# This $500M Business Is Hiding In Plain Sight (You Drive By It Every Day)

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/dropping-bombs-204039/this-500m-business-is-hiding-in-plain-sight-you-drive-by-it-every-day.md
Podcast: [Dropping Bombs](https://stenobird.com/podcast/dropping-bombs-204039)
Published: 2026-08-13T16:57:00+00:00
Episode link: https://therealbradlea.libsyn.com/this-500m-business-is-hiding-in-plain-sight-you-drive-by-it-every-day
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.libsyn.com/secure/therealbradlea/BL_VPDCST_DB-VPDCST-Todd-Hayes-26-08.mp3?dest-id=540226
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Duration seconds: 4243

## Resource

This episode was sponsored by Cardiff LightSpeed VT: https://www.lightspeedvt.com/ Dropping Bombs Podcast: https://www.droppingbombs.com/ Today's Dropping Bombs episode delivers a masterclass in scaling with Todd Hayes, the automotive industry veteran who's spent nearly four decades turning fragmented mom-and-pop repair shops into a $65 million private equity platform — with a billion-dollar valuation as his next target. Todd breaks down the exact playbook behind scaling a single shop from $225,000 to $1.2 million a month, why most private equity roll-ups are just "Frankenstein" collections dressed up as platforms, and the de-risking strategy that lets him buy businesses for pennies while staying debt-free. If you think auto repair means greasy overalls and thin margins, this conversation will change how you see the entire industry — and how you build any business. 🔗 Connect with Todd IG: https://www.instagram.com/jtoddhayes/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-hayes-177819141 AutoShop Answers: https://www.autoshopanswers.com Houston Boston Partnership: https://www.houstonbostonpartnership.com 📚 Books Mentioned: The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack: https://a.co/d/0jlUsBAB The Brand You 50 by Tom Peters: https://a.co/d/07e05P5g Watch the full-length video version of any Dropping Bombs episode here on YouTube . Brad Lea is a self-made entrepreneur who turned small-town grit into a multi-million-dollar empire. With over 25 years dominating sales and leadership, he's mentored thousands to outsmart, outwork, and out win their competition. His top-rated podcast, Dropping Bombs, brings raw, game-changing insights from the biggest names in business. LightSpeed VT is Brad's brainchild—the world's leading interactive training platform. It's built to make your team sh…

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