Master Your Auto Repair Shop’s Financial Future

What if the government — and a few well-known billionaires — were offering to deposit cash directly into an account for your child or grandchild, no strings attached, starting July 4th? Would you sign up?
In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down everything currently known about the newly announced Trump Accounts — officially called 530A plans — before they go live. Hunt cuts through the political noise to answer the only question that matters for shop owners and their families: is this worth your time, and how do you get your share of the free money on the table?
From the $1,000 Treasury Department seed deposit for children born between 2025 and 2028, to the $250 Dell family contribution available in qualifying zip codes, to how self-employed shop owners can structure employer contributions for a legitimate tax deduction — Hunt walks through what we know, what's still uncertain, and how these accounts stack up against the 529 plans and Roth IRAs you're probably already using.
Whether you're a shop owner with young kids, a grandparent looking for a smarter savings vehicle, or a business owner thinking about a new fringe benefit for your team — this episode is essential listening.

*What You'll Learn...*
00:00 Intro
02:26 What a Trump Account actually is — and why the 530A plan isn't as new as it sounds
05:44 The $1,000 government seed deposit — who qualifies and why Hunt says everyone eligible should sign up immediately
07:34 The Dell family's $250 zip code contribution — why Hunt says don't risk missing it, just sign up
09:57 Contribution limits, employer deductions, and the fringe benefit opportunity for your employees
11:41 Withdrawal rules — why the money is locked until the child turns 18, and what it can be spent on
13:06 Using a Trump Account to buy a first home or start a business — and the creative opportunities that creates
15:26 Trump Accounts vs. 529 plans — the key differences that actually matter for your family
19:26 Trump Accounts vs. Roth IRAs — the side-by-side comparison for shop owners who pay their kids through the business
23:11 Hunt's honest take on what he's actually doing for his own kids — and why the employer deduction changes everything
If you're ready to stop letting politics get in the way of free money, understand exactly how these new accounts fit alongside the strategies you're already running, and find out whether July 4th is a deadline you actually need to worry about — this episode is essential listening.

Got questions or feedback, connect with Hunt Demarest at:
Email: podcast@paarmelis.com
Website: https://www.paarmelis.com

Shop Growth Resources:
* Get Hunt's Book*, Beyond the Bays, on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0iQ3UuOL
* Get the FREE 2026 Auto Shop Benchmark Report*: https://hubs.ly/Q04j-grh0

More Info on BBTN Sponsors!...
* Promotive* — To find and hire great techs, visit: https://info.gopromotive.com/hunt
* WickedFile* — Find missing profit in your paperwork, visit: https://www.wickedfile.com
* Overdryve* — Get AI powered marketing solutions, visit: https://www.overdryvemarketing.com
* Maverick *— Grow your shop with auto shop coaching, visit: https://www.maverickshopowners.com
*Download the Aftermarket Radio Network app:*
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com

Is your shop management system telling you one number while QuickBooks says something else entirely? Are parts credits going unclaimed? And if someone were quietly skimming off the top, would your current process ever actually catch it?
In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, sits down with Alex from Wicked File — the AI-powered back office reconciliation platform built for auto repair shops. From the employee who snuck through ceiling tiles to steal cash, to the eight-location shop that cut back office workload by fifty percent overnight, Hunt and Alex break down what's leaking out of your business, why your team can't catch it manually, and how technology has made a once-unsolvable problem into a morning coffee routine.
Whether you're a single-location shop hemorrhaging credits you didn't know you were owed or a multi-location owner who's quietly accepted that being remote means accepting losses — this episode is essential listening.
*What You'll Learn*
00:00
03:01 What Wicked File actually does — and why the gap between your shop management system and your accounting software is exactly where the money disappears
06:02 The #1 cause of theft is confidence — why 100% of owners who've been stolen from said it would never happen to them
07:38 Theft stories from the field — Mission Impossible through the ceiling tiles and $2,000 a month in soda nobody ordered
11:58 From 200 invoices to 20 — how 80–90% of parts reconciliation gets automated and what your team can do with the time back
20:09 The 2–3% burn — at $1M in sales that's up to $30,000 walking out the door, and why most owners don't treat it that way
22:36 Why treating your financials as a final score is costing you — and what watching your business like game film actually looks like
28:19 Why the right employees will love this tool — and what resistance to it tells you about your culture
35:16 Bad data makes bad decisions — why it all starts with clean numbers at the invoice level

If you're ready to stop assuming your vendor credits are being processed, understand why the confidence that "it doesn't happen here" is exactly what makes it happen here, and finally know what's actually leaking out of your back office before it becomes a six-figure problem — this episode is essential listening.
*Resources Mentioned*
*Promotive* — Find your next great hire: gopromotive.com
*Wicked File* — Get your back office under control: wickedfile.com
*Hunt's Book* — Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop
*Text Hunt:* If you're reconciling parts invoices manually — or not reconciling them at all — do you actually know how much profit walked out the door last month?
*Text PAAR MELIS* at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com
*Connect with Hunt:*
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
https://paarmelis.com/

Is your advertising budget working for you, or quietly draining you? Are you paying a credit card processing premium you didn't even know existed? When did insurance stop being a routine expense and start becoming one of your biggest threats? And is that rent number on your P&L actually telling you the truth?
In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down the four overhead categories that show up most often in his firm's annual benchmark report — and the ones where shop owners are most likely throwing money away without realizing it. From the 3% advertising rule to why the cheapest insurance policy might be the most expensive decision you ever make, Hunt walks through real numbers, real client stories, and a framework for getting your overhead under control without kneejerk cost-cutting that tanks your business.
Whether you're a two-bay shop trying to understand your first P&L or a multi-location owner wondering why your margins keep shrinking despite steady revenue — this episode is essential listening.

*What You'll Learn*
00:00 Intro
02:45 The overhead mindset reset — why cutting costs isn't always the answer when profit is down
04:38 How to benchmark without lying to yourself — why comparing the wrong shop misleads you
05:52 The 3% advertising benchmark — what it means and when it actually matters
08:40 The one overhead expense where spending more makes it relatively cheaper
11:34 Credit card fees decoded — the 2.5% benchmark and why your card mix matters more than your rate
13:53 When paying more for integrated processing is the right call — and when it isn't
20:25 Why insurance is a relationship, not a commodity — and the two-shop fire story every owner needs to hear
24:09 The 6–9% rent rule — and why renting from yourself is distorting your numbers before you sell

If you're ready to stop confusing "reviewing overhead" with "cutting overhead," understand why a cheaper insurance policy could put you out of business faster than any slow month, and finally know what your rent is actually costing you before you try to sell — this episode is essential listening.
*Resources Mentioned*
*Promotive* — Find your next great hire: gopromotive.com
*Wicked File* — Get your back office under control: wickedfile.com
*Hunt's Book* — Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop
*Text Hunt:* If you own your building and charge yourself rent, do you actually know what the fair market rate should be — and could it be hurting the value of your shop when you go to sell?
Text *PAAR MELIS* at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com

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

Are your PTO policies scaring off the technicians you actually want? Could a $100-a-week tool allowance or a reimbursed truck payment beat a $10,000 raise — and cost you less? In today's tight labor market, the shops winning top talent aren't always paying the most. They're being the smartest.
Recorded live at the Vision Hi-Tech Training & Expo in Kansas City, Hunt Demarest sits down with Lisa and Sam from Promotive — the auto industry's leading recruiting firm — to break down the real reasons shops are losing candidates before the first interview ends. From outdated PTO structures to tone-deaf job ads, Lisa and Sam pull back the curtain on what technicians are actually looking for, what's working in 2026, and how shop owners can compete with Rivian, Tesla, and municipalities without blowing up their payroll. Whether you're running two bays or twenty, this episode is a field guide to building a shop people choose — and stay at.
*What You'll Learn*
00:00 Intro
03:03 PTO reality check — why one week after year one is a dealbreaker in 2026
06:58 How flat-rate shops should actually calculate paid time off
10:38 Why shops are their own worst enemy when it comes to hiring timelines
14:37 The A-tech unicorn problem — and the better hire you're walking past
15:44 The training model the industry has backwards — and the fix that grows your whole team
16:39 Always be recruiting — why two weeks notice is not enough runway
36:34 The 3-day interview rule and why speed is the only hiring strategy that matters
40:22 Creative comp that wins top techs without blowing up payroll
43:25 The fringe benefit rules every shop owner needs to know before getting creative
51:37 Job hopping — tech problem or shop problem? The answer might surprise you

If you're ready to stop losing top techs to shops with smarter benefit packages, start competing with Tesla and Rivian on PTO without blowing up your payroll, and finally understand why the candidate who applied Sunday is already hired somewhere else by Thursday — this episode is essential listening.
*Resources Mentioned*
*Promotive* — Find your next great hire: gopromotive.com
*Hunt's Book* — Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop
*Text Hunt*: Have you ever lost a great technician to a competitor, and if so, did you ever find out what actually made them choose the other shop?
Text PAAR MELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com
*Connect with Hunt:*
Aftermarket Radio Network
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
Paar, Melis & Associates
https://paarmelis.com/

You bought a slower machine to save money. You kept the cheap tech to avoid risk. You sent the customer home with the cheaper repair to do right by them. What if every one of those decisions quietly cost you more than the thing you were trying to avoid?
In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down three real conversations with auto repair shop owners — each one a different version of the same costly mistake: confusing what something costs with what it's actually worth. From a sluggish alignment rack to an underperforming technician to a parts decision that looked smart on paper and cost $45,000 in lost production, Hunt walks through the math behind each scenario with blunt clarity.
Whether you're staring down a lease payment you think you can't afford, debating whether to upgrade a technician, or choosing between a $4,000 and $6,000 parts ticket — this episode reframes how you look at time, labor, and money in a way that will change how you run your shop.
*What You'll Learn*
00:00 Intro, sponsor roll, and the week's theme: time and money are inseparable
02:53 Equipment: why a $2,500/month alignment rack lease would pay for itself
10:12 The takeaway: time is the only thing auto shops are truly selling
14:09 People: why spending $400 more on a better tech generated more profit
21:08 Parts: the cheaper job that cost the shop $45,000 in lost production
26:45 Buy once, cry once — quality in equipment, people, and parts always connects

If you've ever kept old equipment running to avoid the expense, convinced yourself that the cheap tech is better than no tech, or assumed you were doing a customer a favor by choosing the lower-cost repair — this episode is essential listening.

*Resources Mentioned*
*Promotive* — Find your next great hire: gopromotive.com
*Wicked File* — Back office and parts reconciliation: wickedfile.com
*Maverick Shop Owners* — Shop coaching and direction
*Overdrive Marketing* — Put your marketing into overdrive
*Automotive Repair Podcast Network* — Full show library and app: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/
*Hunt's Book* — Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop

*Text Hunt*: Have you ever held off on a major equipment upgrade or a better-paid technician — and did the savings actually cost you more in the long run?
*Text PAARMELIS* at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com
*Connect with Hunt:*
Aftermarket Radio Network
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
Paar, Melis & Associates
https://paarmelis.com/

Are you leaving money on the table every time a parts price goes up — without ever realizing it? Most shop owners focus relentlessly on labor rates and rightfully so. But the slow, silent erosion happening inside your parts matrix may be quietly bleeding your gross profit month after month, even while your top-line sales are climbing. Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down exactly how inflation has shifted your parts pricing into lower-margin brackets — and how one shop owner's savvy negotiating deal actually cost him more than it saved.
This week Hunt walks through two real-world case studies: the bracket-shift trap that moves your best-selling parts into lower markup tiers as prices rise, and a Midwest shop owner who locked in a 15% rebate from his parts vendor, watched his costs drop by $8,000, and still lost $13,000 in gross profit in a single month. Whether you've been selling parts for two years or twenty, this episode will change the way you look at your shop management software — and send you straight to your parts matrix to find out if it's still built for a world that no longer exists.
*What You'll Learn*
00:00 Intro
00:14 Intro, sponsor shoutouts, and what's on tap this week
02:31 Why not raising your labor rate is actually a pay cut
04:47 Rising parts costs: why higher prices usually mean more profit
08:46 The bracket shift trap — how inflation quietly kills your parts margin
12:47 Sales are up but margin is down: how to spot the erosion
15:00 How to audit your parts matrix and reset it for 2026
19:30 The 15% rebate deal that cost one shop $13,000 in a single month
27:00 The McDonald's rule — and why you should never pass savings to the customer

If you've ever assumed that rising parts costs are working in your favor, never thought to question whether your parts matrix still reflects the world you're actually operating in, and want to understand how one shop owner's smartest business move turned into a $13,000 loss — this episode is essential listening.
Resources Mentioned
Promotive — Find your next great hire: gopromotive.com
Wicked File — Back office and parts reconciliation: wickedfile.com
Hunt's Book — Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop
Automotive Repair Podcast Network — Full show library and app: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/

Text Hunt: Have you ever negotiated lower parts costs — and did the savings actually show up in your profit?
Text PAAR MELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com
Connect with Hunt:
Aftermarket Radio Network
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
Paar, Melis & Associates
https://paarmelis.com/

What if the biggest fraud threat to your shop isn't a dishonest employee or a shady vendor — but your own customers? What if the payment you accepted last week could be reversed today, and there's nothing the police will do about it? And what if four shops across the country just got hit with the same scam, and yours could be next?
In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down a wave of customer scams that hit shops from Colorado to Florida in a single week — all targeting one vulnerability most owners have completely overlooked. From a $15,000 BMW driven off without payment to a 28-tire credit card fraud scheme, Hunt unpacks the real math behind what a scam costs your shop, why theft of services is a civil issue the police won't touch, and how the shift to card-not-present payments has quietly handed fraudsters the upper hand. He covers chargebacks, payment types, extended warranty clawbacks, and closes with a concrete action plan to lock down your process before it happens to you. Whether you're a seasoned shop owner who's never had a chargeback or someone who just got burned and isn't sure what went wrong — this episode is essential listening.
*What You'll Learn*

00:00 Intro, sponsor shoutouts, and what's on tap this week
03:57 Why fraud is probably already happening at your shop
07:13 One scam, three jobs: the real math behind what you lose
10:52 No cash, no car — the cardinal rule of vehicle release
11:53 Theft of services is civil, not criminal — why police won't help
18:00 Venmo, Zelle, and credit cards: what's reversible and what isn't
19:28 Card present vs. not present: the chargeback risk you're missing
21:54 Real tire fraud stories and the after-hours pickup scheme
28:53 The action plan: paperwork, signatures, and testing your team

If you're ready to stop trusting that your payment process is airtight, start recognizing the scams already targeting shops like yours, and finally understand why one lost chargeback costs you three jobs to recover — this episode is essential listening.

*Resources Mentioned*
*Promotive* — Find your next great hire: gopromotive.com
*Wicked File* — Back office and parts reconciliation: wickedfile.com
*Maverick Shop Owners* — Free access to the 24-video Blueprint course: maverickshopowners.com/blueprint
*Overdrive Marketing* — Automotive shop marketing: goverdrive.com
*Hunt's Book* — Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop

*Text Hunt:* Have you ever lost a chargeback dispute, and if so, did it change how you accept payments?
T*ext PAAR MELIS* at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com
*Connect with Hunt:*
Aftermarket Radio Network
https://aftermarketradionetwork.com
Paar, Melis & Associates
https://paarmelis.com/

What does the COO of the most widely adopted shop management software in the industry actually see when she looks at your data? In this episode, Hunt Demarest sits down with Lauren Langston, Chief Operating Officer of Tekmetric, for a candid, numbers-driven conversation about where the auto repair industry stands today — and where it's heading fast.
Lauren brings a rare combination of investment banking, venture capital, and operating experience to one of the most trusted names in shop management software. She breaks down the four metrics that separate high-performing shops from the rest, explains why AI is coming to your dashboard in a very deliberate (and actually useful) way, and shares what private equity buyers look for when they're evaluating your business for acquisition.
If you run a shop and you're serious about your finances, this one is essential listening.

*What You'll Learn*
00:00 Intro
01:00 From startup to 70% market share: how Tekmetric got here
02:08 Investment banking to auto repair: how Lauren landed at Tekmetric
04:20 The trust gap: why auto repair has a customer confidence problem
07:24 The four results behind every Tekmetric product decision
10:39 TUG, adoption data, and support tickets: how Tekmetric listens
13:19 Convenience, insights, and agents: Tekmetric's three-part AI roadmap
17:11 Why cheaper code doesn't mean custom software
22:14 PE, consolidation, and the jump from 20 shops to 50
24:42 150 cars. $550 ARO. The benchmarks — and what top shops do instead
27:26 Why skipping DVIs puts you in the order-taking business
30:28 The 80/20 problem: working on the business vs. in it
32:50 The MSO Suite: the bird's-eye view for multi-location owners
35:32 Tectonic: Tekmetric's first conference — built for techs and advisors too

If you're ready to stop flying blind on your KPIs, understand what your data is actually telling you, and see exactly where AI is taking shop management software — this episode is essential listening.

*Resources Mentioned*
Tekmetric — tekmetric.com
Tectonic Conference (April 2025) — Visit Tekmetric's website for registration details
Tekmetric User Group (TUG) — Search "Tekmetric User Group" on Facebook
Paar Melis & Associates — paarmelis.com

Text Hunt: Got a question about your shop's numbers or scaling your operation?
Text PAAR MELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com

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

*Thanks to our partners Promotive, WickedFile, Maverick Shop Owners, and Overdryve*

What if the reason your car count is down has nothing to do with your marketing — and everything to do with your people? And if you don't know who your ideal customer actually is before you spend a single dollar on advertising, are you really marketing, or just hoping?
Hunt Demarest sits down with Mike DelaCruz, founder of Overdryve Marketing and a 15-year veteran of the automotive aftermarket. Mike's path through DemandForce, Kukui, and Velo gave him a front-row seat to what works across thousands of shops. In 2023 he launched Overdryvee as a fractional CMO service for independent repair shops — and in under three years built an 11-person team.
This episode covers the full marketing picture: building a customer avatar using USPS carrier routes and census data before a campaign launches, diagnosing whether a slow shop has a retention problem or an acquisition problem, and why the "$79 oil change" mentality is costing shops tens of thousands in lifetime revenue. Mike also pulls back the curtain on Overdryve.OS — their AI-powered platform that integrates with Tekmetric and sends real-time alerts when your lead count starts to slip — and gives a straight answer on the Google vs. AI question: 50/50 today, shifting hard toward AI over the next two to five years.
Whether you're tired of panic-marketing every slow January, or you've never thought seriously about lifetime customer value, this conversation will change how you think about the front door of your business.

*What You'll Learn*
00:00 Intro
01:57 Throwing a Hail Mary: how Overdryve Marketing was born.
07:38 Why "I need more cars" is the wrong place to start.
09:00 USPS routes, DMV data, and census reports: know your customer before you spend a dollar.
11:20 The customers you haven't seen in 10 months — and why they're your lowest-hanging fruit.
20:34 Overdryve.OS: the AI tool catching campaign drops before they hurt you.
25:37 The "$79 oil change" customer who's actually worth $30,000.
30:34 $500, a slow calendar, and what to do next.
33:28 Google vs. AI: where to put your money now — and in five years.

If you're ready to stop guessing on marketing, start spending smarter, and understand exactly what AI is about to do to the advertising landscape — this episode is essential listening.

*Thanks to our partner, Promotive*
Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/
*Thanks to our partner, WickedFile*
Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/
*Thanks to our partner, Maverick Shop Owners*
You're working on growing a more profitable shop - that's critical. That's exactly what the 24-video Blueprint course by Maverick Shop Owners addresses - customers, sales, profit, people, systems, and freedom. Get free access for our listeners only at https://maverickshopowners.com/blueprint
*Thanks to our partner, Overdryve*
Overdryve is your AI-powered marketing operating system. It predicts slow weeks before they happen, automatically launches revenue-driving campaigns, tracks ROI down to the dollar, and optimizes performance in real time. Visit https://overdryvemarketing.com/

*Download a Copy of My Books Here:*
Beyond the Bays: A Financial Playbook for Auto Repair Shop Owners
https://a.co/d/07G3V8cN
Wrenches to Write-Offs
https://info.paarmelis.com/wrenches-to-write-offs
Your Perfect Shop
https://paarmelis.com/your-perfect-shop-book-download/

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network:
https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/
*Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto:* Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion
*Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow:* From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.
*The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton:* Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.
*Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill:* Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.
*Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest:* Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.
*The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker:* Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
Text Hunt: Got a question about marketing or growing your car count?
Text PAAR MELIS at 301-307-5413 or email podcast@paarmelis.com