The numbers every collision repair owner should track

Revenue per Job

Divide total revenue for a given period by the number of completed repair orders in the same period. Review the figure monthly and break it down by insurance versus cash work. In both the United States and Canada, a realistic range is approximately 2500 to 4500 dollars per job, with higher figures common in urban areas that handle more structural repairs. Shops below the lower end often need to examine estimate accuracy or upsell processes.

Gross Margin

Subtract the direct cost of parts and materials from total revenue, then divide the result by total revenue and multiply by 100 to obtain the percentage. Track this monthly and separate paint and body materials from mechanical parts when possible. A healthy target range is approximately 40 to 55 percent. Canadian owners should ensure harmonized sales tax or goods and services tax is excluded from both revenue and cost figures so the margin reflects true contribution. Lower margins frequently indicate poor parts pricing or excessive material waste.

Close or Booking Rate

Divide the number of repair orders that move from estimate to scheduled work by the total number of estimates written, then multiply by 100. Calculate this weekly or monthly and segment results by estimator when more than one person prepares quotes. A practical target is between 60 and 80 percent. In the United States, many insurers require specific documentation that can slow booking, while Canadian provincial insurers may impose additional inspection steps that affect the same metric. Rates below 60 percent usually signal the need for better follow-up or estimate presentation training.

Labor Efficiency

Divide total billable labor hours posted to repair orders by the total clock hours available in the same period, then multiply by 100. Measure this weekly for the entire shop and for individual technicians. A realistic target range is 80 to 95 percent. Both United States and Canadian shops face similar constraints from technician availability, yet Canadian operations may see slightly lower efficiency during winter months when road conditions increase minor collision volume and compress scheduling. Consistent readings below 80 percent often trace back to poor job assignment or excessive wait time for parts.

Callback Rate

Divide the number of jobs that return for rework or additional repairs by the total number of completed jobs, then multiply by 100. Track this monthly and note whether callbacks stem from paint issues, alignment, or parts failures. Keep the rate under 5 percent. The same benchmark applies in both countries, although Canadian cold weather can increase the chance of paint-related returns if booth conditions are not tightly controlled. Persistent callbacks above the target usually require a review of quality checkpoints before vehicles leave the shop.

Average Ticket

Calculate this by dividing total revenue by the number of unique customer invoices over a set period, treating multi-vehicle or multi-claim jobs as separate invoices when they are billed separately. Review monthly alongside revenue per job to spot differences caused by add-on services. Target ranges mirror those for revenue per job, roughly 2500 to 4500 dollars, with modest upward movement possible when shops capture more mechanical or detailing work. Differences between the United States and Canada appear mainly in the mix of insurance versus private-pay tickets rather than in the calculation itself.

Review these six numbers together at the end of each month. When one metric moves outside its target range, examine the others to locate the root cause rather than adjusting only the obvious symptom. Simple spreadsheets or existing shop management software can capture the raw data needed, so the main task is consistent calculation and review. Over time, the pattern of these figures reveals whether the business is growing profitably or merely staying busy.

General information for collision repair business owners, not legal or financial advice.