Ep 73 - Nate Winston | Business Partnership are Like Marriage...

About this episode

My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERETekmetric opened my eyes to just how much a good SMS will do for a shop. Their software is top of the line, and with them, so is my shop. Try them for yourself HEREMake your techs happier with Detect Auto. They'll stop getting "check noise" or "check vibration" from advisors with the customer concern tool. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Book a demo HEREFor years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HEREAI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HERENate Winston owns Winston's Complete Auto Care in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Today, Nate shares with Mike how he and a friend one day decided to start a shop...with ZERO experience in the industry...They talk candidly about the challenges of business partnerships—including the fallout from a partnership built on a handshake deal—and offer hard-won advice for anyone considering opening a shop with a friend. Like the episode? Call 704-CONFESS or email mike@confessionsofashopowner.com to share your stories or feedback! Timestamps: 00:00 Business Partnerships: Like Marriage...Without the Sex 02:02 Meet Nate Winston: From Blinds Factory to Auto Shop Owner 03:29 Starting a Shop with Zero Experience 06:08 Living in the Shop: Early Struggles as Entrepreneurs 08:25 Growing the Business & Chamber of Commerce Involvement 11:47 Partnership Breakup: What Went Wrong? 14:16 Why Every Partnership Needs an Agreement 17:17 Building a Business “Prenup” vs. Friendship 18:23 Opening a New Shop: The Leap to Solo Ownership 20:17 Coaching, Training & The Value of Events for Shop Owners 22:50 One-Man Operation: The Challenges and Plans for Hiring 24:58 Biggest Challenges in 2026 and Beyond 26:13 Cutting Out Heavy Work: Focusing on the Right Jobs 28:34 Tektonic 2026 Preview & Vendor Networking