Ep 27 – Brian Stolpa | We Get Heated Over Flat Rate vs Salary
Published: May 6, 2025
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Today, Mike Allen and Bryan Pollock are joined by Brian Stolpa, owner of Brian’s Motor Works Euro shop. They talk challenges of hiring—especially the decision between training an apprentice versus bringing in an experienced tech—and the realities of scaling a shop in today’s market. And yes, things get heated at the end when Mike brings up flat rate vs salary. Who’s right? We may never know. But Bryan thinks Mike is wrong. We’ll leave it there.
00:00 How Often Do You Buy Socks?
08:32 Hiring Strategies for Small Businesses
15:51 From NASCAR Aspirations to Mechanic
19:18 “Training Challenges in Skilled Labor”
24:42 “Finding the Right Team Fit”
27:58 Kids Dream of YouTube Fame
36:38 “Leasing vs. Owning Cars”
41:32 “Successful Implementation at Raleigh Shops”
43:34 Effective Communication with Customers
50:18 Flat Rate vs. Salary Risks
56:54 Unpaid Work Dilemmas
01:02:32 Post-COVID Job Shift Dynamics
