This Shop Bills $330K/Month via Best Auto Repair Software

Charlie’s early days

Charlie Sougias opened his shop at age 20 on Valentine’s Day 1978 and it quickly became an award-winning cornerstone of the community. In 1987, he earned the honor as the first Bosch Authorized Service Center in the United States.

A year later, he and his wife Shelly expanded the business at a state-of-the-art auto repair facility nearby. Their son Niko took over the shop six years ago.

The shop specializes in BMW, Mercedes, Volvo, Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen and Japanese makes, such as Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi. They also work on Ford, Dodge, Chevy, GM and Chrysler cars and trucks.

“Chances are if it has an engine, transmission and tires, we work on it,” Niko says.

These days, the shop has:

• 14,000 square feet

• 16 lifts and one alignment machine

• 13 staff members

• 9 techs

The staff includes two service advisors and a shop foreman.

Why Charlie’s thrives with repair shop software

Derrick proudly points out the shop’s ARO rides around $772 as he wrote $204,000 in repair orders over the past month. He quickly pulls up those numbers thanks to the automotive repair shop software’s analytics.

The business’ car count runs between 450 and 500 cars per month, sometimes up to 600. Meanwhile the car count dropped to 411 while his coworker left for his hike. Yet, Derrick’s ARO clocked in at $914.

Derrick credits the shop’s success to three factors: its size, how it’s built and its location, in a wealthy area along the coast between Carlsbad and Santa Fe. The beach sits just a block away.

“If you compare us with 100 shops, not many could come close to those numbers with our staff and the number of cars we do,” Derrick says.

The shop’s reputation always fuels its customer loyalty.

“Here at Charlies, we have stayed ahead of the curve by being proactive with tools and training,” Niko says. He hosts regular auto repair video sessions where he shows how to fix a part or use a certain tool.

All along, Charlie – and now his son Niko – have worked closely with top auto repair specialists in Europe. Parts get shipped back and forth to tap into their expertise with German cars in particular.

Changes arising from best auto software

Derrick remembers manually building estimates on paper with no integrations to speed up the process. He had heard about Shop-Ware before Niko invested in the summer of 2021 in the best auto repair software he’s seen.

A friend had directed Niko to explore Shop-Ware as he was looking around for a new cloud-based shop management system.

“It’s useful for us for our size, our volume and pushing the number of cars we do,” he says.

“I like the use of tablets,” Derrick says. “Communicating with techs keeps me from running back and forth in the shop.”

He jokes that he used to run around “like a chicken with its head cut off” but these days he simply stays in his chair.

However, his boss loves the repair shop management software for how it works with the accounting back end. Above all, Niko uses the automotive repair shop programs to customize reports. For example, he breaks down how much profit arises from brakes, accessories and even coolant.

Since signing with Shop-Ware’s mechanic shop software, Charlie’s has seen increases in its:

• car count

• revenue

• ARO

• gross profit

• parts gross profit

“The integration and efficiency of everything makes my job easier,” Derrick says. “It helps me build estimates and communicate with everything the car repair program offers: text, email and messenger.”

And there’s more

The shop does far more than just fix cars. It plays host to Encinitas Cruise Nights the third Thursday of each month, serving up tacos or wine while a live band plays.

Niko also welcomes in school groups for tours and supports the local Rotary Club. He also runs Charlie’s Electric Bike as a second business.

The shop has a “great vibe,” Derrick says. The crew works together well and has fun as a group.

“It’s busy but we still have fun,” he says.