Is free auto repair shop software enough for an independent 4-tech garage?

12 cars a day works out to more than 250 repair orders a month. Most free software chokes as the database scales up, and you can't calculate parts markups automatically. Manually crunching what percentage to tack onto wholesale prices invites billing mistakes on every single invoice.

We tried to push through with a free open-source system for 4 months last year with 3 lifts and 3 techs. Manually entering parts cost us at least 35 hours a month just on pure data entry. As soon as we switched to dedicated shop software at 95 EUR a month, we uncovered 1,400 EUR in unbilled labor and consumables in the very first month.

Repair invoices issued in France must comply with the anti-fraude legal framework. Free or foreign-based generic software usually doesn't support the French fiscal sealing and cancellation chain rules. Relying on such tools for billing will only bring you headaches.

Almost all software marketed as free either hits a limit after 50 vehicles or slaps their own ads at the bottom of printed work orders. Open-source systems that are genuinely free still require IT support for server setup, maintenance, and backups; and that support definitely isn't free.

When choosing, look for these 3 criteria: 1) One-click pull-up of past repair history via license plate or VIN. 2) Matching stock codes between the software and your parts supplier. 3) Job completion time tracking per technician. Without these three, the program is nothing more than a digital notepad.

You really dont want to deal with free software crashing at the front desk while four mechanics in the back are waiting on parts. The shop moves fast, and technicians need to be able to log parts directly from a phone or tablet into the system you set up.

Running free software in a shop with 4 technicians is like buying a brand-new car and putting unfiltered diesel in the tank; you think you're saving money until the whole operation grinds to a halt.

Good call starting this thread. In legacy systems the most expensive thing is unknown dependencies.

I'm also curious if anyone does it differently.

I agree with this. Code without setup documentation isn't yours, even if you have it.

Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

I have a question don't want to go off-topic though. The harder it is to reverse a decision the slower you should make it.

Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way. This is my opinion, I'm not claiming it's absolute truth.

My questions are cleared up, thanks.

Let's separate the concepts, they're getting mixed up. Trying to do this alone is the most expensive way.

Of course, it varies if your situation is different.

i feel the same way. anyway implementing a change request pocess doesn't slow things down, it speeds them up.

Three different views emerged, they all complement each other. Payment schedules should be tied to project phases, not calendar dates.

If code ownership isn't in the contract, you have no bargaining power when leaving. If you have questions, write them; I'll answer as best I can.

We need to make a distinction here. Everyone rushing into auto repair software gets stuck at the same point.

Just leaving this note, it might be useful.

There's a common mistake people make when doing this. The real issue isn't the number but what it's based on.

If code ownership isn't in the contract, you have no bargaining power when leaving.

exactly, and not many people know this. anyway if acceptance criteria arent written when the work is done is open to debate.

just leaving this note it mght be useful.

Let me summarize what's been said so far. Processes without records never improve, because you don't know what to fix.