Auto Repair Shop Management Software: 5 Great Options

In today’s world, running a smooth auto repair shop requires more than just repair skills, it requires auto repair shop management software that’s designed to help you keep the business side of things under control.

The days of old allowed for handwritten invoices, poor inventory, and “guesstimates.” Today it’s just plain unprofessional, time-consuming, and outdated.

You need to streamline things, the solution?

Shop management software.

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Whether for a side hustle or full-time shop, efficient management systems streamline operations and let you focus more on fixing cars rather than doing paperwork.

After all… Most guys who own shops started as techs, that’s where their real passion is.

With that said many of us (myself included) arent the typical business owners, we know cars, running a business?

Maybe we could use some help.

Let’s dive in…

What Are the Best Auto Repair Shop Management Software Options?

With a plethora of options available, finding the best software can be overwhelming.

Depending on where you are on your business journey there are many options to choose from.

To save you time and effort, I compiled a list of 7 auto repair shop management software solutions that will keep your accountant from choking you and your business profitable.

Each of these has their pro’s and con’s but ALL are great options.

1. Shop Monkey

Shop Monkey is a top-choice shop management system for any auto repair shop. Their top-rated platform provides everything you need to succeed in running a shop efficiently.

This is a cloud-based software that allows flexibility and real communication with your customers.

Some owners love the cloud (me too) but some (older owners) may hate the fact it’s online and the super hackers may target their business.

Shop Monkey is easy to use, modern, and clean. The software allows texting estimates the customer can authorize on the fly.

This is fantastic as any shop owner knows about that downtime waiting for authorization from the customer.

Offering a wide range of features for managing various aspects of an auto repair shop, including scheduling, invoicing, inventory management, and customer relationship management, Shop Monkey is a top competitor in the auto shop management world.

Key Benefits of Shop Monkey

• Streamlined Workflow Management
• Automated Communication
• Inventory Management
• Digital Inspections
• Invoicing and Payments
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Reporting and Analytics
• Integration with Other Tools
• Mobile Accessibility
• Data Backup
• Training and Support

How much does Shop Monkey Cost?

There are 4 tiers in the monkey lineup…

These are the prices for an ANNUAL PLAN

• Basic Monkey= $179.00 per month
• Clever Monkey= $292.00 per month
• Genius Monkey=427.00 per month
• Enterprise… (Sounds expensive:)

These are the prices on the MONTHLY PLAN

• Basic Monkey= 199.00
• Clever Monkey= 324.00
• Genius Monkey= 475.00
• Enterprise= Call for price

Pros & Cons

Shop Monkey is a great choice when it comes to auto repair shop management software.

They provide everything a shop can want, and more wrapped in a modern, cloud-based, efficient platform.

I like the lines of communication it opens between you and the customer. This allows for quick turnaround and bulletproof communication.

Although there are great features, a few customers have reported a steep learning curve to get rolling with Shop Monkey.

For me, everything should be expected to have a learning curve so this doesn’t bother me much.

Another thing to note is the pricing, depending on where you are in your auto repair business it may be a little too pricey, with that said that’s the case with all of these for the most part.

The one to look at if you aren’t there yet is ZOHO (see below) this is the PERFECT side hustle / getting rolling financial management setup.

2. ALLDATA Manage

ALLDATA is another good option for your auto repair business.

I use ALLDATA at the main shop, only for the repair software portion. They have a good handle on the business and the ALLDATA name has been around for a while.

The repair information is solid, many times it will be better than Mitchell1 for repair process information and estimates as well.

ALLDATA Manage shines in its integration with ALLDATA Repair, giving you a treasure trove of repair data at your fingertips.

It’s got some stellar CRM features and nifty reporting tools too! Factors like pricing can be a deterrent, it can be a little steep, especially for smaller shops.

Key Benefits of ALLDATA Manage

• Customer Management
• In-Depth Vehicle Information
• Estimates and Invoicing
• Parts Ordering and Inventory Management
• Labor Time Guides (a must-have)
• Technician Productivity (easily tracked)
• Reporting and Analytics
• Data Backup
• Training and Support

ALLDATA Manage online pricing:

If you go for the month it will set you back $199.99, not too bad when you look at the features and overall features of this shop management solution. It’s a “one and done” option.

They also offer a yearly subscription that is $2,388.00

Pros & Cons

I like ALLDATA for the repair information. I know they are a great company.

The ALLDATA manage auto shop software seems to be just as good and robust as the repair information, but I must say, I DO NOT have personal experience with this setup, along with a few others on this list, it would be quite impossible to run through all of the options.

I have done the research and have spoken with shop owners who use the options on this list. I can say I have a pretty good handle on what these bring to the table.

Again, the learning curve has been brought up. Dude, we are mechanics, find a good system and figure it out!

ALLDATA repair information needs to be purchased separately, which ends up adding a considerable amount to the overall cost of the full software suite, which may cut into shop profitability.

A key benefit of ALLDATA Manage is its customer management capabilities.

With this software, you can easily keep track of customer information, including contact details, vehicle history, and service records. This ensures that you have all the necessary information at your fingertips when working with a customer.

Again, the others have this too, it’s up to you to decide but have heard ALLDATA does this well.

3. ZOHO Books

Why the hell is ZOHO books on this list? It’s not auto repair shop management software!

I hear you, now I’ll tell you.

This is the perfect software to run a side hustle shop at home.

Let’s face it, guys doing side work at the house are not going to be able to spend a ton of money on auto repair software, it doesn’t make sense.

For a side hustle you don’t need parts management and appointment reminders.

Realistically you don’t even need to pay taxes on the profits.

You need something that writes great invoices and keeps track of things for a decent price.

With that said I don’t recommend not paying taxes and starting a legit LLC at least, read why >HERE<

I use ZOHO books for my side hustle shop and I love it, it may take a little to set up and make more “automotive” but the benefits are huge.

$12 bucks a month for a lot of features, it’s awesome, if you upgrade to a plan to $20 a month there is bill payment and electronic check writing as well, you will be the most professional side hustle in town.

This is the management software I use and will continue using for my side hustles.

Key Benefits

• User-Friendly
• Comprehensive Accounting Tools
• Invoicing and Billing (with a higher plan)
• Expense Tracking
• Bank integration
• Inventory Management
• Finance Reporting
• Secure Cloud-Based Storage
• Mobile Accessibility (this is a sweet perk)
• Customer Support
• Affordable

ZOHO Books Pricing

Zoho is a great deal at $12 bucks a month, upgrade to the next tier for $20 a month and you can pay bills via printed checks. This really is some awesome software that can be used for many different things, not just auto repair.

• Landscaping
• Detailing
• Selling products
• Everything business related

Pros & Cons

I am a huge fan of ZOHO Products, this is the invoicing system I use at my home-based shop and I love it.

Keep in mind, that this is not auto repair shop management software.

You won’t be able to order parts and look up diagnostic information, however, with some tweaking, I have been able to turn this software into a great must-have tool for my shop.

It’s inexpensive and it works extremely well.

4. Mitchell 1 SE

Mitchell 1 is the elephant in the room when it comes to auto repair software.

They are a staple in the automotive industry and we use it at the main shop.

Unlike Shop Monkey, or some of the others on the list Mitchells can be run in-house, on your servers.

This can be a plus in some instances, however, keep in mind if there is ever a serious issue and your computers crash all of your records could be lost.

Mitchell SE has been around for a very long time and it shows, the software works well and can take your shop to the next level, but there are much more modern solutions available.

Key benefits

• Labor Estimating
• Parts and Labor Pricing
• Maintenance Schedules
• Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs)
• Integration with Parts Suppliers
• Customer Management
• Vehicle History Tracking
• Work Order Management
• VIN Decoding
• Reports and Analytics
• Invoice Generation and Billing
• Integration with Accounting Software
• Multi-Location Support

How much is Mitchell SE?

Mitchell 1 starts at $129.00 a month for the bare-bones basics, this is one reason I am thinking about dropping them, to be honest.

The more modern cloud-based solutions just make more sense for the cash.

With that said, Mitchells is still fantastic auto repair manager software. It has excellent functionality and lists out customer data well.

Pros & Cons

Like many of the old G’s Mitchell 1 has been the standard for years. It’s great software that does what it’s supposed to do.

My issue is there are many newer, sleeker, cloud-based options out there these days.

I have nothing against Mitchells, I still use it at the big shop today.

With that said, changing to a modern platform such as Shop Monkey, or GEM-CAR is definitely on the table.

As far as the side hustle shop goes… I’m ZOHO Books all the way!

5. GEM-CAR

GEM-CAR is a complete shop management software suite that’s taking on the big names.

GEM-CAR offers everything an auto shop needs under one roof.

SMS, digital inspections, digital marketing, and an electric time clock for technicians are pretty cool features that sweeten the deal.

A stand-out feature of GEM-CAR is the coaching you get with your subscription.

How many of us buy software and start fiddling without using it to full advantage? I know I have, with Mitchell 1 I am still learning about different available features, can’t blame the software.

With GEM CAR these great features are included within the platform, eliminating the need to keep buying expensive add-ons.

Key Benefits

• Comprehensive Management
• Efficient Workflow
• Inventory Control
• Billing and Invoicing
• Integration Capabilities
• Reporting and Analytics
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Work Order Management
• Time and Labor Management
• Regulatory Compliance

How much does GEM-CAR cost?

GEM-CAR ranges in price depending on your needs, anywhere from $50 bucks a month for a single license and an in-house platform, to $215 a month and up for more licenses and cloud-based storage.

This is one that you need to fill out the demo form and speak with them about what your shop needs to be honest.

What Is Auto Repair Shop Management Software?

Auto repair shop management software is designed to streamline and automate various aspects of running an auto repair shop.

A wide range of features and functionalities to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and productivity in managing day-to-day operations is the name of the game here.

Running your crew, dealing with customers, and getting things done yourself can take a lot of time. The right shop software ensures you don’t lose sight of the actual business side of things.

The truth is, you can be the best mechanic ever but if you can’t run a business properly you are doomed before you start.

This is where many great tech-turned-owners fail.

Long story short? If you fix cars for a living or even on the side, you need some sort of software.

Why You Need Auto Repair Shop Management Software

Integrating stuff, such as inventory management, billing and invoicing, work order management, reporting and analytics, customer relationship management (CRM), and time and labor management, these software options provide a centralized platform for seamless workflow and better accounting.

There is no way in hell you can tell me that the old handwritten invoices still work well today.

OK maybe they do, but I guarantee you are spending too much time “figuring things out” and desperately trying to find all the shit your accountant needs every year.

If you are reading this article because you are on the fence about getting your shop into a management software platform take the leap and do it, it’s worth the money in time alone.

There are many options out there and these are just a few, I have personal experience with two, and many other friends in this business have experience with the others.

You can’t go wrong with any of these, you need to find the right fit for you and your shop.

Wrapping Up

Each of these options is a great choice, what dictates which is best for you is where you are in your business.

If you’re side hustling in your garage at night ZOHO books is your best option.

Further down the line to a full-time shop, Mitchell, Shop Monkey, and GEM-CAR won’t do you wrong.

I know what you are thinking… Which one would I go with?

Well, I have ZOHO for my small shop and the main shop is running Mitchell 1.

In all honesty, I want to get away from Mitchell and get a cloud-based option so the two left are Shop Monkey and GEM-CAR.

Both are great, both are comparable in cost.

For me, GEM-CAR has been reported to have a better learning curve as well as great coaching to get you started out.

So for me, I’ll try out GEM-CAR first.