Bookkeeping for auto body and collision shops
A collision shop is paid by insurers and customers, often in several pieces, and buys parts, paint and materials on trade accounts. Mispar matches insurer payments to repair orders, tracks parts and paint cost by job, and prepares monthly books in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero file. Plans start at $229/mo.
Best for: Independent collision repair shops, paint and body specialists and small multi-bay operations.
By claim
Insurance payments
By job
Parts and paint
Reconciled
Technicians
Tracked
Sublet work
Where auto body shop books usually go wrong
- Insurance payments not matched to repair orders.
- Paint and materials not tied to jobs.
- Deductibles mixed with insurer payments.
- Sublet work like glass and alignment not matched to the job.
How Mispar keeps your auto body and collision shops books clean
Industry-specific accounts and categorization, with the reporting scope agreed before work starts.
Insurer and customer payments
Match each payment to the repair order, including deductibles paid by the customer and supplements from the insurer.
Parts, paint and materials
Track parts and paint by repair order so job cost can be reviewed after delivery.
Technician pay
Reconcile flat-rate and hourly pay to payroll records and repair orders.
Sublet work
Record glass, alignment and detailing sublets by job, billed through to the customer or insurer.
Towing and storage
Keep tow and storage charges that are billed to the customer or insurer on their own lines.
Equipment and environmental costs
Track frame machines, booths and hazardous waste disposal apart from job materials.
Direct repair program fees
Record insurer program fees as their own line so their cost is visible.
Customer deductibles and refunds
Track deductibles collected and any refunds when a repair changes.
Paint supplier rebates
Record rebates from paint suppliers by period so they offset paint cost correctly.
Reports an auto body shop can use
- Job profit with parts, paint, labor and sublet.
- Insurance receivables by carrier.
- Open repair orders and balances.
- Paint and materials as a share of sales.
A simple, predictable process
From kickoff to your first clean close, here is exactly what happens.
Map payers and repair orders
We list insurers, customers and how repair orders are paid.
Set up repair order tracking
Each repair order gets a tag for parts, paint and labor.
Reconcile each month
Insurer and customer payments, parts bills, payroll and loan payments are matched to the bank.
Deliver monthly statements
Monthly statements arrive ready for your CPA with an open-items list.
Illustrative example
An insurer pays for the first estimate, then a supplement arrives two weeks later for hidden damage. Matching both payments to the same repair order shows the full revenue for that vehicle. This is an illustration of the method, not a customer case or a guarantee.
Auto Body and Collision Shops bookkeeping — your questions
Can you match supplements to repair orders?
Yes, when the payment detail identifies the order or claim.
Can you track parts and paint by job?
When invoices or tags identify the repair order, yes.
What do you need each month to keep auto body shop books?
Repair order and payment exports, insurer remittances, parts and paint statements, payroll reports and access to your bank feeds.
Can you handle direct repair program fees?
Yes. They are recorded as a separate line.
Can you handle more than one shop location?
Yes. Each shop can be tracked on its own when income and costs identify it.
How are customer deductibles handled?
Matched to the repair order and kept apart from insurer payments.
Can you match insurance payments to jobs?
Yes. Each carrier payment is applied to the repair order it covers.
Can you track paint supplier rebates?
Yes. Rebates are listed by supplier and period.
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