Most customers and software professionals know us by our product name Real-Time Labor Guide®. Our company's official name, however, is Dowell Systems, Inc., of Tampa, FL. Dowell Systems develops and markets labor guide and shop management software for auto repair shops, dealerships and other automotive industry professionals. Our software combines an easy to use interface with accurate labor times and various levels of shop management capabilities.

The accuracy of our labor times has been one of our highest priorities. We provide 45 years of vehicle coverage and include foreign & domestic cars as well as light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks. The labor times have been painstakingly developed over 20 years, primarily using feedback from automotive professionals all over the country. Unlike other labor guides, both products allow users to choose the appropriate labor time that is right for their shop.


The Real-Time Labor Guide® is easy-to-use labor guide software for the automotive repair industry. The step-by-step process expertly guides you through the quick steps for generating an estimate or an invoice. You'll choose a year, make and model of the vehicle, navigate to the job, choose your labor time, add parts and print your estimate or invoice.

You can also create package jobs, add miscellaneous charges, customize your printed invoice, use multiple labor rates, and customize the vehicle manufacturer list to fit your shop's specific needs.

Use the Real-Time Labor Guide® to quickly make estimates and invoices using "real world times" from shops just like yours.


Automotive Expert® is easy-to-use subscription shop management software for the automotive repair industry. This software is powered by and includes all of the features of the Real-Time Labor Guide®. In addition, Automotive Expert® provides inventory, parts mark up, accounts receivable, customer database and history, technician tracking, password protection, reports and much more. This program helps managers and owners more effectively run their business and maximize profits.


There are several ways to request your free 45 day trial of either the Real-Time Labor Guide® or Automotive Expert®. Simply click here to try our software for free, or contact us directly.


Dowell Systems began in 1989 with a program that recorded actual labor times from invoices written by a core group of shops in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area of Florida. Over the following seven years this network was expanded, and the information obtained was reviewed and analyzed to yield the times that were contained in our first labor guide. That research continues today with our "Accuracy Bounty Program”. This program compensates automotive repair professionals for submitting their real-world labor times while suggesting improvements and refinements to the labor guide. Along with extensive in-house research, this method has helped us create - in our opinion - the most accurate labor times on the market. We make it one of our main priorities to continually improve our products, while keeping in mind the challenges and conditions automotive repair professionals face on a daily basis.