That’s why when Joe Rush was looking to propel his Austin-based shops, Rush Automotive, to new heights and he knew he needed the right tools for the job. As a seasoned shop owner and entrepreneur, Joe quickly recognized the value of implementing a robust software solution. By leveraging Tekmetric, Joe and his team were able to enhance performance and delight customers with a modern experience.
Multi-Shop
How Rush Automotive's Enterprise Accelerated Their Growth with Tekmetric
In the highly competitive automotive repair industry, building a successful auto repair business requires efficiency, adaptability and determination. As the industry continues to grow, it brings a new advantage with cutting-edge technology.
February 10, 2025
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Year Established
Using Tekmetric Since
446
Average Repair Order ($)
2921
Average Car Count
46
Number of Employees
Number of Bays
Building a Growth-Oriented Business
Joe’s auto repair experience extends back to his years as a teenager, when he applied to be a lot porter at a shop in Austin, Texas. That job would be the first of many, and after nearly two decades in the industry, he took on the entrepreneurial challenge of opening his own auto repair shop: Rush Automotive.
The shop became wildly successful over the next 12 years, growing from three to 48 employees across five locations. As Rush Automotive expanded, Joe began to see that he was outgrowing his previous shop management system. After a long search for a new system, Joe met the team from Tekmetric and tested the platform. Impressed by how Tekmetric’s fluidity outshined his server-based systems, he decided to make the transition to the cloud-based, all-in-one software.
For Joe, it was worth the investment: Tekmetric completely transformed the way he managed his shop. With real-time data analysis of the entire organization, and tools to enhance productivity, it was easier than ever for Rush Automotive to offer a seamless, modern customer experience.
“Everything came down to my realization that Tekmetric is better than everything else I had used before. I feel like I finally have a shop management system that’s on the same level as my service,” he said.
Seamless Coordination and Immediate Savings
The impact of implementing Tekmetric was immediate, and Joe experienced significant improvements with each new shop he onboarded. In just his first month alone, with Tekmetric fully operating across all five locations, Joe saw his revenue increase by $9,000 overall – approximately $1,800 for each location. This success came from multiple features Joe accessed through the platform, including real-time reporting, streamlined operations and effective billing adjustments.
Tekmetric’s real-time reporting specifically has proven invaluable to Joe as a shop owner by providing updated data for Joe to review anytime. Additionally, Multi-Shop, Tekmetric’s feature for multi-location shops, supports his efforts to understand what’s happening in real-time at any of his locations. This offers him greater ability to make strategic business decisions and support customers – from anywhere.
In fact, Joe has a mobile office set up in his truck with a tablet and his phone, so he can view data from any of his locations and make calls as needed.
“As an owner, I like the ability to look at the entire organization,” he said. “So, what I really enjoy about Tekmetric is the fluidity of being able to log on, go to reports and have all five locations reported together, in real-time. I can even make changes with the press of a button, and they are reflected across the company.”
Tekmetric also offered Joe a myriad of features that transformed Rush Automotive's daily operations. With Tekmetric, he and his team could effortlessly manage appointments, streamline workflows and even track inventory. In fact, just by monitoring his parts through Tekmetric, Joe quickly realized he could save significant costs.
“I have thousands of dollars of inventory on my shelf,” he said. “With Tekmetric, I’m able to pull reports on my inventory at each shop. Then, I can easily make adjustments by reducing or cleaning up the parts I have to save on costs.”
A Paradigm Shift in Customer Support
Tekmetric also empowered Joe to seamlessly coordinate the repair process and efficiently manage his customers’ needs, even from on the road. Through intuitive features and accessibility, he can effortlessly oversee every aspect of the repair process, from diagnosing the issue to ensuring timely completion.
In one recent example, Joe recalled getting a call from a customer while he was at the airport preparing to board a flight. Through Tekmetric’s mobile app, he was able to coordinate vehicle pickup, initiate the repair process and secure necessary approvals – all before his plane departed.
Tekmetric made this level of immediate assistance possible, Joe said. “This would never have happened before. She would have had to wait for me to land, then get somewhere to remote into the old system.”
Streamlined Efficiency for a Multi-Shop Organization
Joe's experience with Tekmetric highlights the transformative power of an effective shop management system in a shop with multiple locations. From providing exceptional customer support from anywhere to streamlining operations and unlocking new levels of efficiency, Tekmetric revolutionized how Joe operates his business.
Joe can provide exceptional customer support remotely, addressing customer needs to ensure seamless support even while on the go. Moreover, the system's robust features and intuitive interface empowered Joe and his team to manage operations more effectively, from scheduling and inventory management to invoicing and reporting.
The result? A well-orchestrated and synchronized network of shops, delivering consistent, quality service to customers. With Tekmetric as the backbone of its operations, Joe gained the tools and insights he needed to optimize performance, identify areas of improvement and drive growth.
“Tekmetric saves you in ways you couldn’t even imagine,” he said. “You can’t afford not to have it.”
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In late 2020, Jim Kellas bought TL Auto Repair, in Union City, California. The location was strong, but the shop’s systems were holding it back—outdated software, lack of key integrations, and inefficient processes all contributed to a poor customer experience.
Determined to find a solution, Jim explored various shop management systems before switching to Tekmetric. After making the switch, the impact was transformative for TL Auto Repair.
“Stop looking at the other ones. You're done searching.”
Challenge
Before switching systems, TL Auto Repair faced:
- Frequent software downtime disrupting operations
- Lack of integrations with key tools, creating manual work
- Limited visibility into performance metrics
Solution
After exploring several options, Jim chose Tekmetric for its seamless integrations, reliable performance, and features that made it easier to connect with customers. With Tekmetric, TL Auto Repair streamlined operations, improved communication, and set the foundation for future growth.
Results
Streamlined Operations That Drive Revenue
Integrations with tools like Affirm through Tekmetric’s Payments and adding Marketing solutions helped TL Auto Repair simplify workflows and boost sales. Offering financing made higher-ticket repairs more accessible for customers, leading to over $2 million in revenue.
“I was able to integrate with so many other programs. I'm able to know revenue-wise it's been a boom because I'm able to tie everything together.”
More Efficiency, Less Overhead
Running on a reliable, browser-based system saved time and cut hardware costs. Staff work faster, from anywhere, using devices like Chromebooks.
"The time savings have been substantial, allowing for increased efficiency"
A Better Experience for Every Customer
Text message updates, digital vehicle inspections, and contactless invoicing and payments create a more transparent and convenient experience for their customers. This has earned them trust, repeat business, and a 4.7-star rating on Google.
"Customers love getting text message updates, online inspection reports, and the option for contactless service - it keeps them coming back."
What’s Next
With a proven model and the right technology support in place, Jim plans to expand and is in the process of acquiring new shops. He is applying the same focus on operational efficiency and customer experience that turned TL Auto Repair into a thriving business.
In 2020, Jeremy and Holly Hansen purchased Mission Auto KC, an old-school shop with no desire to grow or adapt to new customers. From day one, they faced operational challenges—outdated systems, manual processes and a lack of visibility into key business metrics. Most importantly, they struggled to deliver the level of customer service they envisioned.
Determined to find a solution, Holly researched various shop management systems and after careful evaluation, made the switch to Tekmetric in July 2021. The impact was immediate and transformative.
Challenge
Before Tekmetric, Mission Auto KC relied on outdated methods—pen-and-paper invoicing, limited reporting, and inefficient customer communication. This led to:
- Slow invoicing and difficulty tracking finances
- Inconsistent customer updates, causing frustration and lost business
- Limited reporting capabilities, making it hard to identify areas for growth
- Revenue stagnation, with monthly sales hovering around $40,000 to $50,000
Solution
After evaluating multiple options, Holly chose Tekmetric because it provided real-time shop insights, streamlined operations, and better customer engagement. With Tekmetric, Mission Auto KC automated processes, improved financial tracking, and provided customers with a transparent repair experience—all essential to driving growth.
Results
Revenue Growth: Doubling Monthly Sales
With Tekmetric optimizing operations, Mission Auto KC experienced a dramatic financial transformation, doubling its monthly revenue from $40,000–$50,000 to $90,000. By streamlining workflows, improving job tracking, and enabling faster repair approvals, the shop significantly increased productivity, allowing them to complete more jobs per day. These improvements not only boosted revenue but also led to a 20% increase in gross profit, as better pricing accuracy and operational efficiency maximized profitability.
“Our typical [revenue before Tekmetric] was $40,000 to $50,000. Then $90,000 became our norm right away. So the top number did double.”
Data-Driven Financial Management
With automated reporting and real-time financial tracking, Holly gained complete visibility into the shop’s performance, allowing for daily revenue tracking, expense management, and more accurate accounting.
“QuickBooks is what I use for our accounting, and it’s up to date every day because I come in the following morning, enter my end-of-day report, enter all my expenses, and I know where I'm at.”
Faster Turnaround and Improved Customer Experience
Tekmetric’s text and photo-sharing features allowed for faster, clearer communication with customers, improving trust and increasing repeat business. Customers could see photos of repairs in progress, eliminating doubts and streamlining approvals.
“Customers love it. They love transparency. I'm not just saying your filter is dirty—you see a picture of your filter.”
What’s Next
Fueled by their commitment to exceptional service and operational excellence, Mission Auto KC is setting ambitious goals for the future. As demand continues to grow, they plan to expand their team, increase efficiency, and strengthen customer relationships to reach $2 million in annual revenue. By prioritizing transparency, quality work, and trust, they are building a loyal customer base that keeps coming back. What started as a struggling shop has now become a thriving, data-driven business, poised for long-term success and continued expansion.
Business picked up over the years, and Karl was able to assemble a small team and build his own on-premise shop management system. In 2010, he decided to move Ultimate Auto Repair to a larger space two miles from his house. He was able to employ more people but eventually hit a growth cap.
After switching to Tekmetric, Karl was able to accelerate over the hump and more than double his business. Today, they’re still growing every month.
Ripping the Band-Aid Off
With my old system, I was stuck. Each technician would have five or six clipboards, and they'd have to shuffle and figure out what was authorized and what wasn't. To find out anything, I had to do it manually. It's no fun at the end of the month trying to count how many cars and work orders we did.
There was no way that we were going to make it any further without a lot of changes.
I was afraid to make the change. I thought, "Tekmetric has a lot of good stuff going, but I'm not sure". And then everything came to a head. My laptop crashed. I couldn't get into the old program. We had been talking about making the change, so I grabbed my service writer and said, "We're making the change right now". It was like ripping off the band-aid.
By day three, I said to my team "Hey guys. I'm sorry about the stress". And they said, "Stress? Are you kidding me? This is way better! We don't have to look for a work order on the wall!" They took to it right away.
The immediate result was that everybody could instantly see with a click what everyone else was talking about. The technician could put his notes in there: what he saw and what he didn't see. It's so nice for the service writer to be able to see the customer's notes and the technician’s notes. The customer came in with this complaint. We addressed it. This is the problem. The technician also found this. And everybody can see that live, instantly.
Ticket to Freedom
I was welded to the place without Tekmetric. If I wasn't there, nobody knew what to do. Now, they know.
You can't run a million dollar shop off of one guy having to be there. At the end of the day, the world runs on math. If you don't know what the math is, you don't know what you're doing; you have no clue whether you made money or you lost money. You're just throwing quotes out there and hoping things are there.
But with Tekmetric, I can see in realtime what my markup is, what it's going to be, and what it should be. I can give my service writers a bottom dollar: what they need to sell it for. I can tell them how much they need to discount for, and they can quickly see all that right in Tekmetric. I can set up matrices, even labor matrixes now, which is crazy to me!
I call it their 'guard rail'. They know how high they can go and how low they can go to make a sale. At some point, if you don't have a technician working, and that's their job for the day, and if you don't sell that job, they’re not going to be working. That service writer needs to know how low they can go to make that sale.
Tekmetric gives me the freedom to leave for days at a time and everything keeps running. It has basically allowed me to duplicate myself, to show the guys: this is the system, and these are the steps you need to take. I can show the guys what to do, and they can replicate it.
Before, vacations were almost impossible. Now, I can leave, and I know the shop will keep running. With Tekmetric, it's all right there. My team has everything they need.
Realizing the Potential
As a business owner, Tekmetric helps me make quick decisions, which is what it's all about. I have to be able to know where I’m at and where I’m going to project it. And then we need to be able to operate with consistency, too. Because when the customer comes back the second time, we need to be able to quote it the same. There's so much background information in there that I don't know how I'd run anything over $500,000 without Tekmetric.
We're moving into commercial diesel. In Jackson, there are a lot of general contractors, plumbers, and electricians. I'm cleaning out the spare building on my property and putting in four bays, so we can concentrate on commercial diesel customers over there and get their trucks in and out quickly. It's awesome because I can set that up in Tekmetric as its own repair shop. I can track the efficiency of service writers and technicians in each building.
Growing my business allows me to get people good jobs - jobs that weren't necessarily available to me. The possibilities are limitless.
Making the Dean's List
My daughters have been helping around the shop, too. My 21-year-old comes in after hours and spends three to five hours a week cleaning the shop and does interior details. She started her own cleaning business, and she cleans houses.
My youngest is our Quality Control. She QCs all the cars when we're done. And she wants to be a service writer, so we're training her to be a service writer. She works with me every day. It's pretty awesome. She likes accounting, and she actually does our end-of-day reporting, so she loves Tekmetric. She can jump in there and go through and close out all the cars and make sure they're all paid for. She gives me the final count.
I'm happy that I can teach her a trade where she can make some money, whether she’s working at Ultimate Auto Repair or another shop.
And both kids made the dean’s list this semester! So I’m proud of that, too.
For more information about Ultimate Auto Repair, visit ultimateautorepairmi.com
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