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.
485 articles by Stephanie
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.
Tax Deductions for Tool Purchases: How the $100,000 Tool Box Pays Off
Learn how auto shop owners deduct tool purchases and equipment. Understand CCA, immediate expensing, and strategies to maximize tax savings.
CPP Contributions in 2025: What Your Auto Shop Payroll Really Costs
Understand 2025 CPP contribution rates, maximums, and how self-employed auto shop owners calculate real payroll costs. Learn strategies to manage CPP expenses.
Paying Your Spouse or Children: CRA Rules for Reasonable Family Wages
Learn CRA rules for paying family members at your auto shop. Understand what makes wages reasonable, documentation requirements, and how to stay compliant.
Managing GST/HST Remittances: A Survival Guide for Busy Mechanics
Master GST/HST remittances for your auto shop. Learn filing deadlines, input tax credits, registration thresholds, and best practices to avoid penalties.
Salary vs. Dividends for Auto Shop Owners: The Tax Strategy That Matters
Auto shop owners choose between salary and dividends for tax savings. Salary generates CPP contributions and RRSP room. Dividends offer tax-preferred treatment. Learn which strategy works best for your business in 2026.
Filing T4s for Your Family Business: Common Pitfalls and Best Practices
Master T4 filing for your auto shop family business. Learn deadlines, common errors, and best practices to avoid CRA penalties.
Auto Repair Shop Inventory Management: How AI Demand Forecasting Cuts Holding Costs
Parts inventory is one of the biggest hidden costs in auto repair. Overstock ties up cash. Understock delays jobs and frustrates customers. AI-driven demand forecasting solves both by predicting which parts you need before you run out. Learn how it works.
Auto Repair Shop Layout Design: Maximizing Bay Efficiency and Technician Workflow
A well-designed shop layout prevents wasted movement and keeps vehicles moving. Learn typical planning benchmarks for bay spacing, lift clearances, and floor considerations.
Automated Review Requests for Auto Repair Shops: The Set-and-Forget Way to Build Your Online Reputation
Most auto repair shops know reviews matter but rarely ask for them consistently. Automated review request tools send every eligible customer a review link at the right moment without any staff effort. Learn how to set it up and what results to expect.
How Much Does It Cost to Open an Independent Auto Repair Shop in 2026?
Opening an independent auto repair shop in Canada requires significant upfront capital. Learn typical baseline costs for commercial leases, machinery setups, and working reserves.
Cybersecurity for Small Auto Repair Shops: How to Protect Customer Data in the Cloud
Cloud-based shop management software creates new security risks alongside its efficiency benefits. Customer names, payment details, and vehicle records are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. Learn the essential cybersecurity steps every small garage must take now.