Renew Your AOCA Membership Today
The growth and success of AOCA is dependent upon your support. Renew today and make sure you have uninterrupted access to  AOCA member benefits

AOCA's goal is to not only be your industry voice, but to help you run your business more efficiently and save on operational costs.

Check your inbox for your renewal link.

If you have questions or did not receive a renewal notice, contact AOCA Headquarters.
Start Making Plans to Attend 
iFLEX 2018
iFLEX and the International Carwash Association (ICA) will co-locate for next year's event, April 26-28, 2018 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  ICA is a nonprofit group representing the retail and supply segments of the professional car wash industry in North America and around the globe.  Last year alone, the show attracted over 8,000 car wash, quick lube and related business professionals.  

Registration for iFLEX 2018 will open soon. Stay tuned for more details!

Visit the AOCA website to see photos and access presentation recordings from iFLEX 2017.

Learn More
How to Get Personal with Your Business Page
It's easy to forget a simple business truth in a world that is increasingly digital: people like interacting with people.

Whether it's talking to a real human to solve an IT issue or handle a payment problem instead of navigating an automated voice maze or handling some kind of consumer complaint, there's no substitute for a real human voice and intuition.

The internet, and many social media channels, make it easy to open up a business without owning or leasing a brick-and-mortar location. It also makes it easy for you to operate a business without technically interacting with any living soul - but that doesn't mean you should.

When it comes to your business' social media challenge, it's helpful to put a face before the brand. No matter how nice your site is, or easy it is to buy products or schedule services, people will still have an inherent desire to give their business to other humans, instead of anonymous companies.

As an AOCA partner, PISTN: Marketing Accelerated offers AOCA members discounted services. Visit their member page to learn more.
Q&A with Affinity HR's 
Claudia St. John: Year End Bonuses
Q:  Our owner has always distributed year-end bonuses to his employees based on how he "feels" about their performance. It's his favorite time of year but I worry that he's playing favorites. Should I be concerned?

A: In a word, yes. Many business owners view distributing discretionary bonuses as a way of showing appreciation for their employees. The problem is these bonuses are often based on subjective "feelings" which can often be found to be discriminatory. Instead, encourage your owner to stick to objective criteria for bonuses and to write a personal thank-you-note to his favorite employees instead. 

Learn more about AOCA's partnership with Affinity HR Group and how you can access custom support to your most challenging people management issues.
Exclusive Offers from 
AOCA's Savings4Members
Savings4Members is offering our members huge savings with limited time promotions. 

Solutions to Combat Cold & Flu Season
As a member of AOCA, you receive special members-only pricing from UniFirst to ensure a cleaner and healthier workplace with floors mats, wipers, hand sanitizers, paper products and other restroom supplies. They can even supply you with custom mechanic & technician shirts and pants, coveralls and overalls, plus floor mats, GOJO® heavy-duty hand cleaners, fender/seat covers, and shop towels. Learn more.
 
FREE Standard Shipping* and Receive a 
10 Percent Discount
Find great prices on the latest brands for safety equipment, hand tools, pneumatics, fluids, filters and more - making MSC your one-stop-shop for all your maintenance and repair needs. Request an account.  
*Free standard shipping on orders over $49

Don't miss out on all current Savings4Members' vendor promotions. View all promos.

Learn more or contact a Savings Consultant at info@savings4members.com or 844.346.3746
Risk Management Corner
Don't Let Your Business Go Up In Smoke
Fires that hit businesses come in all sizes. They can occur anytime, anywhere, and from a variety of causes. They don't discriminate. Spontaneous combustion, heating and electrical systems, smoking, poor housekeeping, the storage of flammables, and mechanical equipment failure continue to be the most frequent fire causes across all industries, and are often the result of missed opportunities to recognize and remove the hazard. 

Read more.
It's Your Life: Don't Take a Chance
Don't Take a Chance - Valuation Methods for Buy-Sell Agreements
A Buy/Sell Agreement helps a business owner "lock in" a value for the business. The Agreement does this by using a "valuation formula." The formula you use could mean the difference between receiving liquidation value or fair market value. Does your valuation formula lock in fair market value?

Read more.
Upcoming Federated Insurance Sponsored Webinar
Seasonal Driving - Winter Driving Safety
Join Federated Insurance for a complimentary webinar on Tuesday, November 21 at 1:00 p.m. CT.

With the changing of the seasons, driving risks also change. Winter brings increased risk from a weather and daylight standpoint. This webinar will cover the risks specific to driving in rain, sleet, snow, ice, fog, and wind.

Register today.