Payday comes and the bank account feels thin, even on good weeks. Here's how it played out at our sample shop, the way a mechanic works a car: concern, cause, correction, verification.
Nate's payroll ran 30.9% of sales, over his 30% goal, for 6 weeks straight.
Nolavi compared paid hours to flag hours. Techs were paid for 236 hours a week but only billed 188. Most of the gap was waiting on parts and comebacks on two jobs.
Parts are now ordered when the estimate is approved, not when the car is on the lift, and Nolavi flags any job that comes back.
Billed hours rose to 214 a week and payroll fell to 28.4% of sales, with no one losing hours.
Example shop. Nate's Auto Repair is Nolavi's sample shop with made up numbers. The steps are exactly how Nolavi works on a real shop's data.
Many shops aim for about 30% or less, including all staff. Your goal depends on your mix of work.
Often techs are paid for hours they can't bill: waiting on parts, approvals or comebacks.
Open the demo and find this kind of problem yourself in a minute. Or book your 14 day free trial: it starts with a quick call, and we set it all up and fit it to your shop.
Nolavi