Stephanie Bakalar
Stephanie has spent over a decade advising small and family-owned auto repair shops on growth, hiring, and customer experience. With an MBA from Western and a background in small-business lending, she has worked directly with more than 200 independent Canadian shops on pricing, marketing, and CRA-compliant bookkeeping. She writes about the operational and regulatory side of running a profitable independent garage in Canada.
1384 articles by Stephanie
Understanding Supplements: Why Your Initial Repair Quote Might Change
Understand collision repair supplements, hidden damage, insurer approval, ADAS calibration, parts changes, and what to ask when the initial quote grows.
What to Do After a Car Accident on a Highway in Canada
The 5 steps at a highway crash scene in Canada, police-report rules in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the 911 cases in Alberta and BC.
EV Collision Repair: Why Body Shops Need Specialized Knowledge
EV collision repair requires more than panel work. High-voltage systems, battery location, vehicle weight, ADAS calibration, structural materials, and OEM procedures all affect the repair plan.
Should You Pay for Collision Repair Yourself or File an Insurance Claim?
Compare your repair estimate with your deductible and the premium rise a claim can bring, see who pays when you are not at fault, and know who to tell.
OEM vs Aftermarket Collision Parts: How to Choose After a Crash
OEM, aftermarket, recycled, and repaired collision parts each have tradeoffs. Learn when each option may make sense, what insurers may allow, and what to ask before approving the repair.
Are Body Shops Cheaper Than Dealerships for Collision Repair?
Body shop or dealership for collision repair? See the CAD and USD figures behind a quote, what makes one quote higher and how to compare two.
Matching Metallic Paint: Why Good Body Shops Blend More Than Colour
Metallic paint matching is difficult because colour, flake size, flake direction, surface material, age, clearcoat, lighting, and spray technique all change how the repair looks. Learn how professional body shops scan, mix, spray test, blend, and inspect metallic finishes.
Immediate vs. Gradual IBT: Which Succession Model Fits Your Family?
Compare immediate and gradual intergenerational business transfer models to find the succession strategy that aligns with your family dynamics and shop goals.
The Retirement Horizon: Selling Your Shop to an Employee or Management Team
Explore the benefits and practical considerations of selling your family-owned auto repair shop to trusted employees or an internal management team as you plan retirement.
Valuing Your Shop: Tangible Assets vs. Goodwill in the Final Sale
Understand how tangible assets and goodwill combine to determine your auto repair shop's true value when selling or transferring ownership.
Vendor Take-Back Loan: How VTB Financing Works When You Sell Your Shop
How a vendor take-back (VTB) loan works when you sell your shop in Canada: the usual share and term, security, the interest limit and CRA tax rules.
Intergenerational Business Transfer Rules: Passing Your Shop to a Child
Bill C-59 lets a parent sell shop shares to an adult child's corporation as a capital gain, not a dividend. See the conditions, time limits and Form T2066.