How a repair shop makes money

Sources

• Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022: firms, establishments, employment, annual payroll and receipts by industry and enterprise receipts size (NAICS 8111, Automotive Repair and Maintenance; 811111, General Automotive Repair; 811191, Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops; 811121, Automotive Body, Paint, and Interior Repair and Maintenance; 441320, Tire Dealers). Released April 10, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau, 2022
• Monro, Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 29, 2025 · Monro, Inc. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing), 2025
• Nonemployer Statistics 2024, U.S. file nonemp24us: businesses with no paid employees and their receipts by industry (NAICS 8111, Automotive Repair and Maintenance; 81111, Automotive Mechanical and Electrical Repair and Maintenance) · U.S. Census Bureau, 2024
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics (pay May 2025, jobs 2025, outlook 2025 to 2035) · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
• Publication 15 (2026), (Circular E), Employer's Tax Guide · Internal Revenue Service, 2026
• Apply for a license: Automotive Repair Dealer registration and other licenses, who needs one and the fees · California Bureau of Automotive Repair, 2026

Every number

• $852,000census.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: what US general automotive repair shops with employees sold in 2022, divided by how many there were, rounded to the thousand. Sales, not profit.
• 4.6 peoplecensus.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: employees of US general automotive repair shops divided by the shops, 2022.
• 77.2%census.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: the share of US general automotive repair companies with employees that sold under one million dollars in 2022 (companies, which can own more than one shop).
• $1Mcensus.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: what US oil change and lubrication shops with employees sold in 2022, divided by how many there were, rounded to the ten thousand. Sales, not profit.
• 8.5 peoplecensus.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: employees of US oil change and lubrication shops divided by the shops, 2022.
• $949,000sec.gov ·2025 · Worked out and rough: Monro's sales in its fiscal year 2025 divided by the stores it ran at the end of that year (some closed or opened during it).
• 1,260 storessec.gov ·2025 · Tire and car repair stores Monro ran at the end of its fiscal year 2025, in March 2025.
• $60,000census.gov ·2024 · Worked out from the Census: what US car mechanical and electrical repair businesses with no employees took in during 2024, divided by how many there were, rounded to the thousand. Sales, not profit; many work part-time.
• 225,471census.gov ·2024 · US car mechanical and electrical repair businesses with no employees, 2024.
• 15%bls.gov ·2025 · Share of automotive service technicians' and mechanics' jobs held by self-employed workers, 2025.
• $24.34/hourbls.gov ·2025 · Median hourly pay of automotive service technicians and mechanics, May 2025.
• $21.97/hourbls.gov ·2025 · Worked out from the BLS: the median yearly pay of automotive service technicians and mechanics at automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers, May 2025, divided by the hours in a full-time year (forty hours a week for fifty-two weeks).
• 2 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the book hours for replacing a car's front brake pads and rotors.) · Simplified example: the book hours for replacing a car's front brake pads and rotors.
• $140/hourexample (example number: Simplified example: a general repair shop's labor rate. Rates vary a lot by place and shop, and no government source publishes them.) · Simplified example: a general repair shop's labor rate. Rates vary a lot by place and shop, and no government source publishes them.
• $280example (example number: Simplified example: the labor charge: two book hours at our example rate.) · Simplified example: the labor charge: two book hours at our example rate.
• $48.68example (example number: Simplified example: the technician's pay for two hours at the BLS median.) · Simplified example: the technician's pay for two hours at the BLS median.
• $231.32example (example number: Simplified example: the labor charge less the technician's pay.) · Simplified example: the labor charge less the technician's pay.
• $160example (example number: Simplified example: what the pads and rotors cost the shop.) · Simplified example: what the pads and rotors cost the shop.
• 60%example (example number: Simplified example: the shop's markup on these parts.) · Simplified example: the shop's markup on these parts.
• $96example (example number: Simplified example: the markup on the parts.) · Simplified example: the markup on the parts.
• $256example (example number: Simplified example: the parts as sold to the customer.) · Simplified example: the parts as sold to the customer.
• $536example (example number: Simplified example: the whole bill before sales tax.) · Simplified example: the whole bill before sales tax.
• $120/hourexample (example number: Simplified example: an oil change and tire shop's labor rate for jobs priced by the hour. Rates vary a lot, and many quick jobs have a set price instead.) · Simplified example: an oil change and tire shop's labor rate for jobs priced by the hour. Rates vary a lot, and many quick jobs have a set price instead.
• 1 hourexample (example number: Simplified example: the book time for an oil change and mounting and balancing two tires.) · Simplified example: the book time for an oil change and mounting and balancing two tires.
• $120example (example number: Simplified example: the labor charge: one book hour at our example rate.) · Simplified example: the labor charge: one book hour at our example rate.
• $21.97example (example number: Simplified example: the technician's pay for one hour at the BLS median for tire and parts retailers, worked out per hour.) · Simplified example: the technician's pay for one hour at the BLS median for tire and parts retailers, worked out per hour.
• $98.03example (example number: Simplified example: the labor charge less the technician's pay.) · Simplified example: the labor charge less the technician's pay.
• $265example (example number: Simplified example: what two tires, the oil and the filter cost the shop.) · Simplified example: what two tires, the oil and the filter cost the shop.
• $100example (example number: Simplified example: the markup on the tires, oil and filter.) · Simplified example: the markup on the tires, oil and filter.
• $365example (example number: Simplified example: the tires, oil and filter as sold to the customer.) · Simplified example: the tires, oil and filter as sold to the customer.
• $485example (example number: Simplified example: the whole bill before sales tax.) · Simplified example: the whole bill before sales tax.
• $110/hourexample (example number: Simplified example: a mobile mechanic's labor rate. Rates vary a lot by place.) · Simplified example: a mobile mechanic's labor rate. Rates vary a lot by place.
• $220example (example number: Simplified example: the labor charge: two book hours at our example rate.) · Simplified example: the labor charge: two book hours at our example rate.
• $171.32example (example number: Simplified example: the labor charge less what a technician would earn for the time.) · Simplified example: the labor charge less what a technician would earn for the time.
• 30%example (example number: Simplified example: a mobile mechanic's markup on these parts.) · Simplified example: a mobile mechanic's markup on these parts.
• $48example (example number: Simplified example: the markup on the parts.) · Simplified example: the markup on the parts.
• $208example (example number: Simplified example: the parts as sold to the customer.) · Simplified example: the parts as sold to the customer.
• $428example (example number: Simplified example: the whole bill before sales tax.) · Simplified example: the whole bill before sales tax.
• 2 techniciansexample (example number: Simplified example: technicians on the clock in a small shop.) · Simplified example: technicians on the clock in a small shop.
• 9 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the hours each technician is paid that day.) · Simplified example: the hours each technician is paid that day.
• 18 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the paid hours: two technicians for nine hours each.) · Simplified example: the paid hours: two technicians for nine hours each.
• 13.5 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the book hours on the day's bills.) · Simplified example: the book hours on the day's bills.
• $1,890example (example number: Simplified example: the day's labor sales: the book hours times the labor rate.) · Simplified example: the day's labor sales: the book hours times the labor rate.
• 4.5 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: paid hours that ended up on no bill.) · Simplified example: paid hours that ended up on no bill.
• 30 carsexample (example number: Simplified example: cars served in a day at a busy oil change and tire shop.) · Simplified example: cars served in a day at a busy oil change and tire shop.
• $95example (example number: Simplified example: what the average car spends at an oil change and tire shop.) · Simplified example: what the average car spends at an oil change and tire shop.
• $2,850example (example number: Simplified example: the day's sales: cars times the average sale.) · Simplified example: the day's sales: cars times the average sale.
• 9 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: a mobile mechanic's working day, driving included.) · Simplified example: a mobile mechanic's working day, driving included.
• 5.5 hoursexample (example number: Simplified example: the book hours on the day's bills.) · Simplified example: the book hours on the day's bills.
• $605example (example number: Simplified example: the day's labor sales: the book hours times the labor rate.) · Simplified example: the day's labor sales: the book hours times the labor rate.
• 28.4%census.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: what US body, paint and interior repair shops with employees paid in wages, as a share of their sales, 2022.
• 26.8%census.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: what US general automotive repair shops with employees paid in wages, as a share of their sales, 2022. Wages only, before payroll taxes and benefits.
• 26.3%census.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: what US oil change and lubrication shops with employees paid in wages, as a share of their sales, 2022.
• 15.4%census.gov ·2022 · Worked out from the Census: what US tire dealers paid in wages, as a share of their sales, 2022.
• $96example (example number: Simplified example: the brake pads as sold.) · Simplified example: the brake pads as sold.
• $136example (example number: Simplified example: the rotors as sold.) · Simplified example: the rotors as sold.
• $24example (example number: Simplified example: small parts on one line.) · Simplified example: small parts on one line.
• $300example (example number: Simplified example: two tires as sold.) · Simplified example: two tires as sold.
• $45example (example number: Simplified example: the oil and filter as sold.) · Simplified example: the oil and filter as sold.
• $20example (example number: Simplified example: small parts on one line.) · Simplified example: small parts on one line.
• $80example (example number: Simplified example: the brake pads as sold.) · Simplified example: the brake pads as sold.
• $108example (example number: Simplified example: the rotors as sold.) · Simplified example: the rotors as sold.
• $20example (example number: Simplified example: small parts on one line.) · Simplified example: small parts on one line.
• 7.65%irs.gov ·2026 · Worked out from the IRS rates: the employer's Social Security tax plus its Medicare tax on an employee's pay, 2026.