Ep 101 - Matt Curry & Richard Tonetti | The Secret Behind an $40 Million Auto Repair Business

Tekmetric transformed my shop. Plain and simple. Want that for yours? Touch HERETurnkey Marketing takes the stress of doing something I'm not good at off my plate. And gives it to someone who is. Click HERE for more.Send your service advisor to hands down the BEST service advisor training in the industry (even other coaching companies agree). It's Elite Worldwide's Masters Program. The next one is happening in Dallas Texas, September 10-12. Learn more HEREWhen I used the maintenance tool for the fist time with Detect Auto, my mind was blown. My advisors had the same reaction - and then SO MUCH MORE TIME. Learn more about Detect Auto and book a free demo now!What does it take to build a high-performing automotive business that continues to grow while maintaining a strong culture?In this episode, Mike Allen sits down with Matt Curry and Richard Tonetti from Craftsman Auto Care to discuss the systems, leadership philosophies, and growth strategies that helped build one of the industry's most respected shop groups. Matt shares lessons learned from growing to 10 locations and $18 million in revenue, including the importance of culture, leadership, sales training, digital inspections, and customer reviews. Timestamps:00:00 The $1 Raise That Changed Everything01:14 Are 4-Day Workweeks Actually Hurting Your Business?03:41 Why “Money Motivated” Isn’t a Dirty Word06:46 From Tire Changer to VP: Growth Stories from the Shop Floor07:16 Matt’s Path: 10 Stores, $18 Million, and a Comeback09:13 The Secret Sauce: Buying Distressed Shops & Turning Them Around10:36 How to Hit $1,000 Average ROs (and Why Volume Per Bay Matters)11:02 The Turning Point: Digital Inspections & Sales Training13:29 Being the Best Shop Cheerleader—Even on Bad Days14:11 Making the Hard Work Fun (Yes, It’s Possible!)19:00 Sales Scripts, Objection Handling, and The “One More Thing” Rule20:05 How to Hire the Perfect Counter Person (It’s Not About Automotive Experience!)22:49 Culture vs. Corporate: Why Good Techs Never Leave25:15 Google Review Domination: Building Trust and Cutting Marketing Costs28:20 Spiffs, Friendly Competition, and Making Reviews a Shop Habit32:10 Small Gestures, Big Impact: The Stuffed Animal Touch35:13 Why Internal Competition Works—But Only with the Right Culture37:46 When Growth Kills Culture (And How to Avoid It)40:36 Can Independents Still Win? Opportunity in a Corporate, Tech-Heavy Landscape43:27 The Blueprint: Build Slow, Build Right, Stay Nimble45:17 Level Up: Giving Back and Training the Next Generation47:04 Growing Your Own Techs & Locking Down Quarter-Million Dollar Talent