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

Today, Jamie Caldwell from Jamie's Garage joins Bryan Pollock and Mike Allen as Jamie shares the story of scaling from one stressed-out location to five thriving shops. How? He hired character over skill. They also talk about different pay structures when Jamie shares why his team isn’t paid commissions—and how that’s improved culture and teamwork.

Timestamps:
00:00 "Stolen Truck Insurance Windfall"

04:35 "Extended Warranty Dispute Strategy"

07:59 "Mastering Scripts Before Freestyling"

12:17 "Shifting Focus to Good People"

15:15 European Auto Shop Journey

18:13 Private Equity Impact on Auto Industry

20:07 Future Possibilities and Industry Impact

24:45 Relational vs. Transactional Business

27:22 Hiring Challenges and Compensation Talks

33:57 "Flat Rate vs Teamwork Culture"

38:15 Embracing Transparency in Leadership

41:55 "Discovering TikTok During COVID"

44:33 Race Car Engine Connection

48:59 "Business Over Social Media Earnings"

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 rules
02:30 Why Todd Speciale speaks—his personal story and passion for helping others
05:06 The real meaning behind “Make Sales Great Again”
07:00 Why Todd left timeshare & how the right sales tactics can change an industry
09:00 Dirty sales: How to SELL and still sleep at night
10:30 Sales from the negative—flipping the pitch with integrity
12:00 Firing the top 1%: Why the best sales aren’t always the best people
14:00 Blocking objections & how to own the conversation
16:05 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 training
23:10 Door-to-door horror stories: What it REALLY teaches you
25:30 Who invests the most in their teams? The inside scoop on insurance, real estate, roofing & more
29:35 Inside Todd’s books: The Ultimate Sales Bible & more
33:00 Why the sales process hasn’t changed—but the buyer sure has
36:00 Old school vs. new school: Changing prospects and tactics
38:53 The compensation trap—can performance pay ever reward ethics?
41:00 How to weed out the wrong hires before they cost you
44:20 Where to find great trainable sales talent: Youth, servers, and bartenders
47:00 Mythbusting the “kids don’t want to work” narrative—how to develop the next generation
50:52 How to reach Todd Speciale and learn more

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

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 Name
01:05 Jon Cabak's whirlwind trip: Meetings, markets, and minimal sleep
02:11 Jon's goals at C&R AAPEX: Building partnerships and sharing tech
02:47 Who is Jon Cabak? CEO of Detect Auto, building better tools for shops
03:06 How Detect Auto helps service advisors ask the right questions
04:06 New features: BG Products partnership & integrating educational content for customers
05:00 Educating customers with videos, Tekmetric integration dreams
06:16 The power of video explainer tools for maintenance sales
07:13 Coaching new shops: How to launch a maintenance program
07:49 Why shops struggle to sell maintenance—and how to avoid “kitchen sinking” new customers
09:13 Making a maintenance plan not a one-time sales event
10:11 Detect Auto’s printable/PDF maintenance planning tool
11:02 “SUN”: The new name for maintenance—Shit You Need!
11:46 AI’s best use in shop ownership, ChatGPT in action, and practical subscription tips
13:06 Voice tech, call analysis, and smarter prospecting with AI
14:00 Pipe dream or next reality? AI that writes your service tickets
15:00 Using AI for real-time scripts and to improve advisor performance
16:45 Ongoing upgrades: Overcoming latency and training obstacles
18:31 AI for pre-service surveys and reducing customer friction
19:10 Practicing objections and role-playing with voice AI
21:11 Upgrading your AI subscription — Is it worth it?
21:57 Using AI to analyze business trends and shop performance
22:42 Grok, Gemini, Claude: Testing the new AI tools for shops
23:44 Will software engineers be replaced by AI? Real talk about tech careers
25:19 What Detect Auto features are most valuable to shop owners?
27:09 How onboarding and training shops faster drives ROI

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 Content
03:27 Building a Consistent Brand & Publication Experience
05:00 How Shops & Partners Get Featured in Auto Service Leader
06:19 Bryce Evans’ B2B Publishing Background & Ratchet Wrench Insights
08:46 Filling the Information Gap: What Shop Owners Really Need
09:53 Auto Service Leader’s Searchable Resource Hub Explained
11:09 What’s Next for Auto Service Leader in 2026?
13:12 Bryce Evans’ Journey: Journalism, Moving Into Automotive
17:09 Lessons from Newsrooms & What Changed His Career Path
20:58 Why Community and Peer Groups Matter for Shop Owners
22:15 Is Print Media Dead? Newspapers vs New Media
23:27 “Everyone’s Got a Podcast” – Modern Media Challenges
25:17 Media’s Role in Political Division & Clickbait
26:19 Absolutism and the Importance of Nuance in the Auto Industry
29:44 The Art of Interviewing: Insights for Great Journalism
33:25 Dealing With Agenda-Driven Coverage as a Business Owner
36:57 Is Print Here to Stay? Why High-End Magazines Matter
38:09 Navigating Hot Button Topics: Relational vs. Transactional Selling
41:32 How Auto Service Leader Handles Problematic Sources
42:32 Private Equity & Consolidation’s Impact on the Automotive Industry

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 Drama
00:19 - The Truth About Tool Content—Is It Clickbait?
01:08 - Rock Hill & South Carolina’s Automotive Scene
03:03 - Content Creator Drama & Automotive Industry Comparison
07:09 - Shop Builds: Mr. Subaru Gets Bank Approval for His New Shop
08:51 - How It All Started: Mr. Subaru’s First YouTube Videos
10:59 - The COVID Boost: Explosive Growth on YouTube
12:12 - Monetization Woes: TikTok, Facebook, & Instagram
13:33 - The Snap-On Dealer Experience—Sales, Credit, & Repos
17:15 - Wild Repo Stories: Guns, Knives, & Toolbox Sting Operations
21:30 - The Biggest Toolbox Sale Ever
26:03 - Market Insights: Charlotte Money, Shop Opportunities, & Area Growth
29:12 - Podcasting & Automotive Media Scene in Carolina
29:37 - Drama vs. Good for the Industry: Podcast Growth Strategies
33:08 - Rage-Bait vs. Thoughtful Content: Finding Balance
35:55 - Instant Opinions & The Problem with Social Media Hate
37:00 - Shop Anonymity & Weirdos—Dealing with the Downside of Fame
39:16 - Diagnosing for the Diagnostically Challenged: Mobile Work Stories
45:27 - B-Techs, A-Techs, and Weaponized Incompetence Rant
47:22 - Diagnostic Training on YouTube: Scanner Danner & Self-Learning
48:53 - What’s Next for Mr. Subaru? Shop Builds & New Content
51:19 - DIY vs. Shop Content: Who Does It Serve Best?
54:02 - Upcoming Events: Visions, Asta, Farm Show, and More
56:08 - Favorite Training Classes & Shop Stories
57:37 - Sumos, Hurricanes, and Confessions—Podcast Outtakes

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 intro
03:02 Recapping the year: top-line numbers, gross profit, and performance metrics
05:07 Gross profit calculation, labor rates, and tech efficiency
09:35 Ad spend breakdown—what’s working, what’s wasted
11:15 Setting ambitious but achievable 2026 profit targets
13:43 Staffing, productivity by the billable hour, and role expectations
16:03 Navigating seasonal slowdowns and weather curveballs
21:21 Drilling into process—team consistency and customer experience
26:16 Tech inspections, quality DVIs, and closing rate improvements
33:04 The #1 process change to add 10% net profit
34:16 How (and WHY) to start pre-booking appointments for consistent car count
39:00 Pre-booking accountability & reminder hacks that actually work
41:51 Retention challenges with new customers & recapture campaign ideas
45:14 Why “state inspection only” tickets kill profitability
48:48 The key takeaways—retention, consistency, and focusing on fundamentals

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 Tekmetric
01:13 – Speed Vegas recap: Racing exotics, leaderboard drama, and surprises
05:15 – Jared Haleck’s background & first impressions of Tekmetric
08:43 – 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 know
13:04 – Practical AI: Intake conversations, tech translation, and smarter service writing
16:25 – Summarization, speech-to-text, and eliminating “translation loss”
20:03 – Why voice (and phone) is key to the next auto shop breakthrough
25:33 – Wish list: AI-powered digital vehicle inspections & visual documentation
32:30 – Word choices, loss aversion, and writing the story customers need
34:44 – The real trick: Getting creative with AI prompts and trying new ideas
36:12 – 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 transcriptions
42:29 – What’s next? The roadmap to automated estimate building
44:32 – Why Tekmetric is leading the innovation race (and how to join)