Why Top Shops Don’t Struggle Like Everyone Else
Walk into most auto industry shops or scan the headlines, and you’ll hear the same three challenges on repeat:
- “We can’t find techs.”
- “Parts are killing our margins.”
- “We can’t keep up with technology.”
But here’s the truth: These aren’t the biggest challenges for the top-performing auto shops today. As both a shop owner and a coach who works with driven, single-location owners, I can tell you firsthand, these problems don’t surface the same way for shops that lead well, know their numbers, and build empowered teams.
So, what is going on here? And what can we learn from the difference?
The Technician Shortage: A Leadership Problem in Disguise
Yes, the labor pool is tighter. But the best shops aren’t scrambling for resumes. They’ve built strong cultures, offer career growth, and clearly define roles. Techs aren’t just applying; they’re growing and staying.
Here’s the mindset shift:
Most shops say: “We can’t find good people.”
Top shops say: “We’ve created a place good people want to work.”
The real issue isn’t availability. It’s ownership clarity. When a shop owner delegates well, communicates expectations, and respects their team’s time and talent, the shop becomes magnetic.
Parts Pricing Pressure: A Systems and Clarity Gap
Rising costs are real but top shops don’t panic. They have pricing systems built around loaded payroll, labor GP targets, and margin thresholds. They’ve moved from guessing to managing.
Most shops react to invoices.
Top shops review numbers weekly, adjust confidently, and train their advisors to explain pricing transparently.
It’s not a pricing crisis. It’s a financial clarity and confidence issue. You can’t control cost increases, but you can control your response and that starts with understanding the numbers
Technology Gaps: A Mindset and Strategy Issue
Today’s vehicles demand diagnostic strategy, tool access, and training investment. Top shops budget for growth, use trusted partners for tool support, and schedule team learning time.
Most shops feel overloaded by constant change.
Top shops create plans, not panic.
This isn’t a tech crisis. It’s a time and priority challenge. No one has time for training. They make time. That’s leadership.
What Are the Biggest Challenges for Top Shops?
If you coach, manage, or work with growth-minded owners, these are the real obstacles they’re navigating:
- Letting Go of Control Without Letting Go of Quality
Owners who’ve worn every hat are learning how to trust their team, document expectations, and stop bottlenecking the business.
- Being Profitable and Present
The goal isn’t just growth. It’s building a business that allows time for family, health, and leadership. Not just endless hours at the shop.
- Staying Unstoppable When Things Are “Fine”
Complacency is the silent killer. When a shop hits decent numbers, owners often stop growing. But “fine” isn’t freedom. Momentum matters.
Next Level
If the common industry problems don’t feel like your biggest challenge, that’s not a bad sign. It’s a signal you’ve graduated. But the next level has its own hurdles, and they require a different mindset.
You don’t need another fire to put out.
You need to step fully into your owner role, build a team that takes pride in their part, and design a business that doesn’t run you.
Want to Start a Conversation?
I work with single-location auto shop owners ready to shift from being the go-to person to building a shop that’s profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable. Let’s talk about what that looks like to you. I’m here to help.
Maryann Croce is a shop owner and business coach who helps single-location auto shop owners create profitable, sustainable, and enjoyable businesses. Her 3-Day Weekends System helps shop owners reclaim 10+ hours a week by learning to manage smarter, delegate with confidence, and lead with clarity. Learn more at smallbizvantage.com.
