?41:24 Does Showing Future Repair Pricing Encourage Price Shopping?46:06 Tekmetric Phones & the Next Big Integration49:12 AI Call Assistants Listening in Real Time53:11 Mike Announces Tekmetric’s Entire Future Roadmap…Without Permission

  6. Aug 11

    Ep 110 - Ryan Ragan and Tony Mercury | Why Every Shop Owner Needs to Go to ASTA

    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 ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code Confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERE Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more 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 Send your service advisor to hands down the BEST service advisor training in the industry (even other coaching companies agree). It's Elite Worldwide's Masters Program. The next one is happening in Dallas Texas, September 10-12. Learn more HERE In this episode, Mike Allen, Ryan Ragan, and Tony Mercury dig into the power of networking and relationship-building at automotive industry events like the ASTA Expo. They talk about how rapid advances in technology, especially AI, are reshaping both vehicles and shop operations. They also stress the huge benefits that come from dropping egos and openly sharing struggles, with honest conversations paving the way for growth and support among shop owners. Wanna win a ticket to ASTA? If you're a shop owner who has never been, register to WIN HERE Timestamps:00:00 Survivor-Style Competition: The ASTA Expo Gets Wild01:36 Why Every Shop Owner Needs Car Tribe Connections04:01 The Miata, the “Fun Car” & Shop Owner Cred10:08 The Future of Self-Driving, Subscription Cars & AI in Auto Repair12:16 From T-Mobile Number to Success: Meet Tony Mercury18:01 The Honest Shop Owner Life Cycle (and Why We Stagnate)20:08 Crushing Ego and Building Teams in the Shop25:46 Why First-Time Expo Attendees See HUGE Growth26:07 The Ultimate Training and Networking Lineup at ASTA30:01 Inside the ASTA Survivor Pre-Party: Obstacle Courses, Axe Throwing & More32:28 How to Win Free Tickets & Why You Have No Excuse33:14 The 80+ Classes that Actually Move the Needle in Your Shop36:24 Shop Owners Only: No-Vendor, No-BS Roundtables40:08 Raw Entrepreneur Talk, Family Fails, and Real-Life Shop Disasters42:02 How to Get Involved, Confess, and Join the Next Event

  7. Aug 4

    Ep 109 - Becca & Tony Zanders | The Truth About Selling Your Auto Repair Shop

    Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE 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. Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more HERE Send your service advisor to hands down the BEST service advisor training in the industry (even other coaching companies agree). It's Elite Worldwide's Masters Program. The next one is happening in Dallas Texas, September 10-12. Learn more 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! In this episode, Mike Allen sits down with Tony and Becca Zanders to discuss the realities of selling an auto repair shop and what it takes to leave behind more than just a paycheck. They share the story of building Heritage Auto Repair from the ground up before selling it to a longtime employee, explaining why preserving their legacy mattered more than chasing the highest offer. The conversation explores private equity, succession planning, burnout, and the emotional challenges many owners face after selling their business. Tony and Becca also offer practical advice for increasing your shop's value, building systems that outlast you, and creating an exit strategy that aligns with your long-term goals. Timestamps:00:00 Legacy vs. Payday: The Truth About Selling Your Shop 01:00 Meet Tony & Becca Zanders: Building Heritage Auto Repair Together 04:41 From Backyard Garage to One of Idaho's Top Repair Shops 07:00 Selling to an Employee Instead of the Highest Bidder 08:20 Private Equity, High Multiples & Internal Buyouts 10:42 Questions Every Shop Owner Should Ask Before Selling 12:14 Don't Wait Until Burnout: The Three Keys to a Healthy Exit 16:07 Defining Your "Why" Before You Sell 17:44 Choosing the Right Successor and Passing the Baton 21:14 The Emotional Reality of Staying On After the Sale 23:24 Losing Your Identity After Selling Your Business 24:18 Empowering Employees to Increase Shop Value 27:13 The D6 Elements: Building a Sale-Ready Business 35:16 How to Start Planning Your Exit—Even If You're Late 37:03 The Biggest Mistakes That Destroy Shop Value 39:40 Why Strong Processes Matter—Even After the Sale 44:02 Vegas Food Recommendations & Planning for AAPEX

  8. Jul 28

    Ep 108 - Coaching Call #19 | The Technician Hiring Mistake Costing You Thousands

    Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERE ASTA is coming up September 24-26 in Raleigh. Be there or be square, dog! Register now and use code confess25 for $25.00 off your registration. Sign up HERE 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. Tired of your shop’s social media looking like every other repair shop on the internet? Stand out with 47 Consulting. Learn more HERE Send your service advisor to hands down the BEST service advisor training in the industry (even other coaching companies agree). It's Elite Worldwide's Masters Program. The next one is happening in Dallas Texas, September 10-12. Learn more 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! In this episode, Mike Allen and Matt Lofton tackle the tough realities of technician recruitment and retention in the automotive industry. They break down what makes for a world-class tech resume, including the importance of certifications and a repeatable diagnostic process. They also dive into creative benefits and pay structures that help shop owners attract and keep high-performing team members. Timestamps:00:00 Why effort matters: average effort equals average results01:01 On location: Real shop talk—live from the upstairs lounge02:12 Listener story: The perils of moving for a big technician bonus03:31 Counter work: How service advisor experience changes your perspective04:12 Building a world-class technician resume06:10 Green flags when hiring technicians: culture, urgency, and communication08:07 Assessing tech skill levels: How shop owners rank new hires10:02 The realities of shop life: climate (un)controlled & passion required11:15 Interview testing: Math, typing, and diagnostics12:25 What a detailed diagnostic process REALLY sounds like15:00 Repair process deep dive: Front pads and rotors, step by step16:00 Certifications: Do ASE and OEM certs really matter?18:19 Certification pay bumps and how smart shops use them22:24 Additional benefits: Tool truck stipend, unique perks, and paid vacation23:21 Spotting red flags in technician interviews25:25 Dangerous hobbies, life outside work, and “yellow flags”27:08 Get your questions HR-checked—don’t risk dangerous interview territory28:19 Video games: Neutral factor or warning sign?29:01 A-level techs vs. average: The importance of self-improvement32:10 Tools for growth: ScannerDanner Premium and other training hacks33:04 Is tech a job or a career? Why treating it like a profession pays34:10 Unique retention benefits elite shops are offering now36:18 The surprising power of honest feedback and shop culture39:22 Flat rate, salary, and pay progression: Building real career pathways41:45 What techs should ask in every interview (and why shops should let you talk to the team)44:39 The best techs interview the shop right back45:53 Why service advisor performance matters for technician pay47:00 When mistakes happen: Who eats the loss—tech or shop?48:41 “How do you want to get paid?” Structuring compensation around performance50:00 Signing bonuses: rewards, risks, and negotiation tips53:40 Why every tech should understand shop numbers (not just fixes!)

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Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Confessions of a Shop Owner is hosted by Mike Allen, a third-generation shop owner, perpetual pot-stirrer, and brutally honest opinion sharer.  In this weekly podcast, Mike shares his missteps so you don’t have to repeat them. Along the way, he chats with other industry personalities who’ve messed up, too, pulling back the curtain on the realities of running an independent auto repair shop. But this podcast isn’t just about Mike’s journey. It’s about confronting the divisive and questionable tactics many shop owners and managers use. Mike is here to stir the pot and address the painful truths while offering a way forward. Together, we’ll tackle the frustrations, shake things up, and help create a better future for the auto repair industry.

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