INDUSTRY STATS: Shop expenses gain on revenues

Using numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau, CollisionWeek reports that expenses (including payroll, benefits, rent and supplies) are eating up a higher percentage of shop revenue. In 2005, expenses equaled 78.5 percent of shop revenue; in 2009, expenses were 85.3...

SHOP IDEA: SCORE offers free business help

Looking for free help with the business side of your shop – your accounting and workflow analysis, for example? Score, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, a non-profit partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, offers free online business consulting...

MANAGEMENT: Low-cost marketing ideas

Want to attract a little more attention for your business without spending a fortune? Here are few low-cost but potentially high-impact marketing ideas shop owners are trying. Dinner on the shop. One shop owner is trying to spend a bigger portion of his marketing...