From 1 Shop to 10 Locations: How Jim Brown Scaled a Multi-Million Dollar Auto Repair Business.

How do you go from running one struggling shop… to scaling 10 high-performing locations?

In this episode of the LIFT Your Shop Podcast, Kelsey sits down with Jim Brown, owner of Speed Auto Repair, to break down the exact systems, mindset shifts, and operational strategies that transformed his business.

After nearly 20 years of operating a single shop, Jim made a pivotal change—implementing structured systems, inspections, and daily reporting.

The result? More success in one year than the previous 19 combined, and a rapid expansion to multiple locations generating millions in revenue.

This episode dives deep into what it actually takes to scale—from building strong processes and teams to evaluating acquisition opportunities and creating a culture that drives growth.

What You’ll Learn:

- The 3 biggest changes that transformed Jim’s shop overnight

- Why inspecting 100% of vehicles is a game-changer

- How daily reporting and meetings drive performance and profitability

- What to look for when buying your second (or third) shop

- The key metrics that determine whether a deal is worth it

- How to scale from 1 to 10+ locations without losing control

- How to build a culture that develops leaders from within

- Why systems—not hustle—are the foundation of growth

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

In this episode of the Lift Your Shop Podcast, Kelsey sits down with Matt Curry, founder of Craftsman Auto Care, to break down what it really takes to scale an auto repair business the right way.

After building Curry’s Auto Service to 10 locations and $18M in revenue, retiring at 47, and then coming back to do it again — Matt now runs 8 shops (with more on the way) and is on track for $36M in sales.

So what’s the secret?

It’s not flashy marketing.
It’s not complicated systems.

It’s operational discipline.

In this episode, Matt shares:

• The 3 core things every shop must do to grow fast

• Why full digital inspections (with photos + video) are non-negotiable

• How presenting estimates in order of priority builds trust

• Why test driving every vehicle before AND after service matters

• How he gamified Google reviews to approach 10,000 five-star reviews

• What it takes to attract and retain top technicians (including $300K+ earners)

• Why most shops struggle with hiring — and how to fix it

Matt simplifies growth down to this:
Be honest.
Be nice.
Do what you say you’re going to do.
Inspect every car.
Present everything transparently.

That’s how you build trust.
That’s how you scale.
That’s how you create real freedom.

If you’re a shop owner trying to grow from $30K months to $200K months — this conversation is packed with actionable insight.

In this episode of the Lift Your Shop Podcast, Kelsey sits down with Eric Walker, owner of Walker Automotive in Elkton, Kentucky, to talk about what truly separates great shops from average ones.Eric shares how bringing back old-school customer service — commitment times, promise-based scheduling, loaner vehicles, and real accountability — has transformed his shop’s growth in a town of just 1,600 people. He explains why trust is the real product shops sell, how leadership and training changed his business, and what it takes to stop “owning a job” and start running a real company.From building a high-performing team to creating a culture of ownership, training, and continuous improvement, this conversation is packed with practical insights for shop owners who want to grow without excuses.If you’re struggling with hiring, team performance, training, or scaling beyond yourself — this episode is for you.

In this episode of the Lift Your Shop Podcast, LIFT Auto Repair Marketing CEO Kelsey Ostrom sits down with Tonnika Haynes, owner of Brown’s Automotive, to talk about pride in the trades, leadership, and building the next generation of technicians.

Tonnika shares her journey growing up in a family-owned shop, transitioning from collision repair to mechanical, and what it really takes to build trust—with customers and with your team. This conversation dives deep into why blue-collar work deserves more respect, how shop owners can mentor young technicians, and why culture matters just as much as KPIs.

From hiring younger techs and developing service advisors to redefining success beyond college degrees, this episode is a powerful reminder that dirty hands can still mean clean money—and meaningful work.

• Why the trades deserve more respect

• How to mentor and grow young technicians

• The importance of shop culture and leadership

• Customer service lessons from collision repair

• Giving the next generation a real opportunity to succeed

If you’re a shop owner, manager, or technician who cares about people, culture, and long-term success, this episode is for you.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations on auto repair marketing, leadership, and shop growth.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Jason Fan — owner of one of the fastest-growing European specialty shops in his region — to talk about the real work behind scaling a shop, elevating team performance, and building a business that changes lives.

Jason shares what transformed his operation over the past 18 months: daily meetings that actually work, leadership built on encouragement instead of pressure, and the shift from working in the business to working on the business. He breaks down why he moved from general repair to European, how he created a high-end customer experience, and why the environment of your shop silently influences trust and ticket averages.

We also dig into:
• How to run daily meetings without them becoming repetitive
• The mindset shift that allowed his team members to grow financially and personally
• Why shop appearance and customer experience matter more than most owners think
• The transition from technician to true business leader
• The systems and coaching that helped him scale
• The importance of building a shop that empowers employees to build real wealth
• The book that completely changed his approach (The E-Myth)

Whether you're a general repair shop, a European specialist, or an owner trying to grow your second or third location, Jason’s story gives a clear blueprint for how to upgrade culture, process, and leadership — and why doing so transforms the entire business.

If you want to reach out to Jason, you can connect with him on Facebook at Jason Fan.

In this episode of the Lift Auto Repair Marketing Podcast, we sit down with Lauren from Keeton Auto Repair to talk about how consistent marketing, authentic reviews, and year-over-year tracking transformed their business.

From Google Maps calls skyrocketing to monthly meetings that keep goals on track, this conversation dives into the real-world marketing strategies that helped this shop grow — without losing the personal touch that keeps customers coming back.

You’ll hear about:
- How Locust Street Repair built trust through customer reviews
- The impact of consistent SEO and paid ad strategy
- Why monthly reporting and accountability matter
- What happens when you finally connect your marketing data to real business results

If you’re an auto shop owner looking for proof that marketing works when it’s done right, this episode is for you.

Listen, learn, and get inspired to take your shop’s marketing to the next level.

In this episode, we sit down with Colleen Shannon of Shannon Family Automotive to talk about leadership, growth, and navigating major transitions in both business and life. Colleen shares her journey of stepping into leadership during a breaking point, the lessons she and her husband learned from swapping roles, and how they discovered new strengths by leaning into each other’s “working geniuses.”

We dive into hiring and team culture, the importance of asking the right interview questions, and why understanding people beyond their work matters so much. Colleen also opens up about the struggles of business ownership, the power of resilience, and how redefining traditional roles created new opportunities for both her family and her shop.

Whether you’re a shop owner, a leader in any industry, or someone facing tough transitions, this conversation is filled with wisdom, honesty, and encouragement.

Branding Auto Repair From the Inside with Lola Schmidt

Running an auto repair shop takes more than fixing cars—it takes building a brand that customers trust. In this episode, Lola Schmidt shares her journey of turning a shop from a tough beginning into a standout, customer-first business.

She dives into:

• How to create a brand identity that feels authentic

• Why appearance, curb appeal, and safety matter to customers

• Balancing roles as husband-and-wife shop owners

• The importance of asking your community what they want

• Must-read books like Profit First that help shop owners stay profitable

If you’re looking to improve your shop’s image, strengthen customer loyalty, and grow without burning out, this episode is packed with real, actionable advice.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share with another shop owner who needs to hear this.

What happens when you outgrow your “buddy culture” but don’t yet have real leadership systems in place?

In this episode of the Lift Your Shop podcast, we sit down with Thomas Andrews, co-founder of CDT Automotive, who shares how their team scaled from chaos to clarity. Thomas opens up about the growing pains of leadership, the lessons learned from failed accountability, and how outside coaching helped them transform the business.

- Why “praise in public, correct in private” is a leadership game-changer.

- How Thomas and his partner shifted from being friends to effective leaders.

- The role of Shop Fix and coaching in helping them systematize growth.

- Why simplicity always scales better than complexity.

Whether you're running a one-bay shop or scaling to multiple locations, this conversation is packed with insights that will move your business forward.