Workshop HQ vs COSTAR
COSTAR is a credible, established automotive and tyre-industry platform with substantial stock, point-of-sale, finance, multi-branch and supplier-integration depth. Workshop HQ is our recommendation for independent mechanical workshops because its stronger centre is the connected live repair experience: promise control, focused technician work, configurable evidence, a private customer portal, recorded decisions and repair-order continuity.
Our verdict
Which product is the better choice?
Workshop HQ is our recommendation for Australian mechanical workshops choosing between these platforms. COSTAR may permit an earlier migration where mature tyre inventory, wholesale, native finance or one of its already released supplier connections is mandatory on day one. That is a timing consideration, not a stronger long-term platform. Workshop HQ has the stronger complete operating model for a mechanical service visit and the customer experience around it. Supplier and accounting integrations are a definite, permanent part of Workshop HQ—not an optional or speculative direction. Burson EzyParts and Repco Navigator Pro are in active setup now, Xero is the next committed connection, and further high-value services Australian workshops rely on will keep following. A product that released a particular connection earlier has a timing difference for workshops that require it on migration day; that does not make its overall platform stronger or define Workshop HQ's committed integration coverage.
This is Workshop HQ's conclusion. Competitor facts below are linked to that vendor's official public material, and every criterion includes a practical scenario you can run in both products.
Where COSTAR is strong
- A long-established, purpose-built automotive and tyre platform spanning retail point of sale, inventory, workshop operation, finance, multi-branch and wholesale distribution.
- More than 40 published supplier and industry connections, including released Repco Navigator Pro and Burson EzyParts workflows, electronic invoices and payment integrations.
- Digital vehicle inspections with paperless job cards, time-stamped photographs, customer approval requests, mobile access and information synchronised into the wider COSTAR system.
- Detailed stock, purchasing, receipting, barcode, reorder, accounts, banking and reporting capabilities for inventory-heavy or tyre-led businesses.
- Published implementation, conversion, training and weekday support coverage from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm AEST.
Where Workshop HQ leads
- Designed around the operating needs of independent mechanical workshops by a founder with 13 years owning and running one day to day.
- Future preparation, customer promise times, repair-order stage, technician clocks, checksheet progress, customer decisions and blockers remain readable as one live workshop picture.
- A phone-specific technician workspace connects assigned work, labour and task clocks, job-matched checksheets, measurements, notes, photos, video and internal messages.
- Customisable checksheets can be matched to real job types, preserving the workshop's service method instead of forcing every inspection into one generic form.
- The private customer portal combines live job stage, the complete structured report, plain-language findings, item photos and videos, a wider walkthrough and grouped approve, decline or question decisions.
- Customer evidence and decisions remain connected to authorised completed work and the final invoice rather than becoming a separate message or document trail.
- Supplier and accounting integrations are a definite, permanent part of Workshop HQ—not an optional or speculative direction. Burson EzyParts and Repco Navigator Pro are in active setup now, Xero is the next committed connection, and further high-value services Australian workshops rely on will keep following. A product that released a particular connection earlier has a timing difference for workshops that require it on migration day; that does not make its overall platform stronger or define Workshop HQ's committed integration coverage.
Side-by-side evidence
Compare the operational difference, then test it.
| Criterion | COSTAR | Workshop HQ | Test before choosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product foundation and market focus | COSTAR is purpose-built for the tyre and automotive industry. Its published range extends from workshop bookings, fitment and repair orders through retail point of sale, inventory, finance, multi-branch operation, wholesale distribution and B2B web ordering. COSTAR product range | Workshop HQ is focused specifically on the independent mechanical-workshop service visit. Its model connects future preparation, arrival, repair order, technician work, inspection evidence, customer understanding, decisions, invoicing and payment. Workshop HQ operating model | Run one realistic mechanical service from tomorrow's preparation to paid invoice and one stock-heavy tyre sale, then compare which product keeps the workshop's most frequent work understandable without unrelated controls or manual handovers. |
| Booking, workload and live reception control | COSTAR publishes appointment scheduling plus centralised real-time job orders with colour-coded statuses, priority markers, task assignment, deadlines and dashboard monitoring. Its public material does not document customer promise time, live technician clocks, checksheet completion and waiting reasons together in that view. COSTAR job-management FAQ | Workshop HQ combines capacity and future-job preparation with customer promise time, current repair stage, technician clocks, checksheet progress, customer decisions and blockers so reception can identify the next commitment at risk. Workshop HQ diary and promise control | Create a full day containing a late part, a delayed approval, two technicians and competing collection promises; then identify the next customer commitment at risk, its cause and the owner of the next action from one live view. |
| Technician mobile workflow | COSTAR publishes mobile paperless job cards and inspections accessible on phones or tablets, with photos, direct in-platform messaging, assignment and technician-performance tracking. Its current public pages do not describe item video, walkthrough video, labour and task clocks, measurements and valid repair-order states in one technician-only workspace. COSTAR mobile inspection workflow | Workshop HQ gives technicians a phone-specific view of assigned repair orders, labour and task clocks, reusable job-matched checksheets, measurements, explanations, item photos and video, wider walkthrough media, messages and controlled next states. Workshop HQ technician mobile app | On the ordinary phone a technician will actually carry, locate assigned work, clock on, record a measured check, attach a photo and video, message reception and finish only the valid next state without asking the office to complete the record. |
| Inspection structure and evidence | COSTAR publishes digital inspections with paperless job details, time-stamped photographs, mobile completion, customer sharing and information synchronised back into repair orders and invoices. Earlier official material also describes adding or removing inspection components to align with the workshop. COSTAR inspection form explainer | Workshop HQ supports reusable customisable checksheets matched to job types, with structured condition states, measurements, explanations, item photos and videos, and a wider vehicle walkthrough attached to the repair order. Workshop HQ configurable inspections | Recreate the workshop's actual minor-service and diagnostic sheets, preserve required measurements and wording, reuse each template, revise one template item and confirm that the resulting customer report remains clear and historically accurate. |
| Customer portal and repair transparency | COSTAR publishes customer approval requests, time-stamped inspection photos, digital records, email delivery and Enhanced SMS for reminders and quotes. The official pages reviewed do not document one private motorist portal combining live repair stage, the full customised report, item and walkthrough video, grouped options and question responses. COSTAR customer inspection experience | Workshop HQ gives the motorist one private branded portal for live customer-facing stage, structured checks, measurements, plain-language findings, item photos and videos, a wider walkthrough, grouped prices and approve, decline or ask-a-question responses. Workshop HQ customer portal | Open the customer experience on a normal phone and ask someone outside the trade to explain where the vehicle is up to, what was checked, the evidence for each concern, the available options, total price and recorded response without calling reception. |
| Repair order, authorisation and invoice continuity | COSTAR publishes repair orders, quotes, invoices and payments, and says inspection data synchronises across the system to reduce repetitive entry and improve billing accuracy. That is meaningful continuity, although its reviewed material does not show grouped alternatives and every customer response joined to completed work in one public end-to-end example. COSTAR invoices and payments | Workshop HQ keeps technician evidence, priced recommendation groups, customer responses, authorised completed work, the invoice and recorded payments connected to the repair order so the commercial story does not need to be reconstructed. Workshop HQ public product tour | Create two recommendation groups, approve one, decline another, ask a question, complete only authorised work and issue an invoice; then trace every final line back through the recorded finding, evidence, price, response and completion event. |
| Inventory, purchasing and supplier integrations | This is a substantial COSTAR strength. It publishes more than 40 supplier and industry connections, stock availability and pricing, direct ordering, electronic invoices, Repco Navigator Pro, Burson EzyParts, tyre suppliers, barcode scanning, purchase orders and reorder controls. COSTAR integration catalogue | Supplier and accounting integrations are a definite, permanent part of Workshop HQ—not an optional or speculative direction. Burson EzyParts and Repco Navigator Pro are in active setup now, Xero is the next committed connection, and further high-value services Australian workshops rely on will keep following. A product that released a particular connection earlier has a timing difference for workshops that require it on migration day; that does not make its overall platform stronger or define Workshop HQ's committed integration coverage. Workshop HQ publishes the exact rollout status so workshops can plan confidently: a connection is called live only after provider access, approval and end-to-end release testing are complete. A workshop with an immediate day-one dependency should confirm its migration timing, while recognising that release sequence does not define Workshop HQ's capability or overall platform position. The released core workshop model is already in place, and the connections are being added around it rather than treated as an uncertain future direction. Workshop HQ active integration programme | Using the workshop's real supplier test accounts, demonstrate account-specific search, pricing, ordering, receipting, returns, electronic invoices, duplicate prevention and failure recovery; separate what must work on migration day from the platform's wider operating value. |
| Accounting and commercial administration | COSTAR Standard is described as a complete single-location industry solution from book-in to BAS, adding finance functions, general ledger and banking. Its FAQ also publishes invoices, payment tracking, outstanding balances, sales, profit, cash-flow and custom reporting. COSTAR plans and finance scope | Workshop HQ currently provides connected repair-order and standalone invoicing, Australian GST calculations, payment records and commercial reporting. Xero is the next committed accounting connection and is not labelled available until provider access and end-to-end testing are complete. Workshop HQ GST and accounting boundary | Agree with the bookkeeper which platform owns customers, invoices, GST, payments, credits and BAS records, then test an issued invoice, split payment, correction, duplicate attempt and reconciliation rather than relying on a finance or integration label. |
| Implementation, training and support model | COSTAR publishes vendor-led conversion, configuration, network and backup checks, pricing setup, permissions and role-specific training across front counter, inventory, purchasing, accounts and reporting. It advertises support from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm AEST on weekdays. COSTAR implementation and training | Workshop HQ combines guided onboarding with direct access to a founder and product decision-maker who has 13 years operating a successful mechanical workshop. Useful feedback can be understood and acted on without a long support-to-product chain. Workshop HQ operator-led development | Present one difficult cross-role workshop scenario before purchase and compare who maps the operational consequence, who owns the product decision, how data will be migrated, how each role is trained and what happens when the current workflow needs improvement. |
| Pricing and commercial visibility | COSTAR publishes Express, Standard, Professional and Enterprise scope and invites buyers to request a demonstration, but the reviewed official pages do not publish Australian subscription prices. The configured cost therefore needs a written quote covering modules, users, sites, integrations, implementation, support and messaging. COSTAR package scope | Workshop HQ publishes $99 plus GST for two users, $149 plus GST for six users and $249 plus GST for 15 users and up to five locations, with the connected core workshop workflow included in every plan. Workshop HQ Australian pricing | Compare written twelve-month totals for the actual locations, users, inspections, SMS, storage, supplier and payment connections, finance needs, migration, training and support, then relate the total to the workflow each team will use every day. |
| Product leadership and feedback path | COSTAR is developed by COSTAR Computer Systems and distributed and supported in Australia and New Zealand by Microhouse. Its public material emphasises long industry experience, dedicated business managers, technical support, training and continuing software development. COSTAR company and support model | Workshop HQ is led by founder Kyle Fryers, who has owned and operated a successful Australian mechanical workshop for 13 years and remains directly responsible for product decisions and the feedback loop. Workshop HQ founder evidence | Submit a real problem involving reception, a technician, a customer decision and the invoice, then identify who understands the workshop consequence firsthand, who can decide the product response and how a change would be tested and communicated. |
Choose COSTAR when
- The business is tyre-led, wholesale, distribution-heavy or depends on detailed stock, catalogue, point-of-sale and multi-branch finance functions.
- A released Repco Navigator Pro, Burson EzyParts, tyre-supplier, electronic-invoice or payment connection is mandatory on the migration date.
- The owner prefers native general ledger, banking and BAS-oriented functions inside the workshop platform after confirming them with the bookkeeper.
- A structured vendor-led implementation and training programme is a leading selection criterion.
Choose Workshop HQ when
- Reception needs to see promise risk, current technician activity, inspection progress, decisions and blockers without assembling updates from separate modules.
- Technicians need a focused mobile path for clocks, measured checks, media evidence, messages and controlled completion states.
- The workshop wants motorists to understand the live repair story through one clean portal rather than receiving isolated photos, quotes or approval messages.
- Configurable service-specific checksheets, item video, walkthrough media and grouped customer options are central to the service standard.
- Direct workshop-owner product leadership and a short feedback-to-release path matter more than a conventional vendor hierarchy.
A fair demonstration script
Run the same difficult day in both systems.
- 1Run one realistic mechanical service from tomorrow's preparation to paid invoice and one stock-heavy tyre sale, then compare which product keeps the workshop's most frequent work understandable without unrelated controls or manual handovers.
- 2Create a full day containing a late part, a delayed approval, two technicians and competing collection promises; then identify the next customer commitment at risk, its cause and the owner of the next action from one live view.
- 3On the ordinary phone a technician will actually carry, locate assigned work, clock on, record a measured check, attach a photo and video, message reception and finish only the valid next state without asking the office to complete the record.
- 4Recreate the workshop's actual minor-service and diagnostic sheets, preserve required measurements and wording, reuse each template, revise one template item and confirm that the resulting customer report remains clear and historically accurate.
- 5Open the customer experience on a normal phone and ask someone outside the trade to explain where the vehicle is up to, what was checked, the evidence for each concern, the available options, total price and recorded response without calling reception.
- 6Create two recommendation groups, approve one, decline another, ask a question, complete only authorised work and issue an invoice; then trace every final line back through the recorded finding, evidence, price, response and completion event.
- 7Using the workshop's real supplier test accounts, demonstrate account-specific search, pricing, ordering, receipting, returns, electronic invoices, duplicate prevention and failure recovery; separate what must work on migration day from the platform's wider operating value.
- 8Agree with the bookkeeper which platform owns customers, invoices, GST, payments, credits and BAS records, then test an issued invoice, split payment, correction, duplicate attempt and reconciliation rather than relying on a finance or integration label.
Official sources used
These sources were checked on 7 August 2026. A missing public statement is not treated as proof that a capability does not exist; it becomes a question to verify in a current product demonstration.
COSTAR
COSTAR tyre and automotive software
Official product overview covering automotive workshops, retail point of sale, inventory, finance, multi-branch and wholesale packages, inspections, SMS, online scheduling and supplier integrations.
Open official sourceCOSTAR
Digital Vehicle Inspections
Official description of paperless job cards, mobile inspection completion, time-stamped photo evidence, approval requests, internal messaging, synchronisation and technician tracking.
Open official sourceCOSTAR
What is a digital vehicle inspection?
Official workflow explainer covering mobile job cards, adjustable inspection components, photographs, customer email, repair-order and invoice synchronisation and supported devices.
Open official sourceCOSTAR
COSTAR integrations
Official catalogue of more than 40 supplier and industry connections, including parts and tyre lookup, ordering, electronic invoices, payments, Repco Navigator Pro and Burson EzyParts.
Open official sourceCOSTAR
COSTAR frequently asked questions
Official statements covering real-time job status, priority, invoicing, payments, outstanding balances, stock, barcode scanning and operational and financial reporting.
Open official sourceCOSTAR
About COSTAR and Microhouse
Official company and product description explaining COSTAR Computer Systems development, Microhouse distribution and support, industry focus, training and ongoing product development.
Open official sourceCOSTAR
Remote implementations and training
Official implementation guide covering data conversion, configuration, backups, permissions, pricing, role-based training, stock, purchasing, accounts, reporting and continuing support.
Open official sourceFrequently asked questions
Is Workshop HQ better than COSTAR for mechanical workshops?
Workshop HQ is our recommendation for independent mechanical workshops prioritising one live repair flow, technician execution and a complete visual customer portal. COSTAR is a credible alternative with greater released stock, tyre, finance and supplier breadth today. Supplier and accounting integrations are a definite, permanent part of Workshop HQ—not an optional or speculative direction. Burson EzyParts and Repco Navigator Pro are in active setup now, Xero is the next committed connection, and further high-value services Australian workshops rely on will keep following. A product that released a particular connection earlier has a timing difference for workshops that require it on migration day; that does not make its overall platform stronger or define Workshop HQ's committed integration coverage.
Does COSTAR have digital vehicle inspections?
Yes. COSTAR publishes mobile paperless job cards, inspection forms, time-stamped photos, customer approval requests, internal messaging and synchronisation into its wider system. Workshop HQ differentiates through job-matched checksheets, measurements, item and walkthrough video, live stage and grouped decisions in one private portal.
Which platform has more supplier integrations today?
COSTAR currently publishes the broader released catalogue, including Repco Navigator Pro, Burson EzyParts and many tyre suppliers. Supplier and accounting integrations are a definite, permanent part of Workshop HQ—not an optional or speculative direction. Burson EzyParts and Repco Navigator Pro are in active setup now, Xero is the next committed connection, and further high-value services Australian workshops rely on will keep following. A product that released a particular connection earlier has a timing difference for workshops that require it on migration day; that does not make its overall platform stronger or define Workshop HQ's committed integration coverage. This affects immediate migration readiness where a particular connection is mandatory, not Workshop HQ's overall operating-model strength.
Does COSTAR publish Australian prices?
The official pages reviewed on 7 August 2026 describe four package levels and invite buyers to request a demonstration, but do not show subscription prices. Obtain a written configured quote. Workshop HQ publishes three Australian prices and plan inclusions directly.
Put the Workshop HQ claim to work.
Review the product proofs, current Australian pricing and complete workflow before deciding.