Tekmetric Two-Way Texting: Features and Benefits

At Tekmetric, we’ve been busy creating the most requested feature by users: true two-way texting. We’re excited to announce that this November, you and your guests will be able to communicate with each other in a seamless, hassle-free way.

Send and Receive Texts Directly in Tekmetric

Once your shop sets up two-way texting within Tekmetric, your team and customers will be able to have instant, harmonious digital conversations.

On your end, the Tekmessage interface will have a similar look and feel to social media messaging services (such as Facebook Messenger). Your customers, however, will see the conversations as regular text messages on their phones.

To use Tekmessage, simply click the messaging icon in the top right corner of your shop’s header within Tekmetric. Doing so will open the Tekmessage sidebar, where you’ll be able to see a full list of conversations with guests, send and receive texts, and search conversations.

Make Life Easier for Your Customers

With Tekmessage, your customers will no longer have to deal with clunky web browser links. Previous shop management messaging services required customers to open a link from a text in order to send a message to the shop.

Now, with Tekmessage, customers can simply send a text message without having to open a web browser. And your service writers will instantly be able to see messages and respond without ever having to leave Tekmetric.

Note: Digital vehicle inspections and estimates will still be sent as a clickable link because they include data-rich content such as graphs, checklists, etc.

All you have to do is message your customers using the Tekmessage integration, and they’ll receive a text. When they text back, it’ll show up in Tekmessage.

Sync Your Shop’s Original Phone Number to Tekmessage

With Tekmessage, you’ll be able to streamline how new customers communicate with your shop by choosing the phone number your shop sends messages from within Tekmetric.

You can use your shop’s existing phone number—the one you have been advertising on your website and Google My Business profile—to make it easier than ever for new customers to reach you and for service writers to add their new customers' information to Tekmetric.

Or, you can choose a different phone number based on the available phone numbers in your area. Either way, when you text customers via Tekmessage, the number that they will see on their phones will be the one you chose during setup.

If you're a multi-shop owner, you can set up a separate Tekmessage number for each individual shop.

Centralize Customer Communication

Think of Tekmessage as your new customer communication command center. From the Tekmessage sidebar, you’ll be able to:

• ​Search existing contacts by name and number
• ​Send texts to customers and numbers not yet in the system
• ​Receive and respond to texts from new and existing customers
• ​Create and view upcoming appointments
• ​Create and view active repair orders
• ​Quickly view customer profiles
• ​Mark messages as read and unread
• ​See which employee sent a response and what time they sent that response

👉 Ready to grow your automotive business? Book a personalized Tekmetric Demo Here

FAQ

We’ve all fallen under a “fear of the unknown” spell—whether it stems from waiting for your doctor’s results to come back, or not hearing that check-in text alert from your kid while they’re out with friends. The waiting game can cause our imaginations to run wild with thoughts of “what-if’s.”

Similarly, auto repair customers like the ability to see what’s getting done to their car, if any additional issues were found, and exactly where their car is in the repair process. You can build customer loyalty and enhance your customer service by giving them the ability to see and confirm that everything is going smoothly and according to plan with their vehicle repairs.

Visibility and transparency go beyond just shop-to-customer; it also helps bridge imagination and productivity gaps within your shop.

As a shop owner, you aren't just selling a car repair; you are selling expertise, specialized equipment, and peace of mind. If your rates are too low, you’ll struggle to keep the lights on. If they’re too high without the value to back them up, customers may opt for a competitor.

In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how to find that "sweet spot" for your labor rate so you can build a sustainable, profitable shop.

How much should a mechanic charge per hour?

Mechanic shops should charge a labor rate that is competitive in their area, covers their overhead costs (rent, utilities, employees, etc.), and allows them to maintain a healthy profit margin (40-70%) to run the shop. Whether you are an independent shop or a large dealership, your labor rate and parts markup are your primary vehicles for maintaining profitability.

Key terms to know

• ​Loaded labor rate: The true cost of an employee, including their hourly wage, taxes, benefits, and insurance.
• ​Hourly labor rate pricing: The "posted" rate—the number your customers see on the repair estimate. It is the flat dollar amount you charge per billable hour.
• ​Flat-Rate pricing: A system where a specific repair is assigned a predetermined amount of time (e.g., a water pump replacement is "booked" at 3.4 hours). The customer pays for 3.4 hours regardless of whether the auto mechanic finishes in two hours or five.
• ​Effective labor rate (ELR): The real-world number that matters. It’s calculated by taking your total labor sales and dividing them by the actual hours your technicians worked.

How to set your automotive shop labor rate (step by step)

Setting your rate shouldn't be a guessing game based on what the guy down the street is charging. It should be a data-driven decision. Here is a step-by-step approach to finding your labor rate.

Step 1: Calculate your "loaded" labor cost

First, determine exactly what it costs you to pay an employee. This isn't just their hourly wage. You should include:

• ​Wages and overtime
• ​Payroll taxes
• ​Benefits (Health insurance, 401k)
• ​Workers' comp and liability insurance
• ​Training and certifications
• ​Any other benefits you provide employees

Divide this total annual cost by the number of billable hours that the employee produces in a year. This is your "loaded" cost and does not include any profit margin.

Step 2: Account for overhead

Your labor revenue needs to cover more than just the employee. It must also cover the overhead costs of running an auto repair business:

• ​Rent
• ​Utilities and shop supplies
• ​Marketing and software
• ​Taxes

Step 3: Determine your desired profit margin

In the automotive industry, labor profit margins vary greatly, but most shops aim for 40-70%. If your loaded cost for a technician is $45 per hour and you want a 65% profit margin, your base mechanic labor rate should be at least $128 per hour.

Step 4: Benchmark against your competition

While your internal numbers should be your primary focus, you shouldn’t ignore the local market. If your labor rate is $128 per hour but every other independent shop in your town is at $100, you need to either justify your value through superior service or find ways to reduce your overhead. Make sure you benchmark against competitors of similar size, services offered, and geographically nearby.

Step 5: Implement a labor matrix

Not every repair order is the same. Many successful shops use a labor guide combined with a labor matrix that slightly increases the rate for more complex jobs or diagnostic work. Shops that perform more specialized repairs or focus on specialty vehicles should heavily consider implementing a labor matrix.

Which factors impact labor rates?

Your rate shouldn't be static. Several external and internal factors will influence how much you can—and should—charge for car repair services.

• ​Location: A higher cost of living in cities like California or New York necessitates higher labor rates compared to rural towns. Your technicians need to earn enough to live nearby.
• ​Shop type: A general auto repair shop usually has lower rates than a specialty Euro shop or a heavy-duty diesel facility. Specialization requires more expensive tools and higher-paid talent.
• ​Certifications: If your team holds advanced ASE certifications or factory training, you provide more value. Customers are often willing to pay more for a repair estimate from a shop they trust to do it right the first time.
• ​Warranty: If you offer a service warranty, you are taking on more risk and can charge more for the peace of mind.

5 Ways Tekmetric can help your shop be more profitable

Tekmetric can help you be more profitable by providing the features and reporting you need to make better business decisions. Tekmetric shops average a 65% labor profit margin by utilizing modern features that help you build trust with your customers and keep them coming back year after year.

1. 1.Custom labor matrix: Tekmetric allows you to set up labor matrices that automatically adjust your mechanic labor rate. This ensures you don’t undercharge for difficult work.
2. 2.Real-Time reports: Stop waiting until the end of the month to see if you made money. Tekmetric gives shop owners a real-time look at their gross profit, plus many other helpful metrics.
3. 3.Measuring effective labor rate: As we discussed, your posted rate isn't always what you take home. Tekmetric tracks your ELR automatically, showing you exactly where "leaks" (like excessive discounting or slow techs) are happening.
4. 4.Digital Vehicle Inspections (DVI): Higher rates are easier to justify when you can show the customer exactly why they need the work. Tekmetric’s DVIs build trust and increase customer satisfaction, making the price conversation much smoother.
5. 5.Technician efficiency: By tracking technician efficiency and productivity within the platform, you can see which members of your team are hitting their goals and which employees might need more coaching.

Final thoughts

Setting your labor rate requires constant attention to your local market, your internal costs, and the evolving complexity of car repair. By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your shop doesn't just keep cars running—it keeps your business thriving. If you have questions about Tekmetric or how we can help your shop be more profitable, book your free demo today.

As an auto repair shop owner, you know how important accurate labor times are for locking in your profit margin on labor and growing your business. But how do you find a labor guide that you can trust and that works with your shop’s estimate process?

Switching to a newer labor guide can be tough for some shops. Many shop owners already trust their physical, paper labor guide; they’ve been using it for years! But that guide probably doesn’t include labor times for repairs on newer vehicles—not to mention it takes up a lot of space.

Digital auto repair labor guides are becoming standard across the industry because of how accessible they are and how they can be continuously updated with labor times for newer vehicles.

If you’re still using your old labor guide, or even a digital labor guide that isn’t working for you, it might be time to find a labor guide that will better meet the needs of your shop. Here are some key features to look for to narrow down your search.