What Auto Repair Boss does

Auto Repair Boss, operated by Palmer Products, Inc., is a Windows-based desktop software application purpose-built for small and medium-sized automotive repair shops and tire stores. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Killeen, Texas, the company has continuously developed and sold the product for over 30 years across 22 major version releases, with the current version (22.3, released June 2025) supporting Windows 11 and Windows Server. The software is downloaded directly by customers and runs locally on shop computers, storing customer, vehicle, inventory, and transactional data on-premises rather than in the cloud. Core functional modules include point of sale and estimate invoicing, inventory management with multi-level/matrix and tire-size-based pricing, customer and vehicle maintenance, accounts receivable, employee time tracking, appointment scheduling, reports, and optional add-on modules for full accounting (general ledger, accounts payable, QuickBooks export) and payroll. Notable integrations include CARFAX (myCARFAX QuickVIN, Service History Check across 15+ billion records, and Customer Signup for service reminders), QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel export, barcode scanners, and electronic cash drawers.

The company monetizes through a dual commercial model: monthly subscriptions priced at $25 (Essentials), $35 (Pro), and $45 (Multi-User) per month, or one-time perpetual licenses ranging from $500 (Jr.) to $1,000 (Multi-User), with optional 6-month payment plans and no contractual obligation. Incremental revenue streams include add-on modules (Accounting $200, Payroll $100, Text Messaging $275/year), and tiered support plans ranging from $150/year (Phone Support) to $860/year (Enterprise Level Support including remote control, remote access, and offsite backups). Customer acquisition is product-led through a free 30-day trial download from the company website, supported by SEO positioning for automotive and tire software keywords and inside sales via toll-free and local phone lines. Customers are exclusively U.S.-based SMB auto repair shops and tire dealers; Version 21.8 (2023) added estimate/invoice templates targeted at non-automotive parts-counter retail businesses, representing the company's most recent vertical expansion.

The business is privately held by Palmer Products, Inc., with no disclosed outside funding, no parent company, and no public revenue or headcount disclosures beyond a 11-50 employee band. There are no disclosed management team members, no M&A activity, no leadership changes, and no certifications; the single strategic third-party partnership of note is the 2016 integration agreement with CARFAX. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer with no reseller or channel partner network.

Name

Auto Repair Boss

Legal name

Palmer Products, Inc.

Website

https://autorepairboss.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Auto Repair Boss is a Windows-based desktop software product sold by Palmer Products, Inc. to U.S. auto repair shops and tire stores for point of sale, inventory, customer tracking, accounting, payroll, and appointment management, offered via subscription or perpetual license, and active for over 30 years.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Repair Shop Management Software

NAICS

Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Automotive Repair and Maintenance (8111)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Software License Resale & Optimization (Perpetual/Subscription) (BPAEAOAC)

Keywords

• Auto repair software
• Shop management software
• Tire store software
• Point of sale software
• Automotive inventory software

Headquarters

HQ city

Killeen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription Revenue: Monthly subscription-based revenue model with three tiers: Essentials ($25/month), Pro ($35/month), and Multi-User ($45/month). All subscriptions include the software, accounting module, payroll module, myCARFAX QuickVIN and Service History Check, program updates, unlimited email support, and 90 days phone support. Data is stored locally on customer computers.
2. One-Time License Purchase: Traditional one-time payment model where customers purchase the software license outright. Pricing ranges from $500 (Junior version with limited capabilities) to $1,000 (Multi-User version). After purchase, customers own the license and never have to purchase anything again. 6-month payout plans available with no credit check required.
3. Additional Modules: Optional add-on modules sold separately: Accounting Module ($200 one-time or $33.33/month for 6 months), Payroll Module ($100 one-time or $16.66/month for 6 months), Text Messaging ($275/year includes 1,000 messages/month).
4. Support Plans: Optional support plans including Phone Support Only ($150/year), Software Support ($500/year or $45/month includes unlimited phone support, program updates, Partner Support), Enterprise Level Support ($860/year or $75/month includes unlimited phone support, program updates, remote control support, offsite backups, Partner Support), and Partner Support add-on ($100/year for CARFAX services, data communications, exporting/importing support).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Auto Repair Boss develops and sells a comprehensive Windows-based desktop software suite for auto repair shops and tire stores covering point of sale, estimating and invoicing, inventory control, customer and vehicle maintenance, accounts receivable, employee tracking, appointment scheduling, and reporting. The software is sold either as a monthly subscription or as a one-time perpetual license, with optional paid add-on modules for accounting, payroll, text messaging, and mobile server access.

Product overview

Auto Repair Boss is a comprehensive automotive repair shop management software platform offered by Palmer Products, Inc. The core product is the Auto Repair Boss software, available in Jr., standard, and Multi-User versions for one-time purchase starting at $500, or via three subscription tiers: Essentials ($25/month), Pro ($35/month), and Multi-User ($45/month). The software includes base modules for Point of Sale, Inventory, Customer Maintenance, Reports, Accounts Receivable, Employee Maintenance, Appointment Scheduling, and Setup/Security. Optional add-on modules include the Accounting Module and Payroll Module for purchase or subscription. Additional services include Text Messaging, Mobile Server access, and tiered Support plans (Partner, Software Support, Enterprise Level). The product has been continuously developed for over 30 years with regular version updates.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Auto Repair Boss Comprehensive Windows-based desktop management software for auto repair shops and tire stores covering point of sale, estimating and invoicing, inventory control, customer and vehicle maintenance, accounts receivable, employee tracking, appointment scheduling, and reporting. Sold to small and mid-sized shop owners in the United States.
• Auto Repair Boss Free Trial 30-day free trial of the complete Auto Repair Boss software available as a downloadable version from the company website, with the ability to save entered data upon purchase. Targets prospective auto repair and tire store owners evaluating the software.
• Accounting Module Optional add-on module that provides full accounting including general ledger with unlimited user-defined financial reports, journal entries, audit trail, financial statements, check reconciliation, accounts payable with vendor maintenance, 1099 forms, and QuickBooks export. Designed for Auto Repair Boss users needing integrated bookkeeping.
• Payroll Module Optional add-on module for processing payroll with support for federal/state/local taxes, up to five pay rates and eight deductions per employee, multiple pay periods (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, annually), W-2 and 941 forms, and multi-state/locality calculations. Built for Auto Repair Boss customers needing integrated payroll.
• Text Messaging Module Annual subscription add-on that enables shops to send text messages to customers directly from the Point of Sale section for vehicle status updates and service completion notifications. Includes 1,000 messages per month at $275/year.
• Auto Repair Boss Mobile Server Module Add-on module enabling customer check-in and Estimate/Work Order browsing via tablet or phone, included free with Multi-User license for Partner Support plan subscribers. Provides mobile access to shop operations.
• Enterprise Level Support Plan Premium annual support plan at $860/year or $75/month, including unlimited 1-800 phone support, program updates, remote control support, daily offsite backups, and Auto Repair Boss Partner Support. Targets shops needing maximum uptime and remote assistance.
• Auto Repair Boss Version 22.3 Major release of the Auto Repair Boss desktop software (Version 22.3) providing Windows 11 and Windows Server compatibility plus updated web security for email, text messaging, and CARFAX services. Sold to existing and new auto repair shop and tire store customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• myCARFAX integration helps complete estimates and work orders more quickly, order the right parts, identify unperformed service, and increase ticket averages.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature14 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CARFAXcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 July 2016Integration partnership with CARFAX providing myCARFAX QuickVIN (license plate lookup for vehicle information), myCARFAX Service History Check (access to 15 billion+ CARFAX service records), and myCARFAX Customer Signup (automatic service reminders for customers). First year of CARFAX services included with Partner Support plan. Benefits shops by increasing ticket averages, reducing ordering errors, and driving customer loyalty. Benefits customers through service reminders and centralized vehicle service history.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shop Boss: All-in-one auto repair shop management software providing POS, inventory, customer tracking, and reporting. Direct peer serving the same small/mid-sized repair shop segment.
• Tekmetric: Cloud-native shop management platform for auto repair shops with workflow, estimates, and inventory modules. Directly competes for the same SMB auto repair customer segment with a more modern delivery model.
• Shop-Ware: Cloud-based shop management software for independent auto repair shops. Direct competitor offering similar POS, invoicing, and inventory features but with modern cloud/mobile delivery.
• AutoLeap: Modern auto repair shop management SaaS offering digital vehicle inspections, estimates, and shop workflow. Targets the same independent shop customer base with a cloud-first product.
• R.O. Writer: Shop management software for auto repair facilities offering estimates, invoicing, inventory, and accounting modules. Directly comparable to Auto Repair Boss with a similar integrated feature set and SMB focus.
• Garage360: Cloud-based shop management software for auto repair shops providing estimates, work orders, and inventory. Direct peer with comparable SMB shop management functionality.

Broad incumbents

• CCC Intelligent Solutions: Large-scale automotive SaaS provider spanning insurance, collision, and repair shop workflows. Broad incumbent whose shop management offerings serve a similar but much larger and more enterprise customer base.
• NAPA TRACS: NAPA's shop management system for auto repair facilities, bundled with parts distribution. Broad incumbent offering shop software as part of a wider parts and services ecosystem for independent shops.
• Mitchell 1: Long-established provider of automotive repair software including shop management, estimating, and repair information. A larger incumbent in the same space with broader product portfolio including diagnostic data.
• ALLDATA: Automotive repair information and shop management provider offering diagnostic, estimating, and management tools. Larger incumbent with broader repair data and shop workflow portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Auto Repair Boss