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
Flat-Rate Pay vs. Salary: Is It Time to Change Your Technician Compensation Model?
Flat-rate pay incentivizes speed but can hurt quality and technician wellbeing. Explore salary models, hybrid approaches, and how compensation affects technician retention and customer satisfaction.
How to Recruit Red Seal Technicians in a Competitive Labor Market
Red Seal technicians have interprovincial credentials and are in high demand. Learn recruitment strategies to attract certified technicians and make your shop a destination employer.
The Technician Shortage of 2025: Why Independents Lose to Municipalities
Municipal transit and government fleets offer job security and benefits that independent shops can't match. Learn why skilled technicians are choosing stable government positions over small garages and what you can do to compete.
How to Collect Unpaid Invoices at Your Auto Repair Shop
How to collect unpaid invoices at an auto shop: payment terms, credit checks, collection steps, Canadian interest rules, discount math and bad debt write-offs.
Bookkeeping for Mechanics: Why Sage Accounting Is a Shop Staple
Learn why Sage Accounting is popular with auto shops. Understand bookkeeping basics, software features, and how to simplify your financial management.
Capital Gains Inclusion Rates: What the 2025 Changes Mean for Your Garage
Understand 2025 capital gains inclusion rates and how they affect auto shop sales, investments, and business exits. Learn tax planning strategies.
CRA Audit of a Small Business: What Auditors Check and Your Rights
What CRA auditors check in a cash business: records, bank deposits, how far back they can go, federal penalties, voluntary disclosure and your rights.
Financing Equipment: Leased vs. Borrowed Equipment Tax Implications
Compare leasing and borrowing for auto shop equipment. Understand tax deductions, cash flow impact, and which strategy works best for your shop.
The Productivity Super-Deduction: How to Lower Your Tax Bill with Tech
Learn how the Productivity Super-Deduction allows auto shop owners to deduct technology investments. Understand eligibility and tax savings.
Small Business Tax Rates by Province: Where Is It Cheapest to Operate?
Federal 9% plus each province's rate: from Manitoba's 0% to Quebec's 3.2% (2.2% for later tax years). See limits, 2026 changes and who qualifies.
Understanding Bare Trusts in 2026: Does Your Shop Need to File?
Learn what bare trusts are, when auto shop owners need them, and CRA filing requirements. Understand if your shop structure requires bare trust compliance.
Building RRSP Room Through Salary: Planning Your Retirement Early For Auto Repair Shop Owners
Learn how auto shop owners build RRSP contribution room through salary. Understand the 18% rule, pension adjustments, and retirement planning strategies.