Episode 194
Your $200 Labor Rate Means Nothing: What Really Matters in Auto Shop Profitability [E194]
Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked File
In 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 you’ve ever asked, “What percentage should my effective labor rate be compared to my door rate?”—this episode is your wake-up call.
Hunt also shares how two shops charging wildly different rates can end up with the same revenue, why discounting can destroy profitability, and what you should really track to make more money without working harder.
What you’ll learn
(01:20) “What’s a good percentage for effective labor rate?”
(02:10) Why a 75% effective rate isn’t always bad—and why 100% isn’t always good.
(03:40) Real-world variance of top-performing shops
(04:50) Understanding how door rate differs from effective labor rate.
(05:40) The $75 oil change that’s secretly earning you just $30/hour.
(07:15) How two shops can charge the same customer price but get different profit outcomes.
(11:30) Working smarter, not harder.
(13:00) Why chasing “door rate” vanity metrics is a trap.
(16:10) Pricing and productivity—and which one you’re probably ignoring.
(17:40) How ignoring effective rates hides true performance.
(18:50) Real client case study: Texas shop struggling with low effective rate due to state inspections.
(20:00) Action steps: How to spot your low-performing categories and limit the downside.
Thanks to our partner Promotive
It’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 WickedFile
Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/
Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com
Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413
Download a Copy of My Books Here:
The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/
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