Repair Shop Reckoning

Kevin Brown
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Repair Shop Reckoning is the no-nonsense, hard-hitting podcast where host Kevin Brown pulls no punches in bringing you the raw truth about the collision and repair shop industry. Forget the corporate sugarcoating—this show dives into the gritty reality of what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether you’re a shop owner, a mechanic, or just someone tired of the BS, Kevin’s got the hard-earned expertise and unapologetic opinions you need. Each episode tackles the biggest issues, challenges, and game-changing tips in the industry, giving you the tools to cut through the noise and level up your shop. Buckle up—it’s time to get real. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

  1. The Backend Mistakes That Bankrupt Shops

    1D AGO

    The Backend Mistakes That Bankrupt Shops

    If you don’t know your numbers, you don’t control your business! In this episode, Kevin sits down with Maria Montie, partner at Shindel Rock and a key resource inside the Repair Shop Reckoning network, to talk about what most shop owners avoid their backend.  Cash flow. Oversight. Internal controls. Tax structure. And the dangerous assumption that “my accountant has it handled.” We break down: Why bookkeeping and real accounting strategy are not the same thingHow overstated revenue can quietly create six-figure tax billsThe internal control mistakes that lead to embezzlementWhy “no surprises” should be your financial standardThe difference between delegation and responsibilityAnd here’s the part that should get your attention: A shop owner we were working with received a six-figure tax bill. After reconstructing the books and filing an amended return, that bill was dissolved. Not reduced. Dissolved. Because when you don’t understand your structure, your revenue classification, and your reporting you can end up paying for mistakes you didn’t even know existed.  This episode isn’t about accounting theory. It’s about control. You can delegate tasks. You cannot delegate ownership. If you’re serious about leading your shop instead of reacting to it, this conversation matters. No fluff.  No tax hacks.  Just the reality of what it takes to run a business the right way. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    1h 19m
  2. If You Don't Run Your Shop Then Your Shop Runs You

    FEB 13

    If You Don't Run Your Shop Then Your Shop Runs You

    Because being good at fixing cars isn’t enough anymore... This episode is for shop owners who are tired of chaos, thin margins, and feeling like they’re constantly putting out fires. Kevin breaks down what it actually takes to build a disciplined, profitable shop in an industry that’s getting tougher by the day. We’re talking real systems. Real structure. Real leadership. Inside this episode: -Why letting customers bring their own parts kills your margins -The difference between ChatGPT and a properly built shop AI system -How documentation and process increase close rate -Why most shops misunderstand sell-through rate -The truth about service advisors vs. technicians -How systems protect you from insurance games If you want to stop reacting and start running your shop like a business, not a hobby, this one’s for you. No corporate script. No sugarcoating. Just what works. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    51 min
  3. Where Shops Bleed Money & How To Plug The Leaks

    FEB 6

    Where Shops Bleed Money & How To Plug The Leaks

    In this episode, Kevin breaks down his exact service advising system step by step from the first phone call to after-hours pickup. This isn’t theory. It’s a process built from getting burned, plugging holes, and tightening the operation until the front office actually controls the day. We talk about: -Why most shops lose trust on the phone in the first 10 seconds -How “free estimates” screw your techs and kill customer confidence -The check-in process Kevin uses to eliminate wasted time and miscommunication -How they use AI to capture the full customer story, write cleaner estimates, and stop details from getting lost -The workflow that keeps keys, approvals, parts, and tech time organized -Why the customer experience is the difference between getting shopped on price or getting trusted If your front office feels chaotic, your estimates sit too long, your techs get stuck waiting, or customers constantly question your value this episode is a blueprint.  Subscribe on YouTube for the full episode and weekly shop truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    51 min
  4. The Daily War Between Shops & Insurance...From Someone That Has Been On Both Sides

    JAN 30

    The Daily War Between Shops & Insurance...From Someone That Has Been On Both Sides

    Featuring George Ryan, Body Shop Manager at a Mercedes-Benz dealer in upstate New York, this episode is a straight-up masterclass in why shops are sick of getting jerked around by insurance companies—and what it looks like to push back with facts, laws, and zero fear. George’s perspective hits different because he’s lived both sides of the table: he grew up in a body shop, worked as a tech, then spent 20 years inside insurance (including overseeing DRP operations across 13 states and 300+ shops) before coming back to the shop world. Translation? He knows the games. He knows the scripts. And he’s done letting them run the show. You’ll hear how New York’s regulations (like the 48-hour supplement window and the 6-day inspection rule) can be used to stop the stall tactics, how insurers try to steer repairs toward cheaper parts and slower processes, and why dealership-level repairs—especially on Mercedes—don’t play nice with “Amazon parts” logic. In this episode, we get into: -Why “appraisers” are really adjusters (and what that means for your money) -The daily war: supplements, desk reviews, delays, and puppet scripts -How shops can prep the customer before the insurance company turns it into a circus -OEM vs aftermarket battles on high-end vehicles—and why the “policy” excuse is trash -The insanity of paint/material audits, pour sheets, and nickel-and-dime fee fights -The bigger problem: an industry getting squeezed while techs age out and joy gets sucked dry -A call to action to stop fighting alone—and start organizing shops who are done bending over If you’ve ever felt that “here we go again” moment when an adjuster walks into your shop… this one’s for you. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    1h 8m
  5. Flat Rate, Free Labor, and Broken Promises

    JAN 23

    Flat Rate, Free Labor, and Broken Promises

    This episode of Repair Shop Reckoning didn’t end the way we planned due to technical difficulties, but the conversation was too real not to release. Jessica shares her story of starting in the trade at 16, helping build a successful mobile operation into a shop, and then watching it fall apart because of bad leadership, flat rate abuse, unpaid labor, and broken promises. From 1099 misclassification to technicians doing office work for free, this episode exposes exactly how good shops fail and good techs burn out. We break down what happens when a shop grows without systems, boundaries, or accountability and why flat rate without structure destroys morale. Jessica opens up about being overworked, underpaid, and finally walking away to start her own mobile business. We also talk about being a woman in the trade, earning trust through competence, choosing profitable work as a mobile tech, and why customers follow technicians not shop names. This episode is raw, honest, and unfinished because real shop life is messy. Jessica will be back, but this conversation stands on its own. If you are a technician fed up with bad shops If you are a shop owner growing faster than your systems If you are thinking about going mobile or starting your own business This episode is for you! Repair Shop Reckoning isn’t about complaining. It’s about calling out what’s broken and showing what actually works. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    33 min
  6. How The Race To Zero Is Killing The Independent Collision Shops

    JAN 16

    How The Race To Zero Is Killing The Independent Collision Shops

    Featuring Kevin Brown, host of Repair Shop Reckoning, and Jason Tracey — this one is a full-blown reality check for shop owners who are sick of getting squeezed from every direction. Kevin doesn’t sugarcoat it: the collision world is sliding into a Race to Zero where shops keep dropping prices to “win” work… and end up financing repairs out of their own pocket. Meanwhile, insurers keep tightening the screws, MSOs keep setting the “standard,” and the customer gets caught in the middle with cheap parts, fear-based steering, and word-track manipulation. This episode is not for the “pros” who already have their numbers dialed in. It’s for the owners who feel like they’re drowning, constantly negotiating backward, and wondering why they’re working harder than ever but not getting ahead. What we get into: The Race to Zero and how it quietly bankrupts good shopsWhy MSOs (885 shops strong) shift pricing power away from independentsThe truth about DRPs, steering, and “out of network” fear tacticsState Farm logic gymnastics: premiums up, labor rates down… same excuseOne-party checks and why they wreck repair outcomes (and your time)Why free estimates are a trap and how admin/estimate fees protect your shopStorage fees done right (and why documentation is everything)The “cheat code” that changes adjuster behavior: reply-all transparencyWhy Kevin records calls, tracks everything by VIN/claim number, and covers his ass like a proThe real lesson: insurance companies don’t own your business — unless you let themKevin also drops hard-earned shop-floor tactics: charging appropriately for time, marking up sublet work correctly, refusing to renegotiate supplements after the work is done, and setting boundaries that force respect. The Takeaway  If you don’t know your costs, you’ll keep saying yes to bad work, bad parts, bad margins, and bad months. If you do know your numbers you can push back, stay profitable, and stop letting insurers dictate how you run your shop. Buckle up. This one’s for the owners ready to stop bending over and start building a business that actually lasts. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    1 hr
  7. Horsepower Doesn’t Make You a Driver & Ownership Doesn’t Make You a Leader

    JAN 9

    Horsepower Doesn’t Make You a Driver & Ownership Doesn’t Make You a Leader

    What happens when you put a real Corvette guy in the room… and let him talk? In this episode, Kevin sits down with Alan Johnson from Matick Chevrolet, one of the most dialed-in Corvette minds you’ll hear anywhere. This isn’t “car talk” for clicks. It’s a deep dive into what’s actually happening inside GM right now… and why so many dealerships are falling behind. They hit everything from the 3.0 Duramax being the best-kept secret in the truck world, to the reality behind the 6.2 uncertainty, to what really creates trust and consistency in a dealership: systems, talent development, and leadership that gives a damn. And then they go straight into the chaos that sparked this episode: the brake fluid war. If you’ve ever heard someone say “brake fluid is sealed, it doesn’t matter,” Alan is about to ruin your day...in the best way possible. This is the intersection of: -High-performance driving -Real-world dealership service operations -Maintenance that actually keeps people safe -And the uncomfortable truth about how the industry is being gutted by short-term thinking If you’re a technician, shop owner, advisor, service manager, or car nerd who actually wants to understand what’s real… this one hits hard. Here is how you can find Alan on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivenwithalan Instagram: @drivenwithalan YouTube:  @drivenwithAlan ​ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    1h 27m

  8. JAN 2

    Stopping the Race to zero...How New Shops Can Actually Win

    This episode is for new shop owners, mobile mechanics, and anyone thinking about going out on their own. Kevin sits down with Ben Higgins, owner of The Wrench Wagon, for a real conversation about what actually happens when you transition from technician to business owner and why so many good techs fail once they open their own shop. This is not another episode bitching about flat rate, dealerships, or customers. This is about responsibility, pricing, leadership, and survival. Kevin breaks down why being busy does not mean you are profitable, how sympathy brain quietly destroys shops, and why undercharging feels generous but guarantees burnout. They talk openly about pricing mistakes, staffing realities, knowing your numbers, and the mental shift required to stop thinking like a tech and start thinking like an owner. If you are a mobile mechanic or a one man operation, this episode gives you clarity on what to take on, what to avoid, and how to build a business that actually supports your life instead of consuming it. This is mentorship most shop owners never get until they have already paid for it in lost money, stress, and regret. If you are early in your journey, this episode can save you years. If you are struggling right now, this episode will explain why and show you a path forward. Repair Shop Reckoning is not about bitching about the things that are. It is about ownership, leadership, and doing the hard things that keep shops alive. You have the power if you take the reponsibility! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

    1h 37m
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About

Repair Shop Reckoning is the no-nonsense, hard-hitting podcast where host Kevin Brown pulls no punches in bringing you the raw truth about the collision and repair shop industry. Forget the corporate sugarcoating—this show dives into the gritty reality of what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether you’re a shop owner, a mechanic, or just someone tired of the BS, Kevin’s got the hard-earned expertise and unapologetic opinions you need. Each episode tackles the biggest issues, challenges, and game-changing tips in the industry, giving you the tools to cut through the noise and level up your shop. Buckle up—it’s time to get real. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Information

  • Creator
    Kevin Brown
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    42
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Kevin Brown
  • Show Website
    Repair Shop Reckoning

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