Thanks to our partner Promotive In this second part of our 2025 Benchmark series, Hunt Demarest, CPA, with Paar Melis and Associates, breaks down performance trends by region, shop size, and shop type, using real-world data from auto repair businesses across the U.S. Key points: Regional profit trends with the West leading and the Southeast lagging Why higher productivity—not labor rate—drives better profits How overhead impacts small versus large shops Shop type breakdown: general repair, diese...
Jun 26, 2025•26 min•Ep. 176
Thanks to our partner Promotive Welcome to Part 1 of our annual Benchmark Report—hosted by Hunt Demarest, CPA, from Paar Melis & Associates. We dig into real financial data from hundreds of auto repair shops across the U.S., based on actual bookkeeping, not surveys. Download your free 2024 Automotive Industry Benchmark Report: https://info.paarmelis.com/2024-automotive-industry-benchmark-report Key Takeaways: Average monthly sales dropped from $149K (2023) to $123K (2024), but sales per advi...
Jun 19, 2025•35 min•Ep. 175
Thanks to our partner Promotive Planning for taxes shouldn’t feel like rolling the dice. In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt walks through how smart shop owners use real data, not hope, to forecast and manage their tax obligations all year long. Why Q2 and Q3 are the real moneymakers for accurate tax forecasting When it actually makes sense to buy that truck for the write-off How and when to adjust your tax estimates (and why it matters) The truth about retirement contributions as a...
Jun 12, 2025•26 min•Ep. 174
Thanks to our partner Promotive Expanding your auto repair business is an exciting venture, but it brings forth critical decisions, especially regarding entity formation. In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis and Associates, delves into the complexities of creating a new entity for your business expansion. Key Topics Covered: Ownership Implications: Understanding how different ownership structures affect your decision to form a new entity. Legal Considerati...
Jun 05, 2025•26 min•Ep. 173
Thanks to our partner Promotive In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest answers three key listener questions that auto repair shop owners face all too often. From handling warranty job accounting to navigating the financial fallout of divorce, Hunt gives practical, no-nonsense advice. In this episode, you'll learn: The right way to book internal and partial warranty work in QuickBooks Whether adding your spouse to the business makes sense financially Why 8(a) certifications us...
May 29, 2025•33 min•Ep. 172
Thanks to our partner Promotive Are you charging enough for labor at your shop? In this week’s Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest of Paar Melis and Associates tackles one of the most misunderstood metrics in autorepair profitability—your labor rate. Spoiler alert: it’s not always about charging more. This week, you'll learn: Why labor rate isn't the ultimate driver of shop profit The difference between your door rate and effective labor rate What real benchmarking data says about high vs. l...
May 22, 2025•28 min•Ep. 171
Thank You To Our Partners The Institute, AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound Watch Full Video Episode In our Episode Today: Our host Craig O’Neill welcomes friend and newly minted Certified Speaking Professional - Jimmy Lea to talk about his journey! The NSA Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation is a notable achievement that involves many phases of approval. This is a hard earned achievement, which to our knowledge, has never been attained by an individual within the aft...
May 19, 2025•47 min
Thanks to our partner Promotive In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA of Paar Melis and Associates, explores the details behind what former President Trump is calling the "largest tax cut in U.S. history." What’s actually in the proposed bill? Will any of it pass Congress? And most importantly, what could it mean for auto repair shop owners and other small business operators? Hunt unpacks what we know so far, what’s still uncertain, and how business owners can start thin...
May 15, 2025•25 min•Ep. 170
Thanks to our partner Promotive Credit card fees are eating into shop owners' profits — but should you be passing those costs onto customers? In this episode of Business By The Numbers, Hunt revisits the hot-button topic and shares what’s changed since 2021. Key Points: Why more shops are experimenting with credit card surcharges today Real-world results from shops that do charge fees — and those that don’t The hidden dangers of incentivizing cash payments How pricing strategy impacts customer l...
May 08, 2025•24 min•Ep. 169
Thank You To Our Partners The Institute, AutoFlow, AutoLeap, Shop Dog Marketing, In-Bound Watch Full Video Episode In our episode today, we welcome guest Hunt Demarest, CPA ABV. Hunt is the host of Business by the Numbers and, as our host Craig O’Neill will tell you… Hunt uses words really well for a numbers man! This episode came to be after Craig found himself on a walk and listening to one of Hunts recent episodes, Episode 163 - Where are my customers? It’s a great episode on getting to the r...
May 05, 2025•39 min
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive In this week's episode of Business by the Numbers , Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, tells a jaw-dropping real-world story: how one automotive repair shop owner — and his wife — ended up spending days in jail over mishandled sales tax payments. If you're an auto repair shop owner, this episode is a must-listen. Sales tax isn’t income tax — it’s trust money you're collecting on behalf of the government, and states take it very per...
May 01, 2025•28 min•Ep. 168
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive April 15th is behind us — but your tax strategy shouldn’t stop there. In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis, shares exactly what auto repair shop owners need to be doing based on how their tax season wrapped up. Whether you filed early, waited until the last minute, or punted with an extension, Hunt helps you take the right steps now to avoid penalties, reduce next year’s bill, and keep your shop’s finances dialed in. In this episode, ...
Apr 24, 2025•28 min•Ep. 167
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Tariffs might sound like a foreign concept—until they hit home. In this episode of Business by the Numbers , Hunt breaks down the real-world impact tariffs can have on your auto repair shop, using a powerful shop-vs-shop analogy to explain rising costs, disappearing jobs, and economic ripple effects. Whether you're in the weeds of part pricing or just trying to make sense of the news, this episode gives you the context you need. Here’s what you’ll...
Apr 17, 2025•30 min•Ep. 166
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive What if your auto repair shop is losing money every single day — and you don’t even know it? In this episode, Hunt sits down with Alex Saladna, CEO of Wicked File , to talk about the hidden financial leaks happening in shops just like yours and how AI is helping owners plug those holes fast. From missed parts and uncredited returns to unauthorized purchases, we dive deep into how real shop owners are using Wicked File to save thousands of dollars ...
Apr 10, 2025•39 min•Ep. 165
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive “Do I have enough to retire?” It’s the question every business owner eventually asks—but most never answer. In this episode, Hunt breaks down why your retirement isn’t about hitting a number… it’s about building a life you don’t need to escape from. What You'll Learn: Why there’s no universal retirement number (and what to focus on instead) The simple formula to estimate how much you really need How Social Security, real estate, and your business ...
Apr 03, 2025•34 min•Ep. 164
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Is your shop struggling with fewer repair orders and dropping sales? It may not be about losing customers—your clients could just be driving less. In this episode of Business by the Numbers , Hunt Demarest, CPA, walks you through a real-life example of how customer driving behavior (and simple mileage tracking) revealed critical insights for a struggling $2M shop. Learn how to use your own data to better understand your customer base, track hidden...
Mar 27, 2025•25 min•Ep. 163
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive In this episode of Business by the Numbers , Hunt Demarest, CPA, dives into a major economic issue that could impact your auto repair shop: stagflation. With inflation staying high and economic growth slowing, what does this mean for your business? Should you be concerned about a recession, and how can you prepare? Hunt breaks it all down with real-world insights and historical comparisons to the 1970s economic crisis. 🔹 What You’ll Learn in This...
Mar 20, 2025•30 min•Ep. 162
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive In this episode of Business by the Numbers , Hunt Demarest, CPA, dives into the world of financial projections—what they are, why they matter, and how to build a solid financial story that banks will take seriously. Whether you’re looking to secure a loan, expand your shop, or simply set better financial goals, this episode will help you navigate the process with confidence. Key Takeaways: The biggest mistake shop owners make when creating financi...
Mar 13, 2025•29 min•Ep. 161
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive This week on Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis and Associates, breaks down the latest market news and legislative updates that directly impact auto repair shop owners. From the return of the BOI (Beneficial Ownership Information) report to evolving tax policy discussions and IRS processing delays, Hunt provides a no-nonsense analysis of what’s happening and how it could affect your business. In This Episode, You'll Learn:...
Mar 06, 2025•23 min•Ep. 160
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Closing your shop on Saturdays might sound like a risky move, but could it actually improve your business? In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA, explores the real financial and operational impact of shutting down on Saturdays. Is it worth it? What factors should you consider before making the switch? Whether you're thinking about a 5-day workweek, reducing hours, or making strategic changes to your shop’s schedule, this e...
Feb 27, 2025•21 min•Ep. 159
Hunt examines technician cost management within automotive repair shops shop management systems. He explores the issue of inaccurately reported labor costs, which frequently misrepresent the true financial health of the business. Hunt discusses the underlying reasons for this discrepancy, and how they calculate technician compensation. The episode talks to various methodologies that can be employed to rectify these inaccuracies, ensuring that shop owners possess a more precise understanding of t...
Feb 20, 2025•26 min•Ep. 158
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Are you truly a business owner, or just a well-paid employee? In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA, dives into the critical distinction between running a business and simply working a high-paying job within your shop. Learn how to measure your hourly rate, assess your true profitability, and make strategic moves to improve your bottom line while working less. Key Takeaways: The difference between being a business owner vs...
Feb 13, 2025•21 min•Ep. 157
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Welcome to another episode of Business by the Numbers, hosted by Hunt Demarest, CPA, with Paar Melis & Associates. This week, we're diving into the pros and cons of leasing versus buying vehicles and equipment, covering critical tax implications and cash flow considerations. Whether you're eyeing a new luxury SUV or financing essential shop equipment, this episode breaks down the factors that influence your financial decisions. Key Points: Lea...
Feb 06, 2025•24 min•Ep. 156
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Welcome to this episode of Business by the Numbers! Host Hunt Demarest, CPA, explores the recent IRS developments and what they mean for business owners, taxpayers, and accountants alike. With executive orders, funding cuts, and shifting policies, there's plenty to unpack about the future of the IRS and tax compliance. Key Takeaways: IRS Funding Cuts: The Inflation Reduction Act promised $80 billion for the IRS, but political maneuvering and budge...
Jan 30, 2025•29 min•Ep. 155
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Welcome to this week’s episode of Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest, CPA. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into how certain actions or oversights could put you at risk for an IRS audit. By understanding these triggers, you can better safeguard your financial health and avoid unnecessary complications. Learn about common mistakes like underreporting income and how they can put you on the IRS’s radar. Discover how gambling winnings and losse...
Jan 23, 2025•24 min•Ep. 154
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Managing your cash flow can feel overwhelming, but the Profit First system offers a fresh approach to organizing your finances. In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA, dives into the pros, cons, and practical applications of Profit First for auto repair shops. Whether you’re new to the system or looking to refine your cash management strategy, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Key Takeaways: What is Profit Fi...
Jan 16, 2025•26 min•Ep. 153
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Setting the right goals for your auto repair shop can make or break your business's success. In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt breaks down the critical differences between sales goals and profit goals, and why efficiency is key. Learn actionable strategies to align your team's targets with your financial objectives for a successful 2025. Why setting profit goals is more important than focusing on sales goals. How to calculate labor ...
Jan 09, 2025•36 min•Ep. 152
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive Running low on cash? Before panic sets in, it’s time to get strategic. In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt explores practical steps to manage cash flow challenges, cut expenses wisely, and secure financing without sinking your business. Learn what options are available and how to make informed decisions to keep your shop running smoothly. Understand the root causes of cash flow issues to avoid repeating mistakes. Learn why preserving ...
Jan 02, 2025•26 min•Ep. 151
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive The holiday season can make or break your cash reserves, especially for auto shop owners juggling finances. In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA, breaks down the art of cash management for small businesses. Learn actionable strategies to protect your reserves and avoid the pitfalls of cashflow mismanagement. Understanding what "cash reserves" truly mean for your business. Setting the ideal reserve amount: three to six mon...
Dec 26, 2024•24 min•Ep. 150
Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt dives into the critical topic of self-rentals for shop owners. Whether you’re already renting your property to your business or just considering it, Hunt explains why paying yourself rent the right way protects your assets, ensures compliance, and preserves your business’s value. Learn why legal protection through a rental LLC is non-negotiable. Discover how to calculate fair market rent and why it ...
Dec 19, 2024•23 min•Ep. 149
