The Dent Trooper: Build Log Part #1
Project Name
The Dent Trooper
Project Type
Mobile Dent Repair Operations App
Platform
Mobile-first Progressive Web App
My Role
Product Designer, Workflow Architect & AI-Assisted Builder
Timeline
2026
Why I’m building this
I’ve been involved with The Dent Trooper since 2018 and at this point I know the dent repair industry way more than I ever expected to. I designed the brand, built the website and helped shape the actual workflow of how the business runs.
I’ve wanted to build this app for years, so the fact that I’m finally doing it is honestly very exciting.
What started as a casual project turned into a real, full-time business for my husband. We now have 180+ Google reviews, a 4.9-star rating and we’re locally known. So this build is not theoretical at all. It’s based on years of seeing exactly how this business works, where it flows and where it gets messy.
I’ve wanted to build this app for years, so the fact that I’m finally doing it is honestly very exciting.
What started as a casual project turned into a real, full-time business for my husband. We now have 180+ Google reviews, a 4.9-star rating and we’re locally known. So this build is not theoretical at all. It’s based on years of seeing exactly how this business works, where it flows and where it gets messy.
The work of 8 years of successful repairs!
Where It Starts Falling Apart
It does get messy, very messy. And when it does, people get upset and we lose business.
I remember pretty much from day one thinking: this industry really does not have great tools for the way this work actually happens.
Not that there are zero tools out there. There are. But they mostly handle little chunks of the process and once you start stitching everything together in real life, it becomes a whole patchwork situation. Back then, building something custom was completely out of reach. Hiring a team to make a full product for a small dent repair business was just not happening. Now, with AI-assisted coding, this is finally something I can realistically pull off by myself.
I remember pretty much from day one thinking: this industry really does not have great tools for the way this work actually happens.
Not that there are zero tools out there. There are. But they mostly handle little chunks of the process and once you start stitching everything together in real life, it becomes a whole patchwork situation. Back then, building something custom was completely out of reach. Hiring a team to make a full product for a small dent repair business was just not happening. Now, with AI-assisted coding, this is finally something I can realistically pull off by myself.
Too Many Disconnected Tools (and Subscriptions)
Like a lot of small businesses, we made it work with a chaotic little stack of tools that technically gets the job done but definitely leaves room for improvement.
Right now we’re using:
- WhatsApp for internal chats
- OpenPhone (now Quo) for customer communication
- Square Appointments for scheduling
- Square for payments
- Dent Mate for estimates
- QuickBooks mileage tracker
- WordPress for leads coming in from the site
Right now we’re using:
- WhatsApp for internal chats
- OpenPhone (now Quo) for customer communication
- Square Appointments for scheduling
- Square for payments
- Dent Mate for estimates
- QuickBooks mileage tracker
- WordPress for leads coming in from the site
All of our current WhatsApp groups that will get replaced by channels on the new app
The actual workflow goes something like this:
1. People usually find us through Google or the website. Then they either text photos of the dent or send them through the form. Texting is a huge part of this business because we need to see the damage. That part is non-negotiable.
2. When a lead comes in, my very low-tech husband usually screenshots the form or the OpenPhone chat, sends it to Anna (his assistant) on WhatsApp and tells her the price.
3. She creates the estimate in Dent Mate, then goes back into OpenPhone and sends it to the customer.
4. If the customer wants to schedule, she adds them to Square Appointments, which handles the reminders and notifications.
5. Once the job is done, my husband WhatsApps her again to let her know he finished and whether the final amount changed.
6. Then she creates the final invoice, sends it to the customer by email or through OpenPhone, and if the repair came out especially good (he’s a total perfectionist), she triggers a review request through Square.
7. Mileage tracking is its own separate headache. The QuickBooks tracker barely works half the time, so Anna often ends up entering trips manually anyway.
1. People usually find us through Google or the website. Then they either text photos of the dent or send them through the form. Texting is a huge part of this business because we need to see the damage. That part is non-negotiable.
2. When a lead comes in, my very low-tech husband usually screenshots the form or the OpenPhone chat, sends it to Anna (his assistant) on WhatsApp and tells her the price.
3. She creates the estimate in Dent Mate, then goes back into OpenPhone and sends it to the customer.
4. If the customer wants to schedule, she adds them to Square Appointments, which handles the reminders and notifications.
5. Once the job is done, my husband WhatsApps her again to let her know he finished and whether the final amount changed.
6. Then she creates the final invoice, sends it to the customer by email or through OpenPhone, and if the repair came out especially good (he’s a total perfectionist), she triggers a review request through Square.
7. Mileage tracking is its own separate headache. The QuickBooks tracker barely works half the time, so Anna often ends up entering trips manually anyway.
What I’m Pulling Into One Place
So yes, the process works. But it works in that very small-business way where everybody knows what to do, people are filling gaps manually and half the workflow depends on screenshots, memory, jumping between tools and keeping track of things in your head.
Which is exactly why I’ve wanted to build this for so long.
The exciting part is that I can finally start pulling all of this into one place:
✅ Customer messages and calls
✅ Internal chat
✅ Estimates and invoices
✅ Reminders
✅ Scheduling
✅ Payments
✅ Basic accounting
✅ Customer database
✅ Website leads
✅ Manual miles and GPS tracking with a separate mini Android app
All in one place. Finally!!
This is about making the business easier to run, reducing friction for the people behind it and giving customers a better, smoother experience. That’s really the whole point.
I’ve wanted this product to exist since the beginning. I just finally have the tools to make it real.
More build logs coming soon! :) Stay tuned.
Which is exactly why I’ve wanted to build this for so long.
The exciting part is that I can finally start pulling all of this into one place:
✅ Customer messages and calls
✅ Internal chat
✅ Estimates and invoices
✅ Reminders
✅ Scheduling
✅ Payments
✅ Basic accounting
✅ Customer database
✅ Website leads
✅ Manual miles and GPS tracking with a separate mini Android app
All in one place. Finally!!
This is about making the business easier to run, reducing friction for the people behind it and giving customers a better, smoother experience. That’s really the whole point.
I’ve wanted this product to exist since the beginning. I just finally have the tools to make it real.
More build logs coming soon! :) Stay tuned.
I'm cooking!