THE OWNER'S MANUAL
CHRIS KNUTH
NEW BOOK - RELEASES SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
THE OWNER'S
MANUAL
HOW TO BUILD AN AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS THAT THRIVES WITHOUT YOU
“You built a business. So why does it feel like you bought yourself a job?”
THE PROBLEM THIS BOOK SOLVES
STOP OWNING A JOB.
START BUILDING A BUSINESS.
The Owner’s Manual is a practical, story-driven guide for auto repair shop owners who’ve tried to build a business and ended up with a job. Written by a shop owner for shop owners, with principles that serve any independent small business, it traces the climb from technician, to owner, to investor.
WHAT'S INSIDE
FOUR PARTS, ONE PROMISE
01
THE TRAP
The technician trap, the implementation gap, and the "$35/hour" wake-up. The moment of "that's me."
02
THE MINDSET SHIFT
Technician → owner → investor. Rewriting the story you tell yourself, and what the mountain taught him.
03
THE SYSTEMS
"The system is the boss." The water heater, agreements, delegation, and building an asset instead of a job.
04
THE FREEDOM
A business that thrives without you - and the life waiting on the other side of the bay door.
WHY THIS BOOK
WRITTEN BY SOMEONE WHO LIVED IT
In 2014 Chris was grinding from six in the morning to ten at night, buried under payroll and overhead, and close to losing everything he'd built. This is the book he needed then. Every framework was earned the hard way, and every chapter keeps you in the driving seat as you follow his journey.
EARLY PRAISE
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
“I've known Chris for over ten years, first as his business consultant, then watching him spend the last five years teaching shop owners how to actually lead. This book isn't secondhand advice — it's what pulled him out of the fire himself. If you're tired of being the fireman in your own shop, you need to read this book.”
- Ashleigh Civitello | Founder & President of Alloy Automotive Partners
“Chris takes us on a journey that is both personal and professional, showing us exactly how to navigate from a job-owner mindset to an entrepreneurial approach with hard-earned, practical advice. The change, both at home and at work, can be profound, and Chris gives us a roadmap. Don't just read this book—implement it in your business and your life, and get ready for positive, radical change.”
- Brad Poulos | CEO of SD Model Makers
“The Owner's Manual is a reminder that the greatest investment you'll ever make in your business is in yourself. Chris Knuth doesn't just teach better business practices—he challenges you to become the kind of leader your business deserves. Honest, practical, and deeply personal, this is a book every shop owner should read.”
- Bryce Evans | Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Auto Service Leader
FREE BEFORE YOU BUY
TAKE THE $35/HOUR TRAP AUDIT
A short worksheet that shows you, in about twenty minutes, how much of your day you're spending on $35-an-hour work - and what only you can actually do. It's the fastest "oh, that's me" moment in the book.
AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
THREE WAYS TO READ IT
EBOOK
Read it anywhere the day it drops.
PAPERBACK
The one you'll dog-ear and lend out.
HARDCOVER
For the shelf, and the gift.
Published under the Writing & Thriving imprint. A separate ISBN is assigned per format.
© 2026 Chris Knuth · The Owner's Manual