Today we’d like to introduce you to Jonathan Harris.
Jonathan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started AutoMed with a simple goal: create the kind of automotive repair shop I wished existed when I was a customer — honest, transparent, and truly focused on helping people. I didn’t come from a big corporate background or a family of shop owners. I built this business from the ground up, one customer, one repair, and one long day at a time.
In the beginning, it was just me, a small space, and a desire to do things differently. I wanted a shop where people felt respected, where repairs were explained clearly, and where customers could trust the work being done on their vehicles. Over time, as our reputation for fairness and quality grew, the business began to grow with it.
Like any business owner, I’ve faced challenges — long hours, staffing issues, financial pressure, and the learning curve of running a full-scale shop. But every obstacle pushed me to improve our systems, invest in better equipment, and build a stronger team. Today, AutoMed operates with a clear mission: fast, accurate, professional repairs with a customer-first mindset.
We’ve expanded our team, refined our processes, set higher goals, and created an environment where both customers and employees feel valued. What started as a small operation is now a full-service shop with a vision for continued growth. And through it all, the heart of the business has stayed the same — treating people right, doing honest work, and always striving to be better than we were yesterday.
The story isn’t finished. But every milestone so far has been built on hard work, great people, and a commitment to serving our community with integrity.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all — and honestly, I think the struggles are what shaped AutoMed into what it is today.
Running an automotive repair business isn’t just fixing cars. It’s hiring, training, managing people, handling finances, keeping up with technology, maintaining customer trust, and juggling a hundred moving pieces every single day. There were times early on when cash flow was tight, good technicians were hard to find, and unexpected expenses showed up at the worst moments.
One of the biggest challenges was building a reliable team. The industry has a real shortage of skilled technicians, and finding people who not only had the ability but also shared the same values of honesty and quality was tough. I’ve hired the wrong people, had to rebuild processes, and learned a lot about leadership the hard way.
Another major hurdle was managing growth. As demand increased, the systems I started with weren’t enough. I had to overhaul how the shop operated — from workflow and communication to parts sourcing, customer service, and financial tracking. There were moments when the shop was busy, but the numbers weren’t adding up, and it forced me to look deeper into how we operated and where we needed to improve.
Financial pressure was also a reality. Like many small businesses, there were seasons where we relied on loans or worked through difficult months just to keep things moving. Balancing payroll, equipment costs, marketing, and rising expenses while maintaining fair prices for customers is never simple.
But through every challenge, we adapted. We tightened systems, hired better, communicated better, and never stopped improving. Every hurdle pushed AutoMed closer to what it is today — a stronger, more structured, more customer-focused shop with a clearer vision for the future.
Smooth roads don’t build tough businesses. The struggles did.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At AutoMed, our work goes far beyond simply repairing vehicles. We specialize in providing fast, accurate, and honest automotive service delivered with a level of communication and care that most people don’t expect from a repair shop. I’ve built AutoMed around a simple philosophy: treat customers the way you’d want your own family to be treated.
We focus on general automotive repair, maintenance, diagnostics, alignments, brakes, and the types of quick-turn work that keep customers rolling without long delays. Over time, we’ve built a reputation for being straightforward, transparent, and dependable. When people come to AutoMed, they know they’ll get a clear explanation, a fair price, and repairs they can trust.
What I’m Most Proud Of
What I’m most proud of isn’t a piece of equipment or a particular repair — it’s the culture we’ve built. AutoMed started as a small shop, but today we operate with systems, standards, and teamwork you rarely see in independent repair facilities. I’m proud of the staff we’ve developed, the efficiency improvements we’ve made, the customer loyalty we’ve earned, and the fact that we’ve become a trusted name in our community.
I’m also proud that AutoMed has grown while staying true to our values. We don’t upsell unnecessarily. We don’t push repairs people don’t need. Customers feel the difference, and that’s why they send their friends and family to us.
What Sets Us Apart
A few key things truly separate AutoMed from other shops:
1. Clear communication and transparency
We explain repairs in plain language. We show pictures, videos, and real data so customers feel confident and informed.
2. Fast turnaround times
We specialize in quick, efficient repairs — not dragging vehicles out for days. Customers appreciate speed, and we’ve structured our shop around it.
3. A focus on people, not tickets
We don’t treat customers like transactions. Building long-term relationships matters more than squeezing every dollar out of each visit.
4. A high standard of quality
From parts sourcing to technician training to workflow systems, everything we do is designed to deliver reliable, repeatable, trustworthy results.
5. The drive to get better every year
Many shops operate the same way for decades. We’re always improving — refining processes, upgrading tools, training staff, and setting goals for higher efficiency and a better customer experience.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is integrity — doing the right thing even when no one is watching. In the automotive industry, trust is everything. People depend on their vehicles for their families, their jobs, and their safety, and they deserve a shop where they don’t have to second-guess the work being done. Integrity is the foundation AutoMed was built on, and it guides every decision we make.
Right behind that is people — both my customers and my team. A repair shop is only as strong as the people inside it. I want my customers to feel respected and cared for, and I want my employees to feel valued, supported, and proud of the work they do. When the team is strong, motivated, and treated well, the quality of the work follows naturally.
Lastly, growth matters to me. Not just financial growth, but personal and professional growth. I believe in always improving — better systems, better communication, better efficiency, better service. The moment a business stops trying to get better is the moment it starts falling behind. I push myself and my team to evolve because I want AutoMed to be a place where people feel the difference the second they walk in.
These values matter to me because they’re the foundation of everything I’ve built. Integrity creates trust. People create success. Growth creates opportunity. When all three work together, you end up with a business that not only serves the community — it earns its place in it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.automedrepair.com
