What does it really take to build a highly profitable auto repair shop—even in a tough location?

In this episode of The LIFT Shop Podcast, Kelsey sits down with Jay Huh, owner of CARMEDIX in Durham, North Carolina, to break down how he went from working out of his home garage to building a shop generating over $3 million in revenue—and consistently netting $60K–$100K per month.

Jay shares the real story behind his journey, including the mistakes, mindset shifts, and systems that allowed him to scale, simplify, and ultimately step out of day-to-day operations.

This episode dives deep into what actually moves the needle in a shop—from pay plans and hiring to marketing strategies that drive consistent car count.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why most shop owners stay stuck (and how to break out of it)

• The difference between working in your shop vs on your shop

• How to structure commission-based pay plans that drive performance

• The key metrics every shop owner must track daily

• Why gross profit dollars matter more than percentages

• How to consistently hire technicians—even in a “shortage”

• The marketing strategy that keeps bays full (including direct mail)

• Why systems—not location—determine your success