Logan Leslie is the Founder and CEO of Main Street Auto, a fast-growing network of tire and auto repair shops across the United States. After serving over eight years in the military, Logan pursued a joint law and business degree, which laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial ventures. He launched Main Street Auto in 2021, starting with a single location and scaling to nearly 100 shops in under four years. Logan is also a passionate advocate for hiring veterans, building culture, and redefining leadership in the blue-collar business world.

In this episode…

The tire and auto repair industry is evolving rapidly as new players apply business and acquisition strategies once reserved for tech startups. Yet, scaling in this space demands deep respect for shop culture, community ties, and the legacy of independent owners. How can business leaders grow without losing the heart of what makes local shops special?

According to Logan Leslie of Main Street Auto, it starts with humility, intentional leadership, and honoring the legacy of every shop acquired. By targeting well-run businesses just outside of urban cores and retaining what's already working, Main Street Auto has managed to grow without compromising quality or community connections. Logan also emphasizes the importance of hiring veterans and trusting your instincts when it comes to leadership and talent.

On this episode of Gain Traction, Mike Edge welcomes Logan for a conversation about entrepreneurship, buying and scaling auto shops, hiring veterans, and leading with culture. Logan shares the lessons he's learned from the military, past business failures, and how he grew his company from one location to nearly 100 in under four years. He also discusses the unique challenges of maintaining operational excellence during rapid expansion and building a mission-driven team from the ground up.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: 

• [02:28] How military service influenced Logan Leslie’s entrepreneurial mindset
• [05:15] Why Logan built his own company instead of joining someone else’s
• [07:44] Avoiding culture loss while growing rapidly
• [10:01] The strategy behind selecting shop locations for acquisition
• [11:57] What should shop owners prepare if they’re considering selling?
• [13:46] Why shop owner involvement can hurt valuations and how to fix it
• [18:15] How Logan evaluates non-traditional candidates for corporate roles
• [25:35] The role of failure in entrepreneurial success

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Logan Leslie on LinkedIn 
• Main Street Auto 
• Veteran’s Trust 
• The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work And What To Do About It by Michael Gerber
• SEMA
• Mike Edge on LinkedIn
• Tread Partners

Quotable Moments: 

• “Entrepreneurship is never easy, but building something from scratch lets you shape the culture.”
• “Veterans often leave the service with incredible leadership skills that don’t show up on a resumé.”
• “Our goal isn’t to change what works — it’s to support and scale it.”
• “Failure is a great teacher; if you’re not failing, you’re not moving fast enough.”
• “Every vehicle on the road could be one of our customers — that’s a sacred responsibility.”

Action Steps: 

1. Preserve shop culture post-acquisition: Retain what makes each auto shop special when integrating into a larger company.
2. Hire veterans into leadership roles: Don’t just look at resumes — look for character, responsibility, and service-driven leadership.
3. Vet potential buyers as partners: Shop owners should develop general managers and build independence before selling.
4. Use SBA loans for smart growth: Leverage government financing to acquire your first or next business.
5. Define your failure threshold: Accept and quantify risk as a natural part of scaling and entrepreneurship.

Sponsor for this episode...

This episode is brought to you by Tread Partners. 

At Tread Partners, we provide digital marketing for multi-location tire dealers and auto repair shops. 

By using our strategy, branding, and marketing services, we help shops sell more tires and put more cars in bays.

We’ve helped companies like Action Gator Tire, Colony Tire and Service, and Ulmer’s Auto Care Center bring extreme growth in paid leads, ROI, and searches. 

So, what are you waiting for?

Visit www.treadpartners.com or email [email protected] to learn more.