Your Business Your Life
Matt Di Francesco
Recent Episodes
To exit your business on your own terms and fund your ideal post-business life, increasing its value is essential.
One powerful way to achieve this is by adopting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices.
Unfortunately, many collision shop owners are unaware of how ESG practices can significantly impact their business's value, leading to missed opportunities for growth, profitability, and a stronger market position.
Join Matt DiFrancesco and Eddie Hightower, Senior Vice President of Sustainability and Social Responsibility at Caliber Collision, as they dive into how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices can drive long-term business growth, enhance business reputation, attract valuable talent, and ultimately boost the overall value of your shop.
Matt and Eddie also talk about:
(03:44) The three components of sustainability
(04:56) Why most shops score poorly on the ESG criteria
(09:45) The importance of reputation
(11:53) One of the biggest challenges in guiding shop owners in preparing for a third-party sale
(15:23) What Caliber Collision looks for when buying a shop
(17:03) How Caliber Collision’s Technician Apprentice Program (TAP) works
(21:56) Why doing the right thing with ESG lifts the entire collision repair industry
(28:28) Why shop owners should embrace sustainability practices and tell their story
Connect With Eddie Hightower
Website: https://www.caliber.com/services/collision
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiehightower/
Connect With Matt DiFrancesco:
[email protected]
(814)201-5855
LinkedIn: Matt DiFrancesco
LinkedIn: High Lift Financial
Facebook: High Lift Financial
Instagram: @high_lift_financial
Youtube: @highliftfinancial
About the guest:
Eddie Hightower, who joined Caliber in 2015, brings a diverse background spanning legal and HR leadership roles across both private and public companies.
An attorney by trade, Eddie earned his BA from the University of Denver and his JD from the University of Miami School of Law, remaining an active member of the Florida and DC bars.
His unique perspective on sustainability and social responsibility aligns with his experience in human resources—an area often overlooked by collision shop owners.
Eddie also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Tampa and, outside of work, enjoys the gym, reading, and volunteering for Operation Kindness, a local pet rescue organization.
Disclaimer:
All information is obtained from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. No tax or legal advice is given nor intended. Content provided herein or on our website should not be construed as an offer for investment advice or for securities, insurance, or other investment products. Investments involve the risk of loss and are not guaranteed. Consult a qualified legal, tax, accounting, or financial professional before implementing any investments or strategy discussed here.
Investment advisory services from High Lift Financial are provided through Cornerstone Planning Group, LLC, an independent advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The collision repair industry is growing quickly, with more private equity and buyers showing interest. This creates a great opportunity for shop owners to take advantage of the booming market.
However, selling a shop can be complicated, and owners who focus on increasing their shop's value and getting professional help will have the best chance to maximize their profits.
Join Matt DiFrancesco and Laura Gay, Owner and Consultant at Consolidation Coach, as they discuss the rising demand for consolidation in the collision industry, the importance of professional guidance in sales to maximize returns, and their insights on what the future market may hold.
Matt and Laura also talk about:
(02:28) What is Collision Classifieds?
(04:36) The current state of the consolidation market
(07:18) The different tier classifications of buyers
(10:40) Why shop owners should seek professional help when selling their shops
(15:03) What shop owners need to understand about the tax implications of a sale
(17:02) What C-Corporations need to prepare for
(20:12) What the collision repair market will look like in 5 years
(23:59) Why shops need to increase their free cash flow now
(25:38) How a shop’s dependence on its owner affects its value
(29:22) Why shop owners should join the Collision Cocktail Hour
Connect With Laura Gay
Website: https://consolidationcoach.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-gay-b5b576156/
Email:[email protected]
Phone: 301.399.8675
Book a consultation call: https://consolidationcoach.com/contact/
Connect With Matt DiFrancesco:
[email protected]
(814)201-5855
LinkedIn: Matt DiFrancesco
LinkedIn: High Lift Financial
Facebook: High Lift Financial
Instagram: @high_lift_financial
Youtube: @highliftfinancial
Tune in to The Collision Cocktail Hour!
Join Matt and Laura, along with Micki Woods, Barrett Smith, Clay Hoberecht, and Rick Selover, for the Collision Cocktail Hour, held every third Wednesday of the month at 8 PM Eastern. This open forum offers a valuable opportunity for shop owners to discuss real-world challenges and solutions with their peers, and everyone is welcome to participate!
REGISTER HERE → https://collisioncocktailhour.com/
About the guest:
Laura Gay, a former small MSO shop owner, was approached by aggressive consolidators to sell her shops in 2014. Feeling lost, she took time to learn about the auto body shop Mergers and Acquisitions process, realizing the importance of getting it right when selling.
In 2015, she successfully sold her shops and retired at 42. After helping friends through the selling process, she was encouraged to start a business, leading to the creation of Consolidation Coach, a leading M&A firm for shop owners today.
Outside of work, Laura enjoys drag racing, NASCAR, and spending time with her dogs, Mopsie, Oscar, Stagger, and Miss Pearl.
Disclaimer:
All information is obtained from sources deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. No tax or legal advice is given nor intended. Content provided herein or on our website should not be construed as an offer for investment advice or for securities, insurance, or other investment products. Investments involve the risk of loss and are not guaranteed. Consult a qualified legal, tax, accounting, or financial professional before implementing any investments or strategy discussed here.
Investment advisory services from High Lift Financial are provided through Cornerstone Planning Group, LLC, an independent advisory firm registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Many collision shop owners struggle with managing project backlogs and inefficiencies due to outdated or disjointed software systems, leading to delays, increased manual workloads, and difficulty in tracking key tasks.
These issues not only slow down operations but also prevent shops from maximizing their productivity and retaining top talent.
Join Matt DiFrancesco and Phillip Brown, Principal Consultant / President at Blu Pitt Inc., as they discuss the importance of streamlining processes and the benefits of automation in the collision industry.
Matt and Phillip also talk about:
(02:12) What led Phillip to help businesses streamline project management processes
(04:25) How can collision shops gain better control over their workflows
(04:51) What strategies can shop owners implement to save time on OEM research and ensure accurate repairs
(14:43) How Blu Pitt helps businesses operate more efficiently.
(18:15) What benefits do automation and streamlined processes provide for retaining top talent
(21:22) How Blu Pitt helped Harley-Davidson streamline their processes
(26:23) Why collision shop owners should never underestimate the power of streamlining and automating processes
Connect With Phillip Brown
Website: https://www.blupitt.com/home
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillipjbrown/
Connect With Matt DiFrancesco:
[email protected]
(814)201-5855
LinkedIn: Matt DiFrancesco
LinkedIn: High Lift Financial
Facebook: High Lift Financial
Instagram: @high_lift_financial
Youtube: @highliftfinancial
About the guest:
Phillip is an experienced software engineer who has spent years working with computers and programming.
His journey began when he learned about project management software, which revealed to him that many companies relied on Excel spreadsheets and disconnected tools to manage their projects.
Recognizing the potential for improvement, he utilized his programming skills to create integrated systems that automated processes and provided a comprehensive view of project management for owners and CEOs.
This experience motivated him to start his own business, where he assists companies in refining their processes through software integration, consolidation, and sometimes transitioning to more advanced solutions.
Phillip is on a mission to help 10,000 businesses perfect their project management to give them more organization, better ROI, and retain their high performers by 2033.
Disclaimer:
DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC, d/b/a High Lift Financial, is a Pennsylvania-registered investment advisor and may conduct investment advisory services in states where it is registered, exempt, or excluded from registration. The content provided herein or on our website should not be construed as an offer for investment advice or for securities, insurance, or other investment products. Investments involve the risk of loss and are not guaranteed. Consult a qualified legal, tax, accounting, or financial professional before implementing any investments or strategy discussed here.
Finding skilled talent in the collision repair industry has become increasingly difficult due to a shortage of experienced technicians and a lack of new entrants into the field.
As the industry evolves with advancements in technology and repair techniques, shops struggle to attract candidates who possess both the technical skills and adaptability needed for modern repairs.
Join Matt DiFrancesco and Diane Benting, President at BodyShopJobs, as they discuss the challenges and solutions for the collision repair industry, particularly in finding and retaining talent.
Matt and Diane also talk about:
(01:55) How BodyShopJobs started
(02:53) The biggest mistake shop owners make when acquiring talent
(04:51) The mindset shift that needs to happen in the industry
(06:49) Why shop owners should look to the untapped talent of women in the industry
(10:17) Hiring for culture over skillset in collision repair
(14:16) The value of continuous training
(16:53) What shop owners can do to empower the next generation of talents
Connect With Diane Benting
Website: https://bodyshopjobs.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmbenting/
Connect With Matt DiFrancesco:
[email protected]
(814)201-5855
LinkedIn: Matt DiFrancesco
LinkedIn: High Lift Financial
Facebook: High Lift Financial
Instagram: @high_lift_financial
Youtube: @highliftfinancial
About the guest:
Diane Benting is the president and founder of BodyShopJobs, a dedicated job board for the collision repair industry.
With 16 years of experience in the industry, Diane has deep knowledge of the sector, having worked in various marketing roles at a prominent regional paint jobber before launching her own venture.
She is highly involved in the collision repair community, leveraging her extensive industry expertise to connect businesses with qualified talent.
Disclaimer:
DiFrancesco Financial Concierge, LLC, d/b/a High Lift Financial, is a Pennsylvania-registered investment advisor and may conduct investment advisory services in states where it is registered, exempt, or excluded from registration. The content provided herein or on our website should not be construed as an offer for investment advice or for securities, insurance, or other investment products. Investments involve the risk of loss and are not guaranteed. Consult a qualified legal, tax, accounting, or financial professional before implementing any investments or strategy discussed here.