20 Group helps collision repairer address business needs

Jan. 1, 2020
A 20 Group helps you address weak spots, holds you accountable and makes you know your numbers.
Eber ABRN auto body repair collision repair Shop management 20 Group

I'll admit to a bit of a love-hate relationship with 20 groups.

We've belonged to two such groups, one for four years, and the current one for three years. Though neither has officially had 20 shop members, they were otherwise like most 20 groups: a small number of non-competing shops meeting each quarter to compare financial numbers, exchange ideas, tour shops, hear guest speakers and help each other improve.

Hate is probably too strong a term for what I sometimes feel about belonging to such a group. I sometimes dread having to give up several days at the shop or home to travel and attend. Sitting in an all-day meeting is not easy for me. And there's that risk of getting called out in front of the group by the facilitator – or even by the other members – for not accomplishing what you'd told them at the last meeting you'd get done.

But those downsides aside, it's hard for me to believe that any shop owner wouldn't benefit from belonging to a 20 group. Here are my 24 reasons why.

Reason No. 1: It helps you pinpoint – and address – your weak spots. Several hours of every meeting are spent going through each shop's financial numbers. If my profit margins are lower than everyone else's in a certain category, I know that's something I should look into – and I can get ideas from the others on why they're doing so well. And there's nothing like getting praise from others who can see and appreciate improvements you've made.

Reason No. 2: It holds you accountable. As the boss at our own businesses, no one calls us on the carpet if we decide to ignore an issue that is holding our business back but is unpleasant to deal with. A good 20-group facilitator pushes you to excel. Every meeting ends with members listing their goals for the next three months. Avoiding pointed questions at the next meeting if you haven't accomplished those goals is great motivation to make it happen.

Reason No. 3: It makes you know your numbers. I've watched shops come into the group not realizing what they don't know about how their business is performing financially. My current group's facilitator is amazing at helping shops get their financial data together and analyzed. It's the only way you can make an informed decision, for example, whether to hire another person or accept the terms of a direct repair program. He's even helped some shops discover financial improprieties within their business that they hadn't caught because of poor bookkeeping or a lack of understanding of the numbers.

Reason No. 4: It brings you new sources of information, ideas and help. One of my current projects is working toward one day selling the business to my nephew. My group includes members who have been on both sides of such transitions. The group facilitator is helping my nephew prepare and helping me take the steps I need to make. He also recently asked the group to read a particular book on the topic of business transfer – because while they are watching us go through the process now, they will all need to do something similar at some point as well. So we all learn together.

Reason No. 5: It gets you out of the shop. While I don't relish travel, I'm always glad I went once I get in the meeting. There's no substitute for getting away for a few days to ensure you're working on the business, not just in it. The meetings are a chance to reenergize and refocus away from the daily hubbub of shop operations.

Reasons No. 6-24: It gives you 19 other experts to turn to. The other members of the group become your friends, your "accountability partners," the people you can call on for advice or ideas or just reassurance that you're not "the only one."

We have openings in the 20 group I'm in (with a facilitator who I think is the best in the business). Give some thought to joining it or one of the other groups out there.

Contact info: [email protected]

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