That’s the million dollar (actually multi million dollar) question...

Thanks!

My guess is that this is the first time you have been introduced to this concept?

Sounds like you work for Identifix ;)

I have a 20k “just in case” line of credit that I haven’t touched yet. I’m sure if I applied, I could get that bumped up significantly, but I’d like to ride out the current growth naturally.

I did it. I started my own shop. What you have to understand is that book time is no longer tied to reality. Sure, there are jobs (Sienna lower control arms) that pay a ton and can be done quickly, but there are a lot more jobs (light diesel work, any internal trans or engine work, diag) where the labor time is…

That’s how most flat rate works across the country. If you don’t make more than minimum wage X the hours you are there, you default to an agreed upon wage X 40hrs. If you are a dollar over it, you get flat rate. It’s miserable.

When I opened up, I decided that me and my techs would be salaried, and I am seeing more and more salaried techs in independent shops.

For the most part, manufacturers. Back in the day, you could get a book (i guess they are still available?) from MOTOR, who I believe were independent of manufacturers and would actually tear cars apart to get accurate times.

I might, but the issue is that that backlog might not always be there. Until I have a cushion in my bank account to cover at least 6 months of wages, I can’t justify hiring someone else that I may not be able to properly compensate in slower times (although in 2 years I have only had 2 slow days)

We BILL our customers flat rate, we PAY our tech a salary. Going by the book is the right way to charge a customer, not pay a tech...

If I could afford another tech, I would hire one in a heartbeat. Scheduled out almost a month, working 14 hours everyday. I love it, but the work just keeps coming.

Additionally, that service manager is a grade A cock. I have worked under service managers like him. It’s about hitting his service goals at the end of the month and getting his bonus. Absolutely heartless. My first service manager was a incredibly kind-hearted mid 40's blonde knockout. Customers would melt in front…

It’s flat rate. If you don’t perform, you don’t get paid. Much like suppressed wages for restaurant servers.

Didn’t have time to read the whole article, but my input thus far is flat rate is a cancer in my industry. It encourages spite and cut-throat competition amongst the techs and writers to the point where a “green” tech won’t ask questions if they aren’t sure of something because they don’t wanna be taking food off of…

There’s a couple GP2+2s for sale in the FB groups I follow. I think I’d rather one of those, and they are cheaper.

That sucks man, good luck. They have all the money in the world.

I swear I saw one of these on Woodward Ave last weekend...

My thought is either “Prey” or “Candy”. 50/50 shot.

This is a much better use of your money than today’s NPOCP.