Located in beautiful Billings, Montana – Owner Erik Hall now has time for his family…It wasn’t always that way.

 

With almost two decades of outstanding service under their belt, 1-Stop Automotive is dedicated to helping people in any way they can. Erik Hall started his business in 2005 with the help of his parents. He started with just himself and one other technician, and since then his team has grown to 10 people, including him and his wife Cindy. He says, “The shop has steadily grown. I now have 5 Technicians, 1 Service Advisor, 1 General Manager, and a shop foreman. This allows my wife and I to run the business behind the scenes.”

1-Stop Automotive is located in Billings, Montana. Which is the largest city population-wise in the state, but, as Erik puts it, “Billings still maintains a small-town feel.” It’s the seat of Yellowstone County so there are plenty of activities to fill your free time. In Erik’s case, he hunts, fishes, and enjoys riding side by sides down the mountains when he’s not working on his business.

Not only does the Billings area feel homey, so does Erik’s business. As he describes it, “Our shop is big enough and filled with enough talent that we service all makes and all models, but still has that small shop feel that people are drawn to. We strive to make our service second to none.” And that’s what makes his shop stand out from his competition. The motto they work by is to treat customers the way they wish to be treated. This driving force allows them to create lasting relationships with his clientele, creating repeat customers and consistent business.

Erik loves owning his own business. He says, “I opened this business to get out from under the corporate thumb to run my business as I wanted to.” His favorite part? His ability to make decisions that not only benefit him, but his employees and customers too. He says, “I get to decide when and how to grow my business. I get to create a good work environment for my employees to thrive in.”

On top of being able to steer his shop wherever he wants, he also has much more free time as an owner. He gets to spend his time where it matters the most with his family.

Whenever Erik feels like his business is stuck in a rut, he knows where to turn to – his fellow shop owners. This allows him to expand his network and talk to people going through the same things as him. He says, “We discuss the common issues we all have and how to deal with them. It’s great to get a different perspective on how other shop owners have dealt with similar problems.” The best people to run to are those who have already experienced what you’re currently going through.

One place he finds like-minded people is through being a DRIVE client. Erik has attended the DRIVE EXPO for the past 3 years. At the 2024 EXPO, he received his Master Award. When asked how receiving this award has changed his business, he says, “It has given me the knowledge and confidence to run my shop effectively.” Don’t miss Erik’s Master speech at DRIVE EXPO 2024 HERE.

Before joining DRIVE, Erik says he was “wearing all the hats and running around like I was chasing my tail.” He was always focused on putting out fires. There was no time to focus on making the business better. Now, his whole life has changed. He says, “I have more money and more time to myself. I get to come and go as I please at my shop. I’ve also learned to delegate to my employees, so I no longer feel like the only person responsible for the shop.”

Finally, Erik is the most proud of how far he’s come. He takes time to reflect on where he was and how far he has come. “I’ve grown my business from two people to ten, and I’m not planning on stopping any time soon.”

 

 

 

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