Re-quote before you promise the job
See parts and fluid unit-cost moves early enough to revise the estimate or call the counter.
IndustriesAuto repair
CostBeacon for auto repair shops
See parts and fluid cost changes before job quotes go stale
Parts catalogs, cores, and fluids move with supplier sales and commodity spikes.
30-day free trial · No credit card required
Common suppliersParts wholesalers · Fluid suppliers · Tire vendors
The problem
Parts quotes go stale when wholesaler unit costs move
Shops quote jobs off familiar parts and fluids, then buy at today’s counter price. Catalog sales, cores, and pack changes mean last month’s unit cost is already wrong—and invoice totals rarely show which SKU moved.
Try a sample
Watch the unit-cost spike on a sample invoice
Upload parts and fluid invoices and CostBeacon tracks recurring SKUs—so a spike on filters, pads, or oil shows up before the next estimate goes out.
Interactive sample
Invoice spike chart
Scrub three counter tickets. Parts and fluids spike before the next estimate.
Ceramic brake pads$44.00 → $47.25 · +7.4%
On this ticket: +$3.25 per set · Update the estimate before you promise the job.
What changes for your team
Invoice evidence your team can act on
Stop absorbing quiet catalog changes
Every alert links to the invoice line—so parts conversations start with evidence.
How it works
From supplier PDF to a buying decision
Upload wholesaler invoices, extract every line, then review alerts before you quote or order the next job.
- Upload invoicesDrop PDFs, email attachments, or scans from your usual suppliers.
- Extract line itemsCostBeacon reads unit costs, quantities, vendors, and product names.
- Review what movedOpen alerts with the source invoice attached—then reprice, renegotiate, or accept on purpose.
Signals to watch
What good review looks like
Operators usually check a short alert queue after each buying cycle—not a full re-type of every invoice.
| Signal | Typical range | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Common parts SKUs | +3–9% | Review before quoting |
| Fluids / filters | +2–7% | Watch pack sizes |
| Tires | +5–15% | Re-quote jobs |
FAQ
Common questions
CostBeacon focuses on invoice intelligence; QuickBooks Online sync is optional for teams that use QBO for books.
No. CostBeacon works from uploaded supplier invoices. QuickBooks Online sync is optional when you want it.
Upload a few weeks of recurring parts and fluid invoices. That is usually enough history to flag the next unit-cost move.
Browse industries
Same product. Different buying rhythm.
Catch supplier cost moves before they become your new normal
CostBeacon turns supplier invoices into line-item history and price-change alerts for auto repair shops.