We’ve been writing for auto repair shop owners and tire dealers for awhile now. We’ve been lucky enough to work with some incredible owners and learn about their struggles, their challenges, and their successes. It’s not easy to manage an auto shop, but we’ve learned some tips along the way from shop owners that we thought would be helpful to compile into one blog post.

Here are five auto management tips that you shouldn’t leave home without.

5 Auto Shop Management Tips for Business Success

1. Good customer service is about creating a memorable experience.

Creating a positive customer service experience for your clientele goes a long way in making them feel good about their purchase, your brand, and their future buying decisions.

Here are three ways you can make a good impression on your customers:

1. Be attentive, but not overbearing. No one likes pushy sales people.
2. Personalize their experience – offer them a bottle of water while they wait, give them special recommendations for their vehicle, use their name in conversation, and give them access to a rewards program.
3. If you make a promise, make sure you keep it.

Learn more about creating a good customer experience here.

2. Your auto shop management is only as good as your software.

Let’s face it, we rely on software and digital innovations to help us run our lives and our businesses. The best software will help you manage your product database and track your customer information, ensuring that your day-to-day business runs as efficiently as possible. But how do you make sure you’re getting what you need out of it?

Learn more about making the most of your auto shop management software here.

3. Customers love a good loyalty program.

Having an automated loyalty or rewards program in place is key in encouraging repeat business and staying top-of-mind for your customers.

Here are four key elements that every rewards program should have:

1. Have your rewards be based on business volume
2. Rewards should be accrued and used for the future
3. Customers should be notified when they earn a reward
4. Rewards should be transferable to any of the customer’s vehicles

Need more specifics? Here’s how to create a successful rewards program.

4. Reduce employee turnover by doing this.

Employee turnover can have a negative effect on your auto shop’s culture and your bottom line. It’s costly to keep hiring and training new employees and it’s tough to create a work atmosphere that keeps people happy if no one stays longer than a few months.

Try these three ways to reduce employee turnover:

1. Create an employee engagement strategy. Employees who are engaged in their work and with other staff are more likely to produce more, high-quality work.
2. Invest in continuing education. If there’s an opportunity to enhance your employee’s skills or a need for specialized skills, offer to invest in further training. Highly trained employees will only benefit your auto shop.
3. Promote work-life balance. Overworked and exhausted employees won’t last and will eventually find another job. Encourage them to spend time with their families, take sick days if they need it, and to have time for things they love outside of the auto shop.

Here’s how to engage employees so they work for you for years to come.

5. Don’t forget about your marketing plan.

Marketing is often forgotten when you’re busy taking care of the daily shop tasks. However, it’s super important for the health, and success, of your auto repair shop. Making sure you are using powerful marketing strategies consistently is one of the best auto shop management tips we can share with you.

Here are five key strategies to have in your marketing plan:

1. Be active on social media.
2. Use email marketing to stay in front of your customer.
3. Set up automated service reminders for your customers.
4. Encourage customer referrals with a loyalty program.
5. Make sure your website, social media, Google listing, and more, is up-to-date with your current hours and days of operation, plus any announcements your shop might have.

Still need more ideas for your marketing strategies? Click to learn how to market your auto repair shop here.

These five auto shop management tips are a good foundation for successfully managing your business.

We know there are many details that go into running a business, but these five tips are a great place to start. If you’re consistently providing great customer service, using auto shop management software, have a loyalty program in place, engaging your employees, and have a marketing plan, you’re on the right track to see fantastic results.