Advisory and Accounting Services for Automotive Repair Shops
To Help You Grow Your Auto Repair Shop
Advisory | Accounting | Tax Planning | Payroll
Advisory and Accounting Services For Automotive Repair Shops
To Help You Grow Your Auto Repair Shop
Advisory | Accounting | Tax Planning | Payroll
Advisory and Accounting Services For Automotive Repair Shops
To Help You Grow Your Auto Repair Shop
Advisory | Accounting | Tax Planning | Payroll
Specialized Financials
Drive better decisions with the power of financial statements built for your auto repair shop.
Year-Round
Tax Planning
Avoid unwanted surprises and take control of your taxes with year-round tax planning.
Industry Expert Guidance
Have peace of mind knowing you have a partner that understands what your business needs.
Wow! New beginning! I have been in the automotive business for more than 20 years and this is my 3rd accountant. Eric Joern and his team taught me more in the first 2 years than all the rest combined! The thing I like the most about Kaizen is that I don't get asked what I want to know. Instead, I get educated as we work together! We’ve set goals that are easy for me to understand and help me see things in a whole new way. What some people don't know is Eric was a former service writer in the automotive industry himself! He teaches classes on a regular basis and serves on the board for the Mid West Auto Care Alliance. He knows this industry in and out! Accounting is not my craft, but I can honestly say I feel more in control of my business and financial future now more than ever!
DAVE HINZ
MASTERTEK AUTO REPAIR
Accounting for Auto Repair Shops
Collecting the right information and measuring your shop's critical areas of performance is the only way your business can reach its full potential. The problem is, as an owner in the evolving automotive aftermarket, you are continually pulled in different directions – comebacks, parts delays, disgruntled employees, compensation, and cash flow, to name just a few.
All of this can be frustrating and overwhelming, leaving you little time to monitor the performance of your business.
At Kaizen, we leverage real experience in the automotive repair industry – with the same training and education as many leaders in the automotive aftermarket. We work closely with some of those leaders to help shop owners make better decisions and grow their business.
Jack Paeglow, Staff Accountant at Kaizen CPAs, shares his love of cars, talking shop, and how he helps auto repair shop owners thrive.
As your business grows, your finances become more complex.
When the accounting team that got you this far can’t take you any further, you need a firm that can handle the bookkeeping, deliver regular financial statements, and provide strategic guidance to help you take your business to the next level.
Your Path to Building A Better Business
The Simple Steps For Better Accounting Services
1
Talk with us
Tell us your story—where you've been, where you are now, and the direction you want to go with your business.
2
Design a Plan
Our experienced CPAs and advisors will work side-by-side with you to create a customized plan for success.
3
Decisions that Win
Manage your business with confidence and make decisions that take your business from surviving to thriving.
Proactive Advice for Auto Repair Shop Owners
A good accounting team doesn’t just react and do what you ask or wait for problems to show up. They take time to know and understand your business and give you recommendations on how to structure your finances for growth.
Whether you need guidance and guardrails to help you deal with rapid growth or insight on how to make your shop more profitable, our accounting services team can help you navigate that complexity and get you where you want to be.
Our Industry Partners
short videos
What Is the Difference Between Markup & Profit Margin
May 2, 2024 by The Kaizen Team
What are the best software packages for automotive repair shops?
Mar 8, 2024 by The Kaizen Team
Blog
3 min read
Bulletproof Your Business: How to Thrive in a Recession
Dec 19, 2024 by Eric Joern
3 min read
How a Labor Matrix Can Boost Your Business's Profitability
Dec 9, 2024 by Eric Joern
2 min read
The Best Auto Repair Shop Software Packages in 2024
May 16, 2024 by Eric Joern
Podcast
Auto Repair Shop Communication Inside & Out
May 26, 2024 by Eric Joern
Al's Auto Repair Shop Journey Start to Finish
May 10, 2024 by Eric Joern
Training Profitable Auto Shops
Apr 12, 2024 by Eric Joern
Auto Repair Shop FAQs
You have questions. We have answers.
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Why should auto repair shops outsource monthly accounting?
You probably already rely on an annual tax accountant to handle your accounting needs. But when you outsource monthly accounting, you not only streamline your bookkeeping and tax filing processes, you experience a range of other benefits, like:
- Year-round tax planning to minimize your tax liability
- Monthly financial statements to help steer your financial journey
- Monthly bank and credit card reconciliation so you don't miss a deduction you're entitled to
- Regular advisory meetings with your accountant so you can stay tuned in on the finances of your shop
- Know that you have a partner there for you when you need it
- Sales tax return filing to take the hassle off your plate
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Does Kaizen work with other automotive repair shops like mine?
Absolutely! We are a preferred partner with several top automotive coaching companies. Drawing from our knowledge and real experience in the automotive industry, we tailor our services to match the unique needs of automotive repair shops.
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Can I use just the bookkeeping portion of Kaizen's services and continue using my annual tax accountant?
We have found time and time again that this is not the best way for us to help you grow your business.
We provide a comprehensive service – monthly financials and insights that we then use to help with tax planning. If you were to use an annual tax accountant, you'd miss out on the benefits of this service. -
How can Kaizen help me better manage my cash flow?
Keeping a positive cash flow is the bane of many small business owners’ existence. It’s also an essential skill for a healthy, growing small business.
With up-to-date financial statements, we'll be able to spot cash-flow tendencies in your business that you might overlook. We'll analyze problems or areas to improve, and help you make plans to better manage it.
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Should I use a shop management system?
Yes! We highly recommend a cloud-based shop management system. There are many options, but we recommend a robust system like Tekmetric.
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What experience does Kaizen have in the automotive space?Kaizen has been working with automotive repair shops for almost 60 years. Automotive repair shops are the largest industry concentration within the firm. Our people have real experience in the automotive repair industry. We even teach accounting, tax, and finance concepts to shop owners through some of the country's largest educational events.
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I don't currently get a monthly P&L. How will Kaizen be different?Processes & procedures. Kaizen leverages a tight process and streamlined procedures to ensure we generate financials statements both timely and consistently.
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Why should auto repair shops outsource payroll?
Your industry has unique options for paying your employees. Beyond the payroll portions that an accountant can help with - finding the ideal payroll margins and pay methods to complement your matrix pricing strategy - a good, reputable payroll service provider will, in an accurate and timely manner:
- Pay your employees
- Pay your payroll taxes
- Prepare your W-2s
- Handle all weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual compliance with the state and federal government
Plus, if you've been facing those pesky IRS penalty notices, a payroll service will stop them.
My previous accountant created a mess with my taxes and accounting. Kaizen CPAs + Advisors straightened everything out and has my business on track. Extremely professional people.
Some people think “any accountant can do my books”. It’s true, anyone can do the books but who’s gonna fight for you when the IRS comes knocking? When I had an IRS random audit years ago, Kaizen CPAs took the bull by the horns and resolved my issue. It was a long, stressful audit, but it was handled offsite from my business and I was well-represented by Kaizen. My relationship with Kaizen has been professional and personable. They have taken time to understand my business by spending time at my shop. Eric, my accountant at Kaizen, had worked in the automotive industry in the past and has partnered with leaders in the industry, is helping my business move forward and be profitable. If you’re looking for an accounting firm that has your back, you’ve found it here.
I want to express how pleased we are with our accountant, Eric Joern, at Kaizen CPAs. His knowledge of the workings of the automotive repair business is impressive, to say the least. When we recently had to examine the profitability of our 50-year auto repair shop, we actually learned from Eric the industry standards and best practices concerning pay rates for service writers and technicians, acceptable expense ratios and what an average service bay should produce in revenue per month. I was in awe of his knowledge, and it helped me make some important decisions. It’s refreshing to find an industry-specific accounting firm like Kaizen.
Take Control of Your Business
Advisory
Business Advice & Guidance
Get guidance, advice, and real understanding of your financials and be equipped to make better decisions to grow your business.
Accounting + Tax
Done-for-you Services
We'll handle the monthly bookkeeping, payroll processing, and annual business tax preparation, so you can focus on the other things that matter to you.
Profit First
Coaching & Consulting
We teach you how to think about and organize your business finances in a way that is easy to understand and ensures profitability for your business.