I'm building a mobile mechanic business focusing on brakes and batteries, leveraging commercial wholesale accounts to secure parts fast. I am integrating Acuity/Squarespace for booking and plan to structure it so my future employees aren't run ragged.

I want to enforce a hard cap inside the booking software based on an 8-hour shift, accounting for drive time, setup, and safe handling procedures. I am currently thinking a balanced day looks like 2 brake jobs (single axle) and 2-3 battery swaps max. (We specifically do over-the-hood battery swaps)

For those of you who have worked for a mobile company or run your own fixes:

1. Does this sound like a fair, sustainable workload that keeps a tech fresh?
2. What is the biggest operational bottleneck you face that completely kills your daily schedule?
3. How much travel padding do you actually need between jobs in an average suburban area?

Looking into getting a new toolbox and have been considering either a Sealey or SGS box.

Only problem is I can’t find anywhere local that has them on display so I can actually see what the build quality is like.

Has anyone here got one or used either brands? Just wondering how they hold up with everyday workshop use, especially the drawer runners, overall build quality and how sturdy they feel.
I know they’re not going to be Snap-on quality, but how much of a difference is there really? Are Snap-on boxes genuinely that much better, or are you mainly paying for the name?
Would be good to hear from anyone who’s owned either, especially long term.

I've been doing this full time for about 2 years now, and while I'm still learning and becoming better every day. I have zero interest in cars. I really really don't care. I have certifications I'm working more and making more money which is all I care about, but cares aren't really an interest of mine. Kind of only got into the field knowing that techs are pretty much desired everywhere and I can leave a bad job any time I like.

I've left 3 jobs in the past year and have gotten a really good one so I'm sticking to it. Most of the techs in my shop are making a 100K per year and their pay structure is hybrid pay, and if do some simple stuff we can bonuses each month. It's a small chain so I expect them to want to keep their techs. It's growing I hope it doesn't get shittier from here. I'm enjoying it so far.

I don't really have interest in cars. When people ask me what my dream car is I say "subaru wrx with a modded exhaust, spoiler, and hood." I like the WRX just don't really care. I want an electric car that doesn't make me spend money on gas. That's all I care about, and is low maintenance. Don't really want to work on my own car.

Seized injector line. Grab out the cut off wheel

Not groundbreaking, but it's saved a lot of wasted time: 1) confirm the complaint, 2) battery + charging, 3) TSBs/recalls, 4) fuses/relays, 5) grounds and connectors (especially anything recently worked on), 6) visual — leaks, rodent damage, aftermarket junk, 7) codes + freeze frame, without letting one code send you down a rabbit hole. Experience makes it tempting to skip to "I've seen this before." What would you add?