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PODCAST

Business By The Numbers

Hunt Demarest, CPA has consistently provided his financial business acumen to help move the industry toward greater heights of success and profitability. Hunt was recently referred to as a "terrific advocate of the aftermarket." He is the author of the book, Your Perfect Shop: How to Start, Run & Sell a Profitable Shop. In this book, he compiled some of the best practices for auto repair shop owners, whether they are just starting or have been in the business for years. Hunt"s podcast will provide

business management

All Episodes

31:28

What Your Technician Pay Plan Is Really Telling You...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/02/19

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat if the pay plan you've been debating isn't actually the problem?In this solo episode, Hunt Demarest tackles one of the most argued topics in the auto repair industry: how to pay your technicians. After seeing it debated online once too often, Hunt pulls from hundreds of real shop benchmarks to cut through the noise — and his answer might surprise you.Hunt breaks down the three main structures — flat rate, hourly/salary, and hybrid — explaining

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53:11

From MBA to the Bays: Why the Next Generation Isn't...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/02/12

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat if you left college with an engineering degree and an MBA, only to realize your best opportunity was back home in the family auto shop?In this episode, Hunt Demarest sits down with Brad Templin of Scott's U-Save, a fourth-generation automotive professional and second-generation owner running multiple locations across the Midwest. Brad shares the real story of what it's like to return to a family business after pursuing a corporate career, work

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26:38

Everything You Need to Know About Life Insurance for...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/02/05

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileShould your shop carry life insurance on a key employee? What if one employee's unexpected death could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars?In this episode, Hunt Demarest tackles everything you need to know about life insurance for auto repair shop owners and their teams — covering key person insurance, term vs. whole life policies, tax implications, and how much coverage actually makes sense for your situation.Unlike most conversations about life

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30:50

The Tax Mistakes That Get Auto Shops in Trouble (and...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/01/29

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you unknowingly doing things that make the IRS take a closer look at your shop?What if one “small” filing mistake dramatically increases your audit risk this tax season?In this episode, Hunt Demarest walks through the most common tax mistakes that raise red flags with the IRS — and why many well-intentioned shop owners accidentally put themselves in the audit spotlight every year.Drawing on real audit cases from auto repair shops, Hunt explains how

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29:12

The New Tax Rules That Could Save (or Cost) Your Shop...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/01/22

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you sure you’re capturing every tax deduction your shop — and your employees — are entitled to this year?What if missing one small detail hands more money to the IRS than necessary?In this episode, Hunt Demarest kicks off the new tax season by breaking down the most important tax rule changes shop owners need to understand for 2026, and just as importantly, who actually qualifies for them.From overtime deductions and tip taxation to the

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28:45

Why Your Sales Goal Might Be Leading You Toward...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/01/15

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you setting sales goals that actually make you more money — or just more tired?What if your biggest growth goal is quietly setting your shop up for failure?In this episode, Hunt Demarest breaks down one of the most common (and dangerous) mistakes shop owners make when planning for growth: setting sales targets without understanding the real constraints behind them.Building on the ideas introduced in Episode 200, Hunt walks through how to set

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32:48

End of 2025 Update: Interest Rates, Overtime & ERTC...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/01/08

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our Partner WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile,

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27:31

Health Insurance Shakeup for 2026: ACA Subsidies,...

Business By The Numbers ·

2026/01/01

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileHealth insurance premiums keep climbing — but 2026 could bring the biggest shakeup in years.In this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down what’s happening in the small-business health insurance landscape after recent ACA subsidy changes — and why a new Republican-backed House bill could change how shop owners buy coverage and support their teams.Hunt explains the economics behind rising

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30:42

Does Training Actually Pay Off? What Shop Owners Get...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/12/25

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileTraining might be the most misunderstood investment in the auto-repair industry — and one of the most expensive when done wrong.In this week’s episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis & Associates, sits down with David Boyes, President of Today’s Class, to unpack why so many training programs fail, how to actually measure technician growth, and what modern training looks like in the era of mobile learning, data

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30:23

End-of-Year Tax Traps: The Deductions, Deadlines &...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/12/18

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you leaving money on the table before the tax year closes?In this end-of-year episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis & Associates, walks through the essential tax moves shop owners must make before December 31st and the costly assumptions that lead many to overpay the IRS.From retirement contributions and HSA hacks to equipment purchases, inventory write-downs, and why your accounts receivable might be lying to

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35:54

The Road to 200: How to Double Your Sales, Profit,...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/12/11

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat would it take to double your shop’s success? I.e., 200% of your current sales, gross profit, and net profit?In this special 200th episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest, CPA at Paar Melis & Associates, breaks down the math, mindset, and milestones behind scaling your shop’s numbers without burning out your team or outgrowing your facility too soon.From practical examples to real-world projections, Hunt shows you how to build a

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16:22

Stop Paying Taxes You Don’t Owe: The Tax-Free Way to...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/12/04

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAre you rewarding your team, or paying extra taxes to do it? Could a few words on your payroll save you thousands a year?In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar, Melis & Associates, explains why the difference between an allowance and a reimbursement could save both you and your employees thousands of dollars a year.From cars and cell phones to tool truck payments, Hunt breaks down how changing just a few words on your payroll setup can turn

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20:01

Stop Letting the Dealer Decide Your Finances —...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/11/27

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileShould you lease or buy your next vehicle or piece of shop equipment?In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis and Associates, walks through the real-world math behind leases and loans, from tax deductions to depreciation traps, so you can make decisions based on dollars and sense, not dealer pressure.Using simple examples (from a $25K Corolla loaner car to a five-year alignment machine lease), Hunt explains why some “deals” only look good on

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23:04

Why 2026 Will Redefine Auto Repair: Inside the...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/11/20

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileWhat if the biggest problems facing auto repair shops today aren’t what you think they are?And what if the future of the industry is being shaped right now, quietly, behind the scenes, by the conversations shop owners aren’t having?In this episode, Hunt Demarest sits down with Chris Jones, the editorial force behind Ratchet+Wrench and several of the industry’s most influential publications. From talent shortages to tech adoption, from mental health to

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26:22

Customer Acquisition Cost vs. Lifetime Value: The...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/11/13

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileHow much does it really cost your shop to win a new customer, and is it worth it?Most shop owners don’t realize they’re spending hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars just to bring in a single new face, and in some cases, they’re losing money on every “win.”In this episode, Hunt Demarest, CPA with Paar Melis and Associates, breaks down the real cost of customer acquisition and why understanding Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Lifetime Customer

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27:53

Am I Spending Enough on Advertising (or Too Much?)...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/11/06

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileThanks to our partner PromotiveIt’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/Thanks to our Partner WickedFileTurn chaos into clarity with WickedFile,

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21:28

Your $200 Labor Rate Means Nothing: What Really...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/10/30

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileIn this episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demarest of Paarmelis & Associates breaks down one of the most misunderstood metrics in the automotive repair world: effective labor rate.Many shop owners chase “higher door rates,” but as Hunt reveals, that number often has little to do with your actual profit. From oil changes to state inspections, he explains how small pricing decisions can quietly eat away at your margins—and how to fix them.If

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30:34

ERTC Audits Are Here: What Every Shop Owner Needs to...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/10/23

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileAfter years of waiting, many shop owners are discovering that their long-anticipated Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) checks may never come — and worse, some are facing IRS audits they didn’t see coming. In this week’s episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demerist, CPA at Paar, Melis & Associates, breaks down the chaos behind the ERTC delays, what triggers an audit, and what every business owner should be doing right now to protect

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24:34

Profit or Time? The Tradeoff Every Shop Owner Gets...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/10/16

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileEvery shop owner knows the feeling — the harder you work, the less time you seem to have. But what if you could have both? In this week’s Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demerast, CPA, explores the hidden link between profit and time — and why the goal isn’t working harder, but working smarter. From understanding your “hourly rate” as an owner to identifying the difference between working in versus on your business, Hunt breaks down the real math behind

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23:53

The $5,000 Parts Problem: Why Every Auto Shop Loses...

Business By The Numbers ·

2025/10/09

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked FileEver been charged for someone else’s part? Or failed to get a credit on a return you were sure you’d handled? You’re not alone—and those small leaks could be costing your auto shop thousands each month. This week, Hunt Demerast breaks down how to uncover where your money is really going, how to reconcile your parts purchases with your accounting, and the systems that will save your sanity (and your margins).Hunt tackles one of the most overlooked

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136 results

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