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ProTech Automotive Service Centre is a family-owned repair shop in Ajax, Ontario, servicing 15 to 25 vehicles a day with five technicians and a front-office team.
Owner Mike uses Moneris Advance to cover short-term cash flow gaps, place large inventory orders such as tires and pay for an urgent equipment repair.
Repayment comes out of a small percentage of the shop's daily deposits, so what the business pays back moves with what it sells. Terms and eligibility vary by business.
ProTech Automotive Service Centre has been fixing cars in Ajax, Ontario for about 13 years. On a busy day, the shop sees between 15 and 25 vehicles, with five technicians in the bays and a front-office team keeping customers updated.
Managing this volume requires careful scheduling, reliable parts delivery and steady cash flow. An unexpected repair, a slower month or a large tire order affects how the team plans its day and invests in future growth.
That last part, the cash flow piece, is where Moneris Advance comes in. Here's how Mike uses it, in his own words.
ProTech Automotive Service Centre is a family-owned business with more than 35 years of experience in the automotive industry.
Owner Mike started working alongside his father as a gas attendant. His father was an automotive technician who opened the first Petro-Canada location in Canada. Mike followed the same career path and built a business rooted in automotive service and customer relationships.
ProTech has operated in Ajax for about 13 years. The shop moved to its current location four years ago to gain more parking and better serve its customers.
“We’re a big part of the community,” Mike says. “Most of our business is repeats and referrals.”
The shop provides complete automotive repair services, excluding bodywork. Customers also book appointments online, giving them another way to connect with the business.
In 2026, the shop was named a Best of Ajax Readers' Choice Award winner, a nod from the same local customers who keep coming back.
A typical day includes servicing about 20 vehicles, managing around 25 phone calls and responding to roughly 20 email requests.
Mike arrives around 6:30 a.m. to prepare for the day. Customers check in their vehicles, the technicians complete inspections and the front-office team contacts customers to review the required work.
This workflow depends on clear communication and careful coordination. Every vehicle brings a different service need, timeline and parts requirement.
Time management is one of ProTech Automotive Service Centre’s biggest daily challenges.
A vehicle might arrive with a problem that appears minor. After an inspection, the team might identify a larger issue requiring more time or additional parts.
“You don’t really know what you’re in store for until you inspect the cars,” Mike says.
The team works to complete repairs and return vehicles on the same day. Reaching this goal depends on technician availability, appointment scheduling and timely parts delivery.
These operational factors also affect cash flow. The shop needs enough working capital to purchase parts and inventory before completing the work and receiving payment.
Reliable cash flow helps an automotive repair business purchase parts, manage inventory and respond to unexpected expenses.
Even an established shop experiences slower periods or short-term funding needs. ProTech sometimes needs additional funds to place a large tire order or improve its buying power.
A delay in purchasing inventory could affect appointment availability and service timelines. Access to funding helps the shop prepare for customer demand without placing added pressure on its regular operating budget.
“Sometimes it’s simply cash flow. It could be a slower month,” Mike says. “If we need to bring in, for example, a booking order on tires, we now have that ability through this advance.”
ProTech Automotive Service Centre uses Moneris Advance to support inventory purchases, cash flow management and business growth.
Mike joined the program more than two years ago after Moneris contacted him about the funding option. Since then, ProTech has used the funds to address short-term business needs and purchase inventory.
For Mike, it isn't only about covering a single expense. He says the funding gives the shop more room to buy well and keep investing in the business.
“It’s served a big purpose for us in helping us grow and achieve our growth,” he says.
ProTech repays its advance through a portion of its daily deposits.
Mike views this repayment structure as manageable because payments align with the transaction volume processed by the business. Instead of planning for one large repayment, the shop repays the advance through its regular sales activity.
“The repayment program is very attractive because they take what I think is a small percentage of our daily deposits,” Mike says. “It’s easily manageable.”
ProTech has also received subsequent advances based on its needs and eligibility. Mike says the business is often in a position to request another advance within two months.
Individual terms, eligibility and repayment timelines differ by business. Business owners should review their offer and assess how the repayment structure fits their expected sales volume.
Mike says the decision came down to three things: the program was easy to access, the repayment structure fit how the shop earns and the funding covered the needs he had at the time.
Mike did not actively compare other financing options when Moneris presented the program. He reviewed the offer and determined it suited the shop’s cash flow requirements.
His decision also reflected a broader business principle. Price matters, but service, reliability and long-term value matter too.
Mike has worked with Moneris for about 20 years. He values consistent deposits, automatic terminal settlement and support when an issue arises.
“Pricing isn’t always everything,” he says. “I look at the service I get if I have a problem.”
Mike points to inventory planning, buying power and cash flow management as the areas where the advance has made the most difference.
For the shop, that shows up in three practical ways:
Purchasing tires and other inventory when customer demand requires it
Managing cash flow during slower periods
Investing in continued business growth
One clear example came when the shop faced a major equipment breakdown. When ProTech's air compressor failed, the repair was substantial and urgent, and the funding helped the team act quickly.
"One of the biggest advantages we've had, it wasn't just cash flow or better buying power by bringing in a booking order," Mike says. "We had a specific need a few months ago where our compressor went down and it was a substantial repair. The Moneris Advance played a big role in allowing us to repair that in a timely manner and get us back up and working."
Mike's answer is yes, based on his own experience, particularly for shops that are established or still growing and dealing with uneven cash flow.
Automotive businesses often pay for parts, tires and supplies before receiving customer payments. Unexpected repairs or inventory needs add further pressure to the operating budget.
Newer shops might face added challenges when seeking business funding. Mike believes a repayment structure tied to daily deposits offers a practical option for businesses building their history and sales volume.
“We still have some financial challenges along the way,” he says. “When I envision shops that are still growing or are new, this would be beneficial.”
Mike has used the program for more than two years. He values the repayment structure, access to subsequent advances and support from Moneris.
“My hope is that we continue working together for many years,” he says.
He also recommends the program to other business owners, particularly those in the automotive industry.
“It’s worked very well for us here,” Mike says. “The subsequent advances have been very helpful and beneficial.”
If you're in the Ajax area, ProTech Automotive Service Centre handles everything from routine maintenance and diagnostics to tires and major repairs, and has built its reputation on repeat customers and referrals.
For other owners dealing with slower months, seasonal swings or a large inventory order, ProTech's experience shows what access to funding can look like day to day.
Learn more about ProTech Automotive Service Centre and the services they offer, or read how Moneris Advance works.
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