Confessions of a Shop Owner

Mike Allen
  • 4.5 (12)
  • 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. 2D AGO

    Ep 74 - Todd Speciale | Make MORE Money As a Salesperson...with Honesty??

    Tekmetrics' business model of listening to customers' needs and implementing new systems makes them super shop-friendly. Start using them at your shop today 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 Elite Worldwide coaching has changed the game for me and my shop. Need a boost? Use Elite like I do. HERE Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE Todd Speciale is the founder of Make Sales Great Again and best selling author of The Ultimate Sales Bible. Today, he and Mike discuss the reputation of salespeople and the keys to selling with integrity. Todd also shares the story behind his company and book, emphasizing the importance of honesty and culture in building successful sales teams. Find out more about Todd here Timestamps: 00:00 Who do people distrust most in sales? 01:00 Todd’s keynote that broke all Mike’s rules02:30 Why Todd Speciale speaks—his personal story and passion for helping others05:06 The real meaning behind “Make Sales Great Again”07:00 Why Todd left timeshare & how the right sales tactics can change an industry09:00 Dirty sales: How to SELL and still sleep at night10:30 Sales from the negative—flipping the pitch with integrity12:00 Firing the top 1%: Why the best sales aren’t always the best people14:00 Blocking objections & how to own the conversation16:05 Who does Todd’s consulting actually help—and how?18:00 How can auto shops attract high-level sales talent with lower ceiling pay?19:45 The power of culture: 71% hate their jobs—how to fix that!21:00 Best industries for ethical sales training—and the truth about training23:10 Door-to-door horror stories: What it REALLY teaches you25:30 Who invests the most in their teams? The inside scoop on insurance, real estate, roofing & more29:35 Inside Todd’s books: The Ultimate Sales Bible & more33:00 Why the sales process hasn’t changed—but the buyer sure has36:00 Old school vs. new school: Changing prospects and tactics38:53 The compensation trap—can performance pay ever reward ethics?41:00 How to weed out the wrong hires before they cost you44:20 Where to find great trainable sales talent: Youth, servers, and bartenders47:00 Mythbusting the “kids don’t want to work” narrative—how to develop the next generation50:52 How to reach Todd Speciale and learn more

    55 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Ep 73 - Nate Winston | Business Partnership are Like Marriage...

    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 I was SHOCKED when I saw the things I was missing the first time I used Detect Auto. Simple things, but easy to miss. Detect Auto helped clean that up for me, and they can for you, too. Use them HERE Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE Nate Winston owns Winston's Complete Auto Care in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Today, Nate shares with Mike how he and a friend one day decided to start a shop...with ZERO experience in the industry...They talk candidly about the challenges of business partnerships—including the fallout from a partnership built on a handshake deal—and offer hard-won advice for anyone considering opening a shop with a friend. Like the episode? Call 704-CONFESS or email mike@confessionsofashopowner.com to share your stories or feedback! Timestamps: 00:00 Business Partnerships: Like Marriage...Without the Sex 02:02 Meet Nate Winston: From Blinds Factory to Auto Shop Owner 03:29 Starting a Shop with Zero Experience 06:08 Living in the Shop: Early Struggles as Entrepreneurs 08:25 Growing the Business & Chamber of Commerce Involvement 11:47 Partnership Breakup: What Went Wrong? 14:16 Why Every Partnership Needs an Agreement 17:17 Building a Business “Prenup” vs. Friendship 18:23 Opening a New Shop: The Leap to Solo Ownership 20:17 Coaching, Training & The Value of Events for Shop Owners 22:50 One-Man Operation: The Challenges and Plans for Hiring 24:58 Biggest Challenges in 2026 and Beyond 26:13 Cutting Out Heavy Work: Focusing on the Right Jobs 28:34 Tektonic 2026 Preview & Vendor Networking

    36 min

  3. FEB 10

    Ep 72 - Jon Cabak | How AI & Technology Are Changing the Automotive Industry

    Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. 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. Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do HERE Jon Cabak is the co-founder and CEO of Detect Auto. Today, he shares with Mike about Detect Auto’s maintenance recommendation tools and talks about their new partnership with BG Products to streamline customer education and shop efficiency. The conversation also explores how AI is already transforming shop operations, from business analysis to coaching service advisors, with Jon sharing practical ways shop owners can leverage these technologies today. Timestamps: 00:00 Introducing The "Maintenance Recommendation System" & the Struggle for a Good Name01:05 Jon Cabak's whirlwind trip: Meetings, markets, and minimal sleep02:11 Jon's goals at C&R AAPEX: Building partnerships and sharing tech02:47 Who is Jon Cabak? CEO of Detect Auto, building better tools for shops03:06 How Detect Auto helps service advisors ask the right questions04:06 New features: BG Products partnership & integrating educational content for customers05:00 Educating customers with videos, Tekmetric integration dreams06:16 The power of video explainer tools for maintenance sales07:13 Coaching new shops: How to launch a maintenance program07:49 Why shops struggle to sell maintenance—and how to avoid “kitchen sinking” new customers09:13 Making a maintenance plan not a one-time sales event10:11 Detect Auto’s printable/PDF maintenance planning tool11:02 “SUN”: The new name for maintenance—Shit You Need!11:46 AI’s best use in shop ownership, ChatGPT in action, and practical subscription tips13:06 Voice tech, call analysis, and smarter prospecting with AI14:00 Pipe dream or next reality? AI that writes your service tickets15:00 Using AI for real-time scripts and to improve advisor performance16:45 Ongoing upgrades: Overcoming latency and training obstacles18:31 AI for pre-service surveys and reducing customer friction19:10 Practicing objections and role-playing with voice AI21:11 Upgrading your AI subscription — Is it worth it?21:57 Using AI to analyze business trends and shop performance22:42 Grok, Gemini, Claude: Testing the new AI tools for shops23:44 Will software engineers be replaced by AI? Real talk about tech careers25:19 What Detect Auto features are most valuable to shop owners?27:09 How onboarding and training shops faster drives ROI

    33 min

  4. FEB 6

    Ep 71 - Bryce Evans | The Future of Print Media and It’s Place in the Automotive Industry

    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 There are a lot of moving parts in a repair shop, opening the door to missing things. Don't let that happen to you. Learn more about Detect Auto Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE Bryce Evans is the founder and editor-in-chief of Auto Service Leader. Today, Bryce and Mike talk about the future of automotive media, the role of independent journalism, and how Auto Service Leader's innovative magazine is reshaping the information gap for shop owners. Their model puts content ahead of advertising, giving readers practical information they can actually use. They also cover the current state of journalism, the challenges of maintaining editorial integrity in today’s click-driven media landscape, and what independent shop owners can do to navigate an industry rapidly changing due to private equity and consolidation. See Auto Service Leader's work HERE Timestamps: 00:00 Can True Investigative Journalism Survive Today’s Media Landscape?01:05 Auto Service Leader’s Magazine Model – No Ads, Just Content03:27 Building a Consistent Brand & Publication Experience05:00 How Shops & Partners Get Featured in Auto Service Leader06:19 Bryce Evans’ B2B Publishing Background & Ratchet Wrench Insights08:46 Filling the Information Gap: What Shop Owners Really Need09:53 Auto Service Leader’s Searchable Resource Hub Explained11:09 What’s Next for Auto Service Leader in 2026?13:12 Bryce Evans’ Journey: Journalism, Moving Into Automotive17:09 Lessons from Newsrooms & What Changed His Career Path20:58 Why Community and Peer Groups Matter for Shop Owners22:15 Is Print Media Dead? Newspapers vs New Media23:27 “Everyone’s Got a Podcast” – Modern Media Challenges25:17 Media’s Role in Political Division & Clickbait26:19 Absolutism and the Importance of Nuance in the Auto Industry29:44 The Art of Interviewing: Insights for Great Journalism33:25 Dealing With Agenda-Driven Coverage as a Business Owner36:57 Is Print Here to Stay? Why High-End Magazines Matter38:09 Navigating Hot Button Topics: Relational vs. Transactional Selling41:32 How Auto Service Leader Handles Problematic Sources42:32 Private Equity & Consolidation’s Impact on the Automotive Industry

    50 min

  5. FEB 3

    Ep 70 - Mr. Subaru | Automotive Social Media...The Good, the Bad, and the Stupid...

    Tekmetrics' business model of listening to customers' needs and implementing new systems makes them super shop-friendly. Start using them at your shop today 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 Elite Worldwide coaching has changed the game for me and my shop. Need a boost? Use Elite like I do. HERE Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE In this episode, Mike Allen and Bryan Pollock talk with Mr. Subaru. Mr. Subaru talks through his experiences navigating drama in the automotive influencer space and addresses accusations of clickbait content. He shares some colorful stories from his time as a Snap-on dealer, including the challenges of repossessing toolboxes from delinquent customers. Finally, Mr. Subaru discusses his upcoming plans to build a new shop on his property and the future direction of his YouTube content.Timestamps: 00:00 - Are you a Clickbait Creator? Mr. Subaru on Online Drama00:19 - The Truth About Tool Content—Is It Clickbait?01:08 - Rock Hill & South Carolina’s Automotive Scene03:03 - Content Creator Drama & Automotive Industry Comparison07:09 - Shop Builds: Mr. Subaru Gets Bank Approval for His New Shop08:51 - How It All Started: Mr. Subaru’s First YouTube Videos10:59 - The COVID Boost: Explosive Growth on YouTube12:12 - Monetization Woes: TikTok, Facebook, & Instagram13:33 - The Snap-On Dealer Experience—Sales, Credit, & Repos17:15 - Wild Repo Stories: Guns, Knives, & Toolbox Sting Operations21:30 - The Biggest Toolbox Sale Ever26:03 - Market Insights: Charlotte Money, Shop Opportunities, & Area Growth29:12 - Podcasting & Automotive Media Scene in Carolina29:37 - Drama vs. Good for the Industry: Podcast Growth Strategies33:08 - Rage-Bait vs. Thoughtful Content: Finding Balance35:55 - Instant Opinions & The Problem with Social Media Hate37:00 - Shop Anonymity & Weirdos—Dealing with the Downside of Fame39:16 - Diagnosing for the Diagnostically Challenged: Mobile Work Stories45:27 - B-Techs, A-Techs, and Weaponized Incompetence Rant47:22 - Diagnostic Training on YouTube: Scanner Danner & Self-Learning48:53 - What’s Next for Mr. Subaru? Shop Builds & New Content51:19 - DIY vs. Shop Content: Who Does It Serve Best?54:02 - Upcoming Events: Visions, Asta, Farm Show, and More56:08 - Favorite Training Classes & Shop Stories57:37 - Sumos, Hurricanes, and Confessions—Podcast Outtakes

    1 hr

  6. JAN 27

    Ep 69 - Coaching Call #13 | What I Learned From 2025, and Why 2026 WILL Be Different

    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 I was SHOCKED when I saw the things I was missing the first time I used Detect Auto. Simple things, but easy to miss. Detect Auto helped clean that up for me, and they can for you, too. Use them HERE Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE In this episode, Mike Allen and Matt Lofton break down 2025's financial results from the shop, and talk about what went wrong and what went right. Matt encourages Mike to work towards pre-booking appointments to drive repeat business, and Mike states his goals for boosting net profit in 2026. Timestamps: 00:00 Matt thinks Mike should only focus on the shop?01:15 Confessions intro03:02 Recapping the year: top-line numbers, gross profit, and performance metrics05:07 Gross profit calculation, labor rates, and tech efficiency09:35 Ad spend breakdown—what’s working, what’s wasted11:15 Setting ambitious but achievable 2026 profit targets13:43 Staffing, productivity by the billable hour, and role expectations16:03 Navigating seasonal slowdowns and weather curveballs21:21 Drilling into process—team consistency and customer experience26:16 Tech inspections, quality DVIs, and closing rate improvements33:04 The #1 process change to add 10% net profit34:16 How (and WHY) to start pre-booking appointments for consistent car count39:00 Pre-booking accountability & reminder hacks that actually work41:51 Retention challenges with new customers & recapture campaign ideas45:14 Why “state inspection only” tickets kill profitability48:48 The key takeaways—retention, consistency, and focusing on fundamentals

    54 min

  7. JAN 20

    Ep 68 - Jared Haleck | A.I. In Auto Repair Shops and What You NEED to Know

    Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. 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. Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do HERE Jared Haleck is the new Chief Product Officer at Tekmetric, and today he talks with Mike about the rapid innovation happening in automotive shop management technology. Jared shares his perspective on how AI tools can streamline service advisor-customer interactions, making it easier to gather, document, and translate repair information for technicians. The conversation also explores the future potential of AI in automating repair estimates and improving digital vehicle inspections—emphasizing that the biggest barrier to integrating these tools is just shop owners’ creativity. Timestamps:00:00 – Will Tekmetric take over the world??00:21 – Confessions of a Shop Owner Presented by Tekmetric01:13 – Speed Vegas recap: Racing exotics, leaderboard drama, and surprises05:15 – Jared Haleck’s background & first impressions of Tekmetric08:43 – What does a Chief Product Officer actually do? (And, yes, nerds are involved)10:39 – The AI revolution: Early adopters, ChatGPT, and what every shop should know13:04 – Practical AI: Intake conversations, tech translation, and smarter service writing16:25 – Summarization, speech-to-text, and eliminating “translation loss”20:03 – Why voice (and phone) is key to the next auto shop breakthrough25:33 – Wish list: AI-powered digital vehicle inspections & visual documentation32:30 – Word choices, loss aversion, and writing the story customers need34:44 – The real trick: Getting creative with AI prompts and trying new ideas36:12 – Gemini, Claude, or GPT: Which AI platform works best?39:54 – Where can shop owners get the most bang-for-their-buck with AI today?41:25 – Fast hacks: Using iPhone Notes for instant transcriptions42:29 – What’s next? The roadmap to automated estimate building44:32 – Why Tekmetric is leading the innovation race (and how to join)

    49 min

  8. JAN 13

    Ep 67 - Jimmy Purdy | How to Double Your $$$

    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 There are a lot of moving parts in a repair shop, opening the door to missing things. Don't let that happen to you. Learn more about Detect Auto Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. HERE Jimmy Purdy is the host of The Gearbox Podcast and owns Shift'n Gears Auto Repair in Paso Robles, California. Today, he and Mike Allen talk about how Jimmy nearly doubled his business in 2025 using the sometimes unpopular AutoShop Answers method. The conversation also covers the challenges of balancing profitability with company culture and how shop owners often struggle to find the one “silver bullet,” when success is really about picking up the right gold nuggets along the way. Timestamps: 00:00 The golden rule: fully inform the customer before doing any repairs01:08 Trade show tricks: why veteran vendors bring two pairs of shoes02:08 Shoe disasters, hiking stories, and quick-thinking hacks03:28 Shop growth: Doubling sales, why net profit isn’t the whole picture04:41 Breaking revenue ceilings: Big changes and new sales processes05:37 Shiny object syndrome and tracking the right KPIs06:21 Learning to filter industry advice and run the shop your way07:36 Sales process overhaul: From tech mindset to customer experience08:53 What great client experience actually means—beyond the inspection10:10 Shop coaching, sales training, and implementing what works for YOU12:25 Adapting big shop advice for smaller or rural markets13:55 Customizing processes, balancing growth and team happiness15:11 Efficiency breakthroughs: Improving inspections and workflow17:37 Overcoming DVI inconsistency and getting buy-in from your team21:50 Estimating strategies: Why quoting everything isn’t always best25:22 Lessons in sales: The “kitchen sink” rule and sales fatigue29:13 Team training, scripting, and crushing phone intake times34:43 Bringing team to trade shows for real buy-in (and to avoid “Black Monday”)39:11 Evolving customer expectations and modernizing shop experiences44:39 The myth of the universal “right way” to run a shop51:06 Seven-day work weeks, shop culture, and the truth about tech retention54:13 Letting your team find their own wins—even new gloves count56:06 Shop life, family life, and defining your own success as an owner57:17 Where to find more: Jimmy’s Gearbox podcast & how you can get involved

    1h 1m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
12 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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