Richard Tenetti

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

Register for Tekmetric's Tektonic Conference in Huston April 9-11 and use Code CONFESSIONS500 for $500.00 off. 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.Elite Worldwide has CHANGED my business and life through their one-on-one coaching. Use them like I do 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 HEREWhat 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