Mike Urban, Author at Autosphere

Posts by Mike Urban

23 posts

Mike Urban owns and operates Urban Automotive, in Oakville, Ontario. You can reach him at [email protected]. Mike Urban est propriétaire et exploitant d’Urban Automotive à Oakville, en Ontario. Vous pouvez le joindre à [email protected].

Battle Damage and Blind Spots

Recently, I came across a story that truly stopped me in my tracks. It was one of those moments where you scroll past dozens of forgettable…

May 28, 2026

An automotive technician using a handheld flashlight to inspect the undercarriage of a vehicle in a service center.

Firefighting Is Not a Business Strategy: Stop Reacting and Start Leading

Chaos within your service centre is often self inflicted. Let me paint a familiar picture. It’s 8:05 AM and the phone is already ringing. A technician…

April 30, 2026

More Than Just Skin in the Game

Risk takes on a new meaning when you’re invested in your business. Last year, we looked at how running a successful independent repair shop is about…

January 15, 2026

Fire, Flood, and Fine Print: The Hidden Dangers in Your Shop Insurance

As shop owners, we’re trained to expect the unexpected—seized bolts, last-minute walk-ins, and that mystery noise that never happens during test drives. But there’s one surprise…

October 7, 2025

More Than Just Skin in the Game

Behind every successful independent auto repair shop, there’s an owner who lives a life most people couldn’t handle for a week—and probably wouldn’t want to. From…

July 10, 2025

The Apprenticeship Advantage

Bringing on an apprentice is an investment, but it’s one that can pay off in ways many shop owners overlook. For starters, apprentices often cost less…

May 13, 2025

Fixing More Than Cars

How SOPs Improve Efficiency and Customer Satisfaction. Running an independent automotive repair shop is no easy task. Every day, shop owners and their teams deal with…

March 31, 2025

Behind Shop Doors

Unseen Challenges Faced by Auto Shop Owners Recently, I was reminded of the classic rock song “Behind Blue Eyes” by The Who, originally released in 1971.…

February 17, 2025

Seeing is Believing

How digital inspections are transforming auto repair… In the auto repair world, trust and transparency go a long way. As the saying goes, “seeing is believing,”…

November 12, 2024

Service Provider Corner: The Power of Cross-Selling

Unlocking highly effective ways to add value and enhance revenue. In auto repair shops today, providing exceptional service goes beyond fixing cars—it’s about maximizing value for both your customers and your business. One powerful…

June 5, 2024

JOBS

	Groupe Motion Financial & Insurance Manager * No weekends! * $120,000 PER YEAR AND MORE! * LONGUEUIL Permanent
	Genesis Rive-Sud Journeyman echanic Level 3 or 2 BROSSARD Full time
	BMW - Mini Ste-Agathe Sales Consultant - New and Pre-Owned Vehicles STE-AGATHE-DES-MONTS Full time
	Volkswagen Brossard Financial & Insurance Manager BROSSARD Full time
	Royer Thompson Vice President, Marketing & Membership - CAA Atlantic HALIFAX Full time

Posts by Mike Urban

Battle Damage and Blind Spots

Firefighting Is Not a Business Strategy: Stop Reacting and Start Leading

More Than Just Skin in the Game

Fire, Flood, and Fine Print: The Hidden Dangers in Your Shop Insurance

More Than Just Skin in the Game

The Apprenticeship Advantage

Fixing More Than Cars

Behind Shop Doors

Seeing is Believing

Service Provider Corner: The Power of Cross-Selling

ABOUT US

CONTACT US

SUBSCRIPTION

ARCHIVES

Automotive News, Expert Advice, and How-tos