Ratchet+Wrench

09/16/2026

Is your shop actually growing—or are you just really busy?

In the latest episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Jim Saeli breaks down the hidden ceilings that can keep good shops from reaching the next level.

We talk about:
🔧 The difference between being busy and actually growing
📊 The KPIs that tell you what’s really happening
🚧 How owners can become the bottleneck
🤝 Why delegation and developing your team matter
📈 How to recognize when your shop has plateaued—and what to do next

One of Jim’s best tests for an owner: Go away from the shop for a week and see what happens.

If everything falls apart without you, you may have found your growth ceiling.

Listen to the latest episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio.

https://www.ratchetandwrench.com/multimedia/podcast/55397936/podcast-why-good-shops-stop-growing

Jim Saeli

09/11/2026

We spoke with 2026 Midas Franchisee of the Year Jeff Hall about the lessons he’s learned scaling from one location to six, developing employees, maintaining culture across multiple stores and knowing when it’s time to take the next step.

The 2026 Midas Franchisee of the Year shares how training, empowerment, and repeatable processes helped him grow--and why he wishes he had started sooner.

09/11/2026

John Flick, owner of Qyst Tire and Automotive Service Centers in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, believes successful onboarding starts with a simple principle: following through.

The first 90 days can make or break a new hire. Shop owner John Flick shares practical onboarding strategies that help new technicians become productive faster and stay for the...

09/11/2026

The Automotive Aftermarket Riders Club 2026 Ride for the Future will head to the Great Basin National Park in Nevada in support of the University of the Aftermarket Foundation.

The 2026 Ride for the Future, organized by the Automotive Aftermarket Riders Club, is a scenic three-day event supporting industry education and scholarships.

09/10/2026

Get the latest in independent auto repair delivered straight to your inbox every week! By subscribing to our daily and monthly newsletters, you'll make sure that you're always up to date on what's happening in the industry.

https://bit.ly/46ewbDC

09/09/2026

IMR surveyed 500 repair shops about the effects of tariffs. 83% of shops surveyed raised prices, with effects scaling sharply by shop size. Click the link below to learn more.

https://bit.ly/4xiCHEl

09/09/2026

EVs aren’t breaking down the way you think.

According to Jeff Weiner, most EV roadside assistance calls aren’t the result of mechanical failures. In fact, about 95% are tied to battery charge, charging or other operational issues.

So what does that mean for independent repair shops?

🔋 Roadside assistance is becoming more about transportation than repair
🚙 EVs typically need to be transported on a flatbed
🛠️ Shops need to understand EV recovery, storage and high-voltage safety
🤝 Strong relationships with local towing and roadside providers can help shops capture more EV business
📈 And the growing wave of off-lease EVs could bring even more of these vehicles into the independent aftermarket.

In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Jeff explains how EVs are changing the roadside-to-repair-shop journey — and why shops that understand that journey now could be better positioned for what’s coming.

🎧 Listen to the full episode and hear why “roadside assistance” may increasingly mean getting the vehicle safely to the right place, not fixing it on the side of the road.

https://www.ratchetandwrench.com/multimedia/podcast/55397034/podcast-why-ev-towing-is-changing-everything-for-repair-shops

09/04/2026

Autoshop Answers has named Eric Twiggs as its vice president of member services.

Twiggs will focus on creating initiatives that support shop owners and industry professionals, leveraging his experience to improve member services.

09/03/2026

This week on Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Christine Schaffran talks with Adam Sutton, CEO of DX3 Brands and RNR Tire Express, about how shop owners can turn community involvement into a strategic advantage by creating meaningful, authentic connections in their local markets.

Building trust, loyalty, and visibility through meaningful local engagement.

09/03/2026

"We spend a lot of time talking about car count, labor rates, gross profit, technician productivity, and average repair order, and all of those numbers matter. But underneath many of them is a leadership issue that never appears as a line on the financial statement."

How clearer expectations can reduce rework, conflict, and costly mistakes.