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Repair Shop Reckoning

Repair Shop Reckoning

By: Kevin Brown
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Repair Shop Reckoning is the no-nonsense, hard-hitting podcast where host Kevin Brown pulls no punches in bringing you the raw truth about the collision and repair shop industry. Forget the corporate sugarcoating—this show dives into the gritty reality of what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether you’re a shop owner, a mechanic, or just someone tired of the BS, Kevin’s got the hard-earned expertise and unapologetic opinions you need. Each episode tackles the biggest issues, challenges, and game-changing tips in the industry, giving you the tools to cut through the noise and level up your shop. Buckle up—it’s time to get real.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.Copyright Kevin Brown Economics Leadership Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • From Chaos To Control: One Shop Owner's Journey To Freedom

    From Chaos To Control: One Shop Owner's Journey To Freedom
    Jul 3 2026
    In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with Isaac, owner of Diesel Dynamics in Texas, to talk about what really changed after six months of focusing on the fundamentals of running a better business.

    Like so many shop owners, Isaac wasn't afraid of hard work. He was working seven days a week, putting in 15 and 16 hour days, doing everything himself, and still wondering why it felt like he was constantly fighting to stay ahead.

    The problem wasn't effort. It was operating without the systems, processes, and financial clarity needed to build a business that could grow without consuming his life. This conversation isn't about adding more work. It's about building a business that finally starts working for you.

    You'll hear:
    • How the right processes and policies can eliminate chaos, protect your profit, and give you back control of your shop
    • Why understanding your numbers changes every decision you make, from pricing and payroll to hiring and long term growth
    • How building systems instead of relying on yourself creates the freedom to spend more time with your family without sacrificing your business

    Along the way, Kevin and Isaac discuss pricing, technician training, AI, shop management software, policies, documentation, customer expectations, and why so many owners stay stuck simply because they're trying to outwork problems that should be solved with better systems.

    By the end of the conversation, one thing becomes clear. The goal isn't to build a business that needs you every minute of every day. The goal is to build a business that gives you the freedom to choose where your time goes. Because the best shop owners don't just create profitable businesses. They create businesses that give them their lives back.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Protect Your Shop From Mayhem

    Protect Your Shop From Mayhem
    Jun 26 2026
    In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin starts with a debate that lit up social media:Should technicians be helping pay for scan tools?But what starts as a conversation about equipment quickly turns into something much bigger.This episode is really about control.

    Control of your business.
    Control of your customer experience.
    Control of your processes.
    And ultimately, control of your future as a shop owner.

    Too many shops operate on hope. They hope customers remember what was approved. They hope employees remember conversations. They hope chargebacks don't happen. They hope disputes work themselves out. Kevin breaks down why hope is not a strategy and why the shops that create the most freedom are the ones that build systems that protect themselves before problems happen.

    You'll hear:
    • How to take control of customer conversations instead of letting Google, YouTube, and free code scans dictate the repair process
    • The systems successful shops use to prevent costly disputes, chargebacks, and customer misunderstandings before they become expensive problems
    • Why protecting your business, your people, and your profit is just as important as generating revenue

    Along the way, Kevin shares real world stories involving customer complaints, abandoned vehicles, chargebacks, documentation, AI, shop processes, technician expectations, and the lessons learned from more than three decades in the industry.

    At the end of the day, this episode isn't about scan tools.It's about building a business that doesn't depend on luck.The shops that create real freedom aren't the ones constantly putting out fires. They're the ones that have the systems, documentation, and processes in place to prevent the fire from starting in the first place.

    Because eventually every shop owner will face a dispute, a misunderstanding, or a customer who suddenly remembers the conversation differently.When that day comes, hope won't save you.

    Documentation will.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
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    1 hr and 14 mins
  • The Collision Industry's Race to Zero

    The Collision Industry's Race to Zero
    Jun 19 2026
    In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin takes on one of the most controversial topics in the collision repair industry:

    Who decides what a repair is worth?

    Too many shop owners have accepted the idea that an insurance estimate is the final word. Kevin argues that's exactly the mindset that has created what he calls the industry's "Race to Zero"—a constant push toward lower labor rates, reduced markups, shrinking profits, and shops working harder while making less.

    This episode breaks down why insurance estimates are not contracts, why knowing your numbers matters more than ever, and why so many shop owners are unknowingly giving away profit every single day.

    You'll hear why:
    • The insurance company is not your customer
    • Labor rates should be based on your costs, not what an adjuster wants to pay
    • Short pay billing isn't something to fear
    • Why Kevin refuses to hand over vendor invoices
    • How third-party adjusters influence repair costs
    • And why accepting less than your business needs hurts more than just your shop
    Kevin also shares real world stories involving insurance negotiations, supplements, storage fees, customer responsibility, and the importance of documenting everything.

    At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful message: If you don't know what it costs to run your business, somebody else will decide what your business is worth.

    The shops that survive and thrive aren't the ones chasing every job or accepting every insurance decision. They're the ones that understand their numbers, stand behind their value, and refuse to participate in the Race to Zero.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr
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