Beyond the Hire: Building Career Paths That Keep Great Technicians
Finding technicians is hard. Keeping them is even harder. This episode explores why the most successful shops are shifting their focus from...
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Ratchet+Wrench Radio
The official podcast of Ratchet+Wrench, providing strategies and inspiration for auto care success.
Episodes
20 of 493 episodesWhat Recruiters Hear That Shop Owners Never Do
Every shop owner has wondered why a technician really left. Was it the pay? The culture? The workload? Or something they never heard about?...
From Shop Owner to Entrepreneur: Building a Business That Thrives Without You
Many shop owners set out to build a business but end up building themselves a job. Chris Knuth knows that trap firsthand. In The Owner's Man...
Building a Training Program That Actually Works
Training shouldn't end when the class does. Ellie Pentland of Throttle Muscle shares how repair shop owners can build more effective trainin...
Why Good Shops Stop Growing
Your parking lot is full. Your sales look good. So why does it feel like your shop isn’t moving forward? Jim Saeli explains how owners can s...
Why EV Towing Is Changing Everything for Repair Shops
As more electric vehicles hit the road, they're reshaping more than repair procedures—they're changing how disabled vehicles reach your shop...
From Giving Back to Getting Ahead: How Smart Shops Turn Community Impact Into Growth
Giving back can do more than support a good cause—it can also strengthen your shop's reputation and deepen customer loyalty. In this episode...
Run It Like You Own It? Why That Mindset Fails Managers
"Run it like you own it" has become a common phrase in independent repair shops, but what does it actually mean? In this episode of Ratchet+...
The Future of Parts Sourcing: How Auto Part Search Is Changing the Way Shops Buy Recycled OEM Parts
Finding the right part has long been one of the biggest friction points in the repair process. Multiple searches, outdated systems, phone ca...
Letting Go: The Emotional Side of Selling Your Auto Repair Shop
Selling a shop isn't just a transaction—it's a transition. For many owners, their business represents decades of sacrifice, identity, relati...
When Repair Costs Total More Than Cars
A fender bender that turns into a financial crisis? It's happening more often than many drivers realize. On this episode of Ratchet+Wrench R...
The Next Generation of Technicians Is Here. Are Shops Ready?
The technician shortage isn't just a pipeline problem—it's a workplace challenge. While more students are pursuing skilled trades than in re...
Keeping Fleets Moving: What Battery Technology Means for Shop Success
Fleet vehicles can't make money when they're sitting in a shop. In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Dan Autey, head of automotive after...
125 Years of People-First Leadership: What Shops Can Learn from Grote Industries
Why do employees stay at a company for 25, 40, even 50 years? In this episode of Ratchet+Wrench Radio, Josh Wilber discusses the hiring and...
From Giving Back to Getting Ahead: How Smart Shops Turn Community Impact Into Growth
Giving back can do more than support a good cause—it can also strengthen your shop's reputation and deepen customer loyalty. In this episode...
Right to Repair's Next Chapter
Congress recently advanced legislation addressing Right to Repair, but the final language looks much different than what independent repair...
Building Generational Wealth Through Your Shop
In the final episode of Financial Future of Independent Auto Repair, CPA Nick Papakyrikos connects the dots between profitability, shop valu...
The Gold Mine Under Your Shop
In episode two of this special Ratchet+Wrench Radio series, The Financial Future of Independent Auto Repair Shops, CPA Nick Papakyrikos unpa...
Why Busy Shops Often Feel Broke
CPA Nick Papakyrikos joins Ratchet+Wrench Radio host Christine Schaffran for Episode 1 of a three-part series on why busy shops still strugg...
From Dream to Drive: How Ashley Jo Bloom Built PNW Automotive on Grit, Transparency, and Vision
Ashley Jo Bloom, co-owner of PNW Automotive, talks about growing up in the garage, redefining shop culture, empowering future technicians, a...