11/30/2025
As of December 19th,I will no longer have a body shop. The industry has continued to change to the point that a small shop can no longer survive. With paint prices approaching $200 a pint , and clear coat at almost $600 a gallon, there is very little left for shop profit. Additionally, there are estimating and parts subscriptions costing us thousands per year.
Now, the insurance companies want us to do their work and write the appraisals/supplements with pictures and receipts which they do not pay us to do…. Oh and by the way, they only want to pay us $45-$50 per hour. ……….And then we have to deal with the internet companies who try to dictate where we get our parts from.
Larger shops can survive on these small margins by making it up in volume, having a paint mixing system, and by hiring a manager(s) who handles the additional paperwork. Meanwhile for me to continue, I need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to upgrade my small shop just so I can make $50phr. At this stage of the game, it Just doesn’t make economic sense to continue.
It’s only the body shop that I’m closing. The repair shop is going full speed ahead, and will be around to serve you for many more years to come.
There are many great body shops in our area. If you need a recommendation, call me and I’ll refer you to one which will meet your needs. Thank you to all my body shop customers for 35 years of allowing us to serve you
