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Published by Eric Joern
Most shop owners don’t have a profit problem. They have a clarity problem. Under the Hood CPA is where we break down the numbers, decisions, and strategies that actually move your shop forward. No fluff. No theory. Just real-world financial insight for operators who want to build something that lasts. Hosted by Eric Joern, CPA, and advisor to high-performing automotive repair shops, and Partner at Kaizen CPAs + Advisors. This podcast pulls back the curtain on what is really driving profit, cash flow, and long-term enterprise value inside your business. Each episode is built around one question: What would I do if this were my shop? Alongside solo breakdowns, we bring on top operators and experts each week to give you clarity across the areas that impact your business and life most: Personal finance and wealth building Retirement planning for business owners Technology and operational efficiency Lending, capital, and growth strategies Tax strategy that actually moves the needle You will learn: How to read your numbers like an operator, not a bookkeeper Where profit is leaking and how to fix it fast How to scale without losing control of your cash What top-performing shop owners do differently Whether you are an established shop owner or an aspiring operator looking to make the leap, this podcast will give you the financial clarity and perspective you need before making your next move. If you are tired of guessing, reacting, and hoping your numbers work out, this is for you. Because the shops that win are not the busiest. They are the ones who understand what is under the hood.
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Want to know what your auto repair shop is worth, whether you’re charging enough for labor, or where profits may be leaking? Kaizen CPAs + Advisors offers five free, easy-to-use tools for shop owners—just enter your numbers and get practical answers at kaizencpas.com . In the first episode of Under the Hood CPA , Eric Joern sits down with Lucas Underwood and David Roman to expose the financial mistakes quietly putting auto repair shops at risk. They explain why clean-looking financial statements can hide missing cash, unpaid taxes, bad accounting, and even fraud or embezzlement. The conversation explores balance sheets, profit-and-loss statements, shop management systems, internal controls, and the dangers of giving one person too much financial authority. Lucas also reveals why talented technicians can end up earning less after opening their own shops—and why “hope” is never a business strategy. Whether you already own a shop or hope to open one, this episode will help you recognize the warning signs before they become expensive disasters. Timestamps: 00:00 Someone Took the Money—and No One Sounded the Alarm 00:32 Welcome to Under the Hood CPA 01:13 Why “Hope” Is Not a Business Strategy 03:47 Why “Ask Your CPA” Isn’t Enough 05:18 The Warning Your Accountant May Never Give You 07:16 Stop Waiting for Someone Else to Find the Problem 08:59 Cash Flow vs. Profit: Why the Balance Sheet Matters 10:00 Why QuickBooks Alone Can’t Run an Auto Repair Shop 12:07 Good Data Is the Foundation of a Profitable Shop 14:34 You Can Outsource Bookkeeping—but Not Understanding 17:16 How to Tell Whether Your Books Are Wrong 20:19 When Broken Financials Must Be Rebuilt 23:32 Should You Share Financials With Your Team? 26:23 Why Starting Your Own Shop Could Pay You Less 30:07 How Bad Business Advice Destroys Financial Futures 33:45 Tool Debt, Personal Finance, and Living Beyond Your Means 37:01 What to Expect From Under the Hood CPA 39:41 How Common Are Fraud and Embezzlement? 43:12 The Payroll-Tax Debt You Can’t Escape 45:09 Vendor and Loan Fraud Every Owner Should Understand 47:47 Why Business Owners Must Set Financial Benchmarks 49:23 Internal Controls: Who Can Move or Spend Your Money? 54:15 What Successful Shop Owners Do Differently 57:21 Pop the Hood on Your Business 58:32 Closing
Under the Hood CPAs gives automotive repair shop owners practical insight into what’s really happening in their businesses—before problems show up in the bank account. Hosted by Eric Joern, partner at Kaizen CPAs and advisor to automotive repair shops, the show breaks down financials, tax strategy, productivity, hiring, succession, and wealth building. Each episode will help you build a more profitable shop, a more valuable business, and more options for your future. There’s no fluff and no jargon—just clear answers grounded in one question: What would I do if this were my shop? Subscribe and join us under the hood.
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Observed September 20, 2026.
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