The June ARMO General Membership Meeting and Panel Discussion brought together industry experts for an insightful conversation on business best practices for restoration shop owners.
The session recording is now available. Watch it below to hear from Amy Beck of Hahn Auto Restoration, Tony D’Antonio of D’Antonio Automotive and Jesse Henke of JH Restorations as they share their expertise on running a successful automotive restoration shop.
Prefer a quick overview? Keep reading for the key takeaways.
- Structure your shop to keep work moving. Many shops are separating long-term builds from quick-turn service work, so lifts and bays are not tied up longer than they need to be.
- Seasonality should drive your workflow. Shop owners are planning larger, labor-intensive restorations during slower winter months and using spring and summer for maintenance and shorter jobs to keep revenue steady.
- Parts availability drives priorities. What gets worked on often comes down to what parts are available. With ongoing delays, shops are constantly shifting work to keep teams productive.
- Cash flow comes down to communication. Whether it is upfront deposits or regular invoicing, staying in close contact with customers helps avoid surprises and keeps projects moving.
- Set expectations early with customers: Restoration work comes with unknowns. Panelists stressed the importance of being upfront about timelines, costs, and changes from the start.
- Build your team from within. Finding experienced technicians continues to be a challenge, so many shops are investing in training, mentorship, and developing entry-level talent.
- Not every customer is the right fit. Shops are using waitlists, ongoing conversations, and even consultation fees to make sure customers understand the process before a project begins.