Master Your Auto Repair Shop’s Financial Future

Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes? Text PAARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com

Are you making end-of-year tax decisions that truly save you money, or just creating future headaches?
What if the moves you think are smart tax strategies are quietly costing you more than they save?

In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis & Associates, walks shop owners through the most important end-of-year financial and tax considerations — and the costly misconceptions that show up every December.

Hunt breaks down which deductions actually move the needle, why retirement contributions can generate cash instead of draining it, and how poor inventory, receivables, and payroll timing can inflate your tax bill without you realizing it.

Ideal for auto repair shop owners, managers, and operators who want a clear, realistic financial outlook for 2026 — without hype, political spin, or costly misconceptions.

*What you’ll discover*
00:00 Intro
2:23 What the BOI report was, why it disappeared, and why you can forget about it
04:00 How interest rates actually moved from 2023–2025 and what shop owners are really seeing
9:40 Why slowing inflation doesn’t mean prices are coming down
13:30 The affordability problem facing consumers — and how it affects your customers
16:30 Stock market realities, AI concentration, and what precious metals signal
21:45 The truth about ERTC payments, audits, and why “fast-track” offers are scams
24:50 No tax on tips: what changed, what didn’t, and who actually qualifies
27:45 No tax on overtime — what “overtime premium” really means for employees
29:50 What employers should share with their teams about overtime reporting

*Connect with Hunt:*
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
https://paarmelis.com/

Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes? Text PARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com

Health insurance premiums keep climbing — but 2026 could bring the biggest shakeup in years.

In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down what’s happening in the small-business health insurance landscape after recent ACA subsidy changes — and why a new Republican-backed House bill could change how shop owners buy coverage and support their teams.

Hunt explains the economics behind rising premiums, who’s actually affected by the loss of ACA subsidies, and why shop owners may see new opportunities if association health plans and expanded health reimbursement accounts (HRAs) become available.

Whether you already offer health insurance or you’re considering it in 2026, this episode will help you understand what’s real, what’s political, and what’s worth watching.

Ideal for shop owners and managers who want clarity on benefits costs, recruiting strategy, and what changes may be coming in the next open enrollment cycle.

*What you’ll discover…*
00:00 Intro
02:00 The current state of small business health insurance — and why premiums keep rising 10–20% a year
05:40 How the ACA reshaped the market
06:30 What the new House bill is, why it’s being debated now, and the January 31 deadline looming in the background
08:00 Who the loss of ACA subsidies impacts most — and why many shops may see little direct effect
16:10 Association health plans: how small businesses could join buying groups like big employers (and why that could lower premiums)
19:25 Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs): the tax advantage shop owners may finally be able to use more flexibly
23:45 What to do now: when it’s smart to wait, when it’s not, and why open enrollment timing matters
25:00 The future of health insurance for small businesses

Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes? Text PARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com

Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes? Text PARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com

Are you unknowingly doing things that make the IRS take a closer look at your shop?
What if one “small” filing mistake dramatically increases your audit risk this tax season?
In this episode, Hunt Demarest walks through the most common tax mistakes that raise red flags with the IRS — and why many well-intentioned shop owners accidentally put themselves in the audit spotlight every year.

Drawing on real audit cases from auto repair shops, Hunt explains how filing late, amending returns, underreporting income, and mismatched 1099 reporting can quickly escalate into full-blown audits, even when nothing dishonest was intended.

This episode also breaks down why Schedule C amendments are especially dangerous, how credit card deposits and sales tax reporting can trigger IRS scrutiny, and what shop owners should do before filing to minimize risk, close the books cleanly, and move into the new year with confidence.

*What you’ll learn…*
00:00 Intro
03:00 Understanding IRS audits and common mistakes
05:45 Hunt’s personal experience with being audited
06:40 How to prevent ever getting audited
09:00 What actually increases audit risk — and what doesn’t
11:50 Income reporting and its applications
15:05 The impact of K1’s and other income sources
17:55 High-risk income types and their audit potential
21:15 Losses and their effect on audit risk
24:00 Filing strategies to minimize audit risk
27:00 Final thoughts on tax preparation and audits

*Connect with Hunt:* https://aftermarketradionetwork.com https://paarmelis.com/

Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes? Text PARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com

Are you sure you’re capturing every tax deduction your shop — and your employees — are entitled to this year?
What if missing one small detail hands more money to the IRS than necessary?
In this episode, Hunt Demarest kicks off the new tax season by breaking down the most important tax rule changes shop owners need to understand for 2026, and just as importantly, who actually qualifies for them.
From overtime deductions and tip taxation to the surprisingly nuanced rules around car loan interest and a new senior tax break, Hunt explains what’s real, what’s misunderstood, and where shop owners should (and should not) be taking action.
Using real-world payroll examples and clear math, this episode cuts through the headlines to show how these changes affect employees, owners, and families differently — and why failing to understand the details could mean leaving thousands of dollars on the table or creating unnecessary IRS risk.

*What you’ll discover…*
00:00 Intro
02:00 The four major tax changes affecting auto repair businesses this year
04:49 Why most auto repair shops do not qualify for tip deductions
07:15 How overtime deductions actually work — and what “qualified overtime” really means
09:55 How state overtime rules can complicate federal tax deductions
14:55 Why owners, spouses, and many family members do not qualify for overtime deductions
16:55 The new car loan interest deduction — and why most shop owners won’t qualify
18:00 The hidden rules that eliminate many vehicles from the car loan write-off
22:05 Why “made in the USA” matters more than brand name
23:10 When buying a new car might make more sense than a used car financially
25:25 The new senior tax deduction and who benefits most from it

*Connect with Hunt:*
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
https://paarmelis.com/

*Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes?
Text PARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com*

Are you rewarding your team, or paying extra taxes to do it? Could a few words on your payroll save you thousands a year?
In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar, Melis & Associates, explains why the difference between an allowance and a reimbursement could save both you and your employees thousands of dollars a year.
From cars and cell phones to tool truck payments, Hunt breaks down how changing just a few words on your payroll setup can turn a taxable perk into a tax-free benefit. Through clear examples and real-shop math, he reveals how to keep Uncle Sam’s cut out of your employee bonuses and put that money back where it belongs — in your business.
If you’ve ever handed out end-of-year bonuses, paid mileage, or covered employee phone bills, this episode will show you a smarter, legally compliant way to do it.
Shop owners, service advisors, and bookkeepers who want to reward staff without paying unnecessary payroll taxes.
*What you’ll discover*
00:00 Intro
02:00 How a small change in wording saves 25–30% in taxes
04:10 Why giving an “auto allowance” is the same as providing a raise
07:10 Cellphone allowance insights
11:00 Tools allowance and reimbursement insights
11:40 How a $200 tool payment becomes $150 after taxes, and how to make it a full $200 with one form
14:10 What the IRS calls “fringe benefits” and how to use them responsibly to benefit both sides
14:30 Turning bonuses into reimbursements so your team keeps 100% of their money

*Connect with Hunt:*
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
https://paarmelis.com/

#taxfree #rewardteam #allowance

*Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes?
Text PARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com*

Are you setting sales goals that actually make you more money — or just more tired?
What if your biggest growth goal is quietly setting your shop up for failure?

In this episode, Hunt Demarest breaks down one of the most common (and dangerous) mistakes shop owners make when planning for growth: setting sales targets without understanding the real constraints behind them.

Building on the ideas introduced in Episode 200, Hunt walks through how to set profit-driven goals instead of vanity sales numbers — and how to pressure-test those goals against your people, pricing, productivity, and physical space before they turn into stress, burnout, or shrinking margins.

Using real shop examples and simple math, this episode shows how to reverse-engineer a sales target from profit, identify your true limiting factors, and decide whether growth should come from pricing, car count, ARO, staffing, or capacity — not guesswork.

*What you’ll learn…*
00.00 Intro
00:01 Why every shop owner needs a growth goal — and why the wrong one can lead to disaster
03:00 Setting sales goals vs profit goals
05:10 How to work backward from profit into gross profit and sales
06:35 Why sustained 30–50% growth is unrealistic for most auto repair shops
08:25 The danger of planning future years before fixing today’s constraints
10:40 Calculating sales targets for profit
13:30 Why labor rate is often the biggest lever — not car count
18:00 How to identify limiting factors in business growth
19:55 Using ARO versus car count to find the least painful path to growth
24:40 How to maximize profitability and resources

*Connect with Hunt:*
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
https://paarmelis.com/

This video is private.

This video is private.

Text Hunt: Got a question about ERTC or taxes?
Text PARMELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@parmelis.com

What would it take to double your shop’s success? I.e., 200% of your current sales, gross profit, and net profit?

In this special 200th episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar, Melis & Associates, breaks down the math, mindset, and milestones behind scaling your shop’s numbers without burning out your team or outgrowing your facility too soon.

From practical examples to real-world projections, Hunt shows you how to build a realistic roadmap for growth. Whether it’s raising your labor rate, boosting productivity, or understanding how small compounding changes translate to massive results, you’ll see that doubling your profit doesn’t always mean doubling your workload.

By the end, you’ll know how to forecast, plan, and execute your own “Road to 200” — step by step.

Ideal for shop owners and managers who are ready to scale their business with data-driven, sustainable growth strategies.


*What you’ll discover…*
00:00 Intro
02:30) The difference between doubling your numbers and a “200% increase.”
04:20 Increase your prices or increase your production?
06:15 What happens when you try to double sales purely through pricing?
07:15 How to plan realistic, incremental labor rate increases year over year
15:25 When your shop’s size, staffing, and space become limiting factors in growth
18:15 The hidden compounding effect between pricing and productivity
19:10 Why gross profit is more important than sales (and how to double it)
21:30 How doubling sales can more than double your profit if your team is efficient
28:45 Why cutting expenses rarely doubles profit (and what to do instead)
34:00 The compounding math behind raising prices and productivity together

*Connect with Hunt:*
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
https://paarmelis.com/