Profit or Time? The Tradeoff Every Shop Owner Gets Wrong [E192]

Update: 2025-10-16

Description

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked File

Every shop owner knows the feeling — the harder you work, the less time you seem to have. But what if you could have both? In this week’s Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demerast, CPA, explores the hidden link between profit and time — and why the goal isn’t working harder, but working smarter. From understanding your “hourly rate” as an owner to identifying the difference between working in versus on your business, Hunt breaks down the real math behind sustainable success.

This week, Hunt Demerast dives into one of the toughest balancing acts in business: choosing between profit and free time. Drawing on real-world examples from shop owners, Hunt reveals how to calculate your true hourly worth, where to stop trading hours for dollars, and how to reclaim your freedom without losing financial ground.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

(00:00 ) The myth of “profit versus time”
(02:20 ) Why owner mindset still mirrors employee logic
(04:45 ) How to measure profit in context — sales, time, and effort
(07:05 ) The missing metric: how long it takes to make your profit
(09:25 ) Poor people buy things, rich people buy time
(11:45 ) How to calculate your real hourly rate
(16:25 ) Tracking your time: the game-changer for owners
(18:40 ) The “work smarter, not harder” equation
(21:01 ) Working in vs. on your business

(23:23 ) The $10 million question: what is your time really worth?

Thanks to our partner Promotive

It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our Partner WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

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