By Natalie - September 16, 2025
Categories: Bookkeeping

Summer can be slow for automotive repair businesses. Customers are on vacation, kids are out of school, and routine maintenance gets pushed to “later.” But with fall here, it’s the perfect time to re-engage your customer base and boost revenue before year-end.

Here’s your step-by-step checklist to bring customers back, fill your bays, and keep your business financially strong with smart bookkeeping strategies.

 

1. Audit Your Summer Numbers

Before planning your fall promotions, review your summer financials. Understanding where you stand now will help you make smarter, more profitable decisions for the months ahead.

Step 1:  Pull a sales report from your bookkeeping software (QuickBooks Online, Tekmetric, etc.).

Step 2: Identify your top three services and note why they performed well. Were they seasonal needs, easy add-ons, or part of a promotion?

Step 3: Flag underperforming services to promote, bundle, or drop.

Example: If brake jobs were slow, run a “Free Brake Inspection with Any Oil Change” promo to bring them back into focus.

 

2. Send a “We Miss You” Campaign

Your existing customers are the easiest and most cost-effective group to market to. They already know and trust you. The goal is to get them back in the shop before year-end.

Export a list from your CRM or booking system of customers who haven’t visited in six months or more. Then, send a personalized email or text letting them know you’d like to see them again. 

Keep it short, friendly, and action-oriented.

“Hey [First Name], we haven’t seen you since [Month]! Book your fall tune-up before Sept. 30 and get $25 off.”

Make the offer too good to pass up by adding an extra perk, like free wiper blades, a complimentary tire rotation, or a discounted fall maintenance check. Always include a clear expiration date to create urgency.

 

3. Build a Fall Service Bundle

Fall is the perfect time to package services customers will need before winter. Bundles add value for your customers and make it easy for them to say “yes” to more than one service.

Here are some ideas tailored to auto repair shops:

  • Winter-Ready Package: Oil change + tire rotation + brake inspection + battery test
  • Student Car Check: Safety inspection + fluid top-off for back-to-school vehicles
  • Road Trip Prep: Tire check + alignment + coolant inspection

Keep pricing simple and show the savings clearly. For example: “$179 for all services — save $40 compared to booking separately.” This communicates value and encourages immediate booking.

 

4. Refresh Your Online Presence

Your online presence is often the first impression for new customers, and a reminder to past ones. Fall is the perfect time to freshen things up.

Update your Google Business Profile with your fall hours, current specials, and a few fresh shop photos. Then, plan at least 3–5 social media posts with seasonal car care tips that position you as the expert.

Examples include:

  • “Why You Should Check Tire Pressure as Temperatures Drop”
  • “How a 5-Minute Battery Check Could Save You a Tow This Winter”

Don’t forget video! A short clip showing your team prepping for a busy season or performing a quick inspection can build connection and trust. These updates help with local SEO, making it easier for people searching “auto repair near me” to find you.

*Want more marketing ideas? I found this great article and wanted to share. Check it out here!

 

5. Review Your Cash Flow Before Q4

A busy fall can still lead to cash flow issues if expenses outpace revenue, especially with year-end costs like extra payroll, parts orders, and increased utility bills.

Check your current cash position in your bookkeeping software, then forecast all expenses through December, including parts, labor, marketing, utilities, and any seasonal hires.

Set a realistic marketing budget so you can promote confidently without overextending your resources.

💡 Pro Tip: At Three Rivers Bookkeeping, we help auto repair shop owners forecast cash flow so they know exactly what they can invest in promotions and inventory while still staying profitable.

 

The Bottom Line

This fall, you don’t need to guess how to bring customers back. Just follow this checklist. By auditing your summer numbers, reconnecting with past customers, creating seasonal service bundles, refreshing your online presence, and keeping cash flow in check, you can turn a slow summer into a strong finish.

Need help with your bookkeeping? At Three Rivers Bookkeeping, we help automotive repair businesses stay tax-ready, profitable, and confident in every decision.

Contact us today to get your books in order and your customer base re-engaged this fall.