Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked File

Thanks to our partner Promotive

It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our Partner WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica and Mental Health, Matt Fanslow is Lifting the Hood on Life.

The Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching.

Speak Up! Effective Communication with Craig O'Neill: Develop Interpersonal and Professional Communication Skills when Speaking to Audiences of Any Size.

Business by the Numbers with Hunt Demarest: Understand the Numbers of Your Business with CPA Hunt Demarest.

The Auto Repair Marketing Podcast with Kim and Brian Walker: Marketing Experts Brian & Kim Walker Work with Shop Owners to Take it to the Next Level.

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked File

After years of waiting, many shop owners are discovering that their long-anticipated Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) checks may never come — and worse, some are facing IRS audits they didn’t see coming. In this week’s episode of Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demerist, CPA at Paar, Melis & Associates, breaks down the chaos behind the ERTC delays, what triggers an audit, and what every business owner should be doing right now to protect themselves.

This Week, Hunt takes listeners inside the IRS’s renewed crackdown on ERTC claims. From delayed payments and disappearing credit firms to official audit questionnaires, Hunt shares real client examples, reveals the riskiest filing groups, and explains why quarter three of 2021 has become the IRS’s favorite target. He also offers actionable advice on what to do if you’re still waiting for your refund—or worse, if you’ve received an audit letter.

In This Conversation:

• (04:10) The truth about ERTC payment delays and why checks have slowed since mid-2024
• (08:35) Why the IRS is focusing on third quarter 2021 claims
• (13:40) How credit firms and PEO companies like BBSI became audit magnets
• (18:55) What the official IRS audit questionnaire looks like — and how to prepare
• (23:22) Key warning signs your ERTC claim could be flagged
• (27:10) Why smaller, direct filers are less likely to face audits
• (31:00) What to do (and not do) if you haven’t received your ERTC payment
• (35:45) Hunt’s cautious outlook for 2025 and what it means for shop finances

If you’re ready to protect your shop from ERTC chaos and stay informed on what the IRS is really doing behind the scenes, this episode is essential listening.

• IRS Official ERTC Audit Questionnaire: https://info.paarmelis.com/hubfs/Employer%20Response%20to%20IRS%20Document%20Request%20Form.docx

Thanks to our partner Promotive

It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our Partner WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive...

Thanks to our partners Promotive and Wicked File

Every shop owner knows the feeling — the harder you work, the less time you seem to have. But what if you could have both? In this week’s Business by the Numbers, Hunt Demerast, CPA, explores the hidden link between profit and time — and why the goal isn’t working harder, but working smarter. From understanding your “hourly rate” as an owner to identifying the difference between working in versus on your business, Hunt breaks down the real math behind sustainable success.

This week, Hunt Demerast dives into one of the toughest balancing acts in business: choosing between profit and free time. Drawing on real-world examples from shop owners, Hunt reveals how to calculate your true hourly worth, where to stop trading hours for dollars, and how to reclaim your freedom without losing financial ground.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• (00:00) The myth of “profit versus time”
• (02:20) Why owner mindset still mirrors employee logic
• (04:45) How to measure profit in context — sales, time, and effort
• (07:05) The missing metric: how long it takes to make your profit
• (09:25) Poor people buy things, rich people buy time
• (11:45) How to calculate your real hourly rate
• (16:25) Tracking your time: the game-changer for owners
• (18:40) The “work smarter, not harder” equation
• (21:01) Working in vs. on your business

(23:23) The $10 million question: what is your time really worth?

Thanks to our partner Promotive

It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit https://gopromotive.com/

Thanks to our Partner WickedFile

Turn chaos into clarity with WickedFile, the AI for auto repair shops. Transform invoices into insights, protect cash flow, and stop losing parts, cores, or credits to maximize your bottom line. visit https://info.wickedfile.com/

Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair

Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com

Email Hunt: podcast@paarmelis.com

Text Paar Melis @ 301-307-5413

Download a Copy of My Books Here:

• Wrenches to Write-Offs
• Your Perfect Shop

The Automotive Repair Podcast Network: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/

Remarkable Results Radio Podcast with Carm Capriotto: Advancing the Aftermarket by Facilitating Wisdom Through Story Telling and Open Discussion

Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z with Matt Fanslow: From Diagnostics to Metallica