Honest Garage Podcast

Put Honesty on the Sign: Brandon Todd on Integrity, Pay Plans, and Building My Honest Mechanic in Concord

Brandon Todd built his entire brand around a promise most shops are afraid to make out loud. Be the honest mechanic people hope they find when they are stressed, busy, and do not know who to trust. Brandon is the owner of My Honest Mechanic in Concord, North Carolina, and in this episode he shares how the name became a mission, not a slogan. He talks about seeing corruption in the industry and refusing to build a business model that pressures advisors and techs to push sales just to protect a paycheck. Instead, he built a pay structure designed to support honesty, with hourly pay and bonuses in the background, so the team can focus on quality work and real customer education. You will also hear why putting honesty in the name creates real accountability. Brandon explains how being a state inspection station can be a breeding ground for shady behavior, and why his shop will not slide illegal tint or cut corners to "help someone out." That conviction is not always popular, but it is the reason customers stick. If you want a clear example of how integrity can be operational, not just inspirational, this conversation is worth hearing. Links: Honest Mechanic Marketing (HMM): https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/ My Honest Mechanic: https://mhmauto.com/

Character Counts: Curt Morgan on Ethical Leadership, Community Reputation, and Building Shadow Mountain Auto Service

Curt Morgan started Shadow Mountain Auto Service in Phoenix in 2008 with a simple motto: Character counts. In this episode, Curt explains how he has spent nearly two decades proving that character, kindness, and profitability can live in the same shop. This conversation goes deeper than tactics. Curt shares how emotional intelligence shows up in leadership, how to build a team where people actually like working together, and why telling the truth early prevents drama later. He also brings a rare outside perspective because he has served on the Better Business Bureau board and spent years on Phoenix's Automotive Repair Advisory Committee, reviewing serious complaint cases and seeing exactly what separates great shops from the ones that damage public trust. If you want to build a shop that wins long term by doing the right thing consistently, Curt's episode gives you both the mindset and the real world proof. Links: Honest Mechanic Marketing (HMM): https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/ Shadow Mountain Auto Service: https://shadowmountainauto.com/

Win the Second Visit: Greg Miller on Full Vehicle Inspections, Service Advisor Trust, and Growing Figs Auto Repair

Greg Miller knows something most shops learn the hard way, fixing cars is only half the job. The other half is building a customer experience that earns the next appointment. Greg is the owner of Figs Auto Repair in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in this episode he breaks down the practical habits that turn one time callers into long term regulars. He talks about why they do a full inspection on every vehicle, even oil changes, and how that inspection becomes a trust builder when it is explained clearly, prioritized honestly, and documented well. Not fear based selling, just a better picture of where the car is today and what matters next. You will also hear how Greg thinks about the front counter, including hiring service advisors with and without technical backgrounds, and why communication and consistency matter as much as wrench skills. He closes with a straight answer to a great question, if you had to start from zero in a new town, what would you do in the first 30 days to get cars in the shop, build reputation, and create momentum. His answer covers marketing options like Google ads, Local Services, direct mail, plus the value of coaching and mentorship to shorten the learning curve. If you want a cleaner playbook for retention, inspections, and customer communication that actually works, this episode is worth hearing. Links: Honest Mechanic Marketing (HMM): https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/ Figs Auto Repair: https://figsauto.com/

Fix the Root Cause: Les Aliff on Building Youngsville Auto Care, Raising A Tech Team, and Leading With Integrity

Les Aliff has the kind of story shop owners respect because it is built on reps, not hype. He came up through the work, learned what customers actually need when they are stressed and confused, and built Youngsville Auto Care into a shop that wins through clarity, consistency, and doing the right thing when it would be easier to rush. In this episode, Les shares what he believes separates a good shop from a great one. Diagnosing the root cause instead of playing parts darts, documenting clearly so the customer understands the why, and training a team to think, not just follow instructions. He also gets honest about the hard parts of leadership, setting expectations, holding the line on standards, and building a culture where people take pride in doing it right. If you want a practical conversation about integrity, tech development, and building a shop that customers trust long term, Les delivers. Links: Honest Mechanic Marketing (HMM): https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/ Youngsville Auto Care: https://youngsvilleautocare.com/

Faith, Family, and Fixing Cars: Michael Grueneich on Providence Auto Care, Trust and Building a Shop

Michael Grueneich built Providence Auto Care with a clear mission: take care of people, not just vehicles. In this episode, Michael shares how his faith and family values shape the way the shop operates day to day, from how they communicate, to how they handle tough conversations, to how they train the team to do what is right even when it is inconvenient. He talks about building trust the slow way, consistency, quality work, and transparency that helps customers make confident decisions. You will also hear what it looks like to grow without losing the heart of the business. Hiring with character in mind, setting expectations early, and building a culture where the team actually enjoys coming to work. If you want a reminder that you can run a successful shop and still keep your values intact, Michael's story is worth hearing. Links: Honest Mechanic Marketing (HMM): https://honestmechanicmarketing.com/ Providence Auto Care: https://providenceautocare.com/