Tim Schaefer grew up in his family’s shop, Dale’s Service Center, in Davenport, Iowa—starting as a tire kid before becoming owner. After years of doing it all himself, he hit a wall and realized that true growth meant stepping out of the day-to-day and building a business that could run without him.
His story begins with a second-generation shop transition that could’ve easily gone sideways. Taking over from his father meant navigating family expectations, evolving technology, and the pressure of proving that a repair shop could thrive without selling fuel—something few believed in during the late ’70s and ’80s.
The turning point came when Tim embraced coaching, implemented clear processes, and learned to view his shop like a business rather than a job. He faced down resistance to technology, adopted digital systems, and built a sustainable workflow that supported both his family legacy and modern industry demands.
Through that experience, he developed a new mission—helping other shop owners bridge the same gap through his company, Level 6 Auto Shop Consulting. Now, Tim guides owners through generational transitions, financial alignment, and operational clarity so they can stop working in their business and start leading it.
If you’re a shop owner balancing legacy, leadership, and growth, this conversation offers a blueprint. Learn how to create sustainable success, document your processes, and build the next generation of leadership in your business.
Guests:
Tim Schaefer — Dale’s Service Center & Level 6 — Davenport, IA
What you’ll learn (shop-owner takeaways):
How to successfully transition a family-run shop
The mindset shift from technician to business owner
Building loaner car programs that actually make sense
How to handle generational disagreements in leadership
Steps to start documenting your shop’s core processes
Avoiding valuation mistakes during succession planning
When and how to raise your labor rate with confidence
The role of coaching in scaling your shop operations
Call-to-Actions
Got questions? Comment or post in the FB group—guests will chime in.
Subscribe for more shop-owner panels & Origin & Impact stories.
Want to be a guest? Share your story in the group.
Links
Next Step Guide: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/next-steps.aspx
Grid Request: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/grid-request.aspx
Request a Call: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/request-a-call.aspx
Join the Podcast Panel: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/join-panel.aspx
Partnership Info: https://www.aashopmarketing.com/aashopmktg/public/partnership.aspx
Garage Grit Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/forautorepairshopowners
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1MFNXgGMqMQzKCeDuslkkg?si=42fc7c4da4834993
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aashopmarketing
Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/garagegrit
Keywords
auto repair shop succession, family business transition, shop management, automotive coaching, process documentation, leadership in auto repair, digital vehicle inspections, auto repair marketing, service advisor training, loaner car program, shop profitability, business automation, owner mindset shift, Level 6 Consulting, Dale’s Service Center, Davenport Iowa, shop growth strategies, AA Shop Marketing, GGP Origin & Impact
EPISODE METADATA
Episode number: 047
Guests: Tim Schaefer
Shop name: Dale’s Service Center & Level 6
City/State: Davenport, IA