{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Practice What You Preach: Coach Chris Cotton’s Shop Ownership Experience [RR 1055]","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/practice-what-you-preach-coach-chris-cotton-s-shop-ownership-experience-rr-1055","audioUrl":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f3291735-06e0-4e11-9a31-ee68bde62ee1.mp3","description":"Thanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS\n\nWatch Full Video Episode\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nChris Cotton’s latest venture into shop ownership puts his coaching philosophy to the ultimate test, and the results speak volumes.\nEpisode Highlights:\n\n\n \t\nShop Acquisition and Rapid Payoff: Despite once saying he’d never own a shop again, Chris purchased Firestone of Durango about a year ago, calling it “too good of a deal to pass up.” Planned as a three-year owner-financed purchase, he paid it off in just six months.\n\n \t\nProfitability and Growth: With a 31% net profit (compared to the industry average of 5–8%), the shop’s success reflects the very systems Chris teaches.\n\n \t\nAdvertising and Expansion: Spending roughly $10K per month, Chris follows his mantra: “Advertise for the shop you want to be, not the shop you are.” He prioritizes Local Service Ads (LSAs).\n\n \t\nOperations and Staffing: Chris rejects the idea of a “technician shortage,” noting great shops attract great people.\n\n \t\nCoaching in Action: Chris practices what he preaches: action based learning, accountability, and focusing on fundamentals like proper pricing before chasing more customers. For owners eyeing an eventual exit, he advises cleaning up financials 3–5 years in advance and building a business that thrives without daily owner involvement.\n\n\nThe Weekly Blitz with Chris Cotton: Weekly Inspiration with Business Coach Chris Cotton from AutoFix - Auto Shop Coaching. https://chriscotton.captivate.fm/\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThanks to our Partners, NAPA Auto Care and NAPA TRACS\n\nLearn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care\n\nNAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS..."},"annotations":[{"startTime":77.6,"endTime":82.2,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Trax","url":"/cars/chevrolet/trax","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/2021_Chevrolet_Trax_LT%2C_Windsor%2C_Ontario%2C_2025-07-01.jpg","quote":"...aintenance training. Hey, for over 30 years, Napa Trax has made selecting the right shop management syst...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:trax","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Crisco 1492 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Carm Capriotto","role":"host"},{"id":"s2","name":"AAP","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/practice-what-you-preach-coach-chris-cotton-s-shop-ownership-experience-rr-1055/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}