Houston Boston Partnership

What Houston Boston Partnership does

Houston Boston Partnership (HBP) is a privately held private equity platform that acquires and partners with independent automotive service businesses across the United States. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Houston with regional hubs in Boston and Chicago, HBP operates as an "operators backing operators" roll-up, combining capital with operational playbooks delivered through its integrated AutoShop Answers ecosystem. The platform currently spans eight owned or partner brands—including Adams Automotive (its flagship, described as the largest independently owned automotive service center in the country), Bartel's Auto Clinic, JB Auto Care, Now Auto Care, Pleasant Car Care, Premier Tire, JJ's Automotive, and Scott's Auto Repair—and operates five Goodyear-aligned locations in Houston.

The company's core product is AutoShop Answers, a modular business-growth suite for independent automotive repair shops covering recruiting (AutoShop Recruiting), technician training (AutoTech Answers), customer retention and follow-up (AutoShop Callbacks), leadership and KPI coaching (AutoShop Coaching), cinematic media production (AutoShop Media), and AI-powered phone coaching (AutoShop Answers AIX, built in partnership with Rilla for speech analytics). Its underlying technology stack combines call audio processing and conversational text AI to deliver real-time sales, objection-handling, and appointment-setting coaching to service advisors.

HBP makes money through a mix of owned-shop service revenue (transaction fees across Goodyear-aligned locations), recurring coaching and training subscriptions, recruiting placement fees, and media production services, priced on a quote-based subscription model with annual billing. Its primary customer segments are single- and multi-location independent automotive repair shops seeking operational uplift and multi-shop owners looking to scale or exit via the private equity platform. The company has scaled from $3M to $80M+ in five years, is targeting a $100M+ milestone, and is publicly positioning for a multi-turn private equity exit under the guidance of strategic advisor Adam Coffey.

Name

Houston Boston Partnership

Legal name

Houston Boston Partnership

Website

https://houstonbostonpartnership.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Houston Boston Partnership is a privately held private equity platform that acquires and supports independent automotive service businesses across the U.S., integrating them into its AutoShop Answers ecosystem of recruiting, training, customer retention, AI phone coaching, and media production services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aftermarket Private Equity & Services

NAICS

Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

Keywords

• Automotive aftermarket services
• Private equity platform
• Auto repair training
• Shop business coaching
• Automotive service acquisitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Automotive Service Operations: Revenue from operating owned automotive service centers through portfolio companies (Adams Automotive, Bartel's Auto Clinic, Now AutoCare, etc.). The company operates Goodyear-aligned locations generating significant service revenue.
2. Training & Education Programs: Revenue from Key-to-Key to Callbacks training courses, live virtual class series, and advanced business training programs for automotive shop owners and technicians.
3. Recruiting Services: AutoShop Recruiting places automotive professionals (technicians, advisors, leaders) across the US and Canada, generating placement fees.
4. Coaching & Consulting: AutoShop Coaching provides leadership training, KPI mastery, and performance coaching services to service teams.
5. Media Production Services: AutoShop Media provides cinematic media production, social media content, branding, and web content services for automotive shops.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Houston Boston Partnership is a private equity platform serving the independent automotive service industry, combining capital with hands-on operational expertise. Its core offering is the AutoShop Answers ecosystem—an integrated suite of bolt-on business growth solutions including recruiting, technician training, customer retention, phone skills coaching, branded media production, leadership coaching, and an AI-powered phone coaching assistant (AutoShop Answers AIX). The platform also operates and acquires independent automotive repair shops (e.g., Adams Automotive, Bartel's Auto Clinic, JB Auto Care, Now AutoCare, Pleasant Car Care) and aligns them under the Goodyear dealer network.

Product overview

Houston Boston Partnership (HBP) is a private equity platform that combines platform vision with real-world operational results in the automotive service industry. The core product offering is AutoShop Answers, a fully integrated suite of bolt-on business growth solutions built exclusively for independent and multi-location automotive aftermarket operators. AutoShop Answers operates as a modular platform containing multiple named sub-products and add-on modules: Key-to-Key to Callbacks (two-day service management training), AutoShop Callbacks (customer retention and follow-up program), AutoShop Recruiting (specialized hiring service), AutoTech Answers (advanced technician training), AutoShop Media (cinematic branding and video production), AutoShop Coaching (leadership and KPI training), and AutoShop Answers AIX (AI-powered phone coaching assistant). HBP also houses multiple acquired automotive service brands as operating entities within its platform—including Adams Automotive (its largest flagship brand), Bartel's Auto Clinic, JB Auto Care, Now Auto Care, Pleasant Car Care, Premier Tire, JJ's Automotive, and Scott's Auto Repair—all of which benefit from the AutoShop Answers ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AutoShop Answers: Integrated suite of business solutions for independent automotive repair shops including recruiting, technician training, customer retention, phone skills coaching, and branded media production
• AutoShop Media
• AutoShop Callbacks
• AutoShop Recruiting
• AutoTech Answers
• AutoShop Coaching
• AutoShop Answers AIX
• Adams Automotive
• Auto Hospitality
• Master Tech to Millionaire

Products and services

• AutoShop Answers The core business growth platform behind Houston Boston Partnership, delivering an integrated suite of solutions — recruiting, technician training, customer retention, phone skills coaching, and branded media production — designed to elevate independent automotive repair shop performance.
• AutoShop Answers AIX AI-enhanced phone coaching assistant that acts as a real-time sparring partner for service teams, refining appointment setting, upselling, and customer trust-building skills to convert calls with confidence. Processes inbound/outbound call audio for sales, objection handling, and trust-building coaching.
• Key-to-Key to Callbacks A two-day service management training course designed to help service advisors and managers optimize workflow, improve communication, and boost customer return rates.
• AutoShop Callbacks A turnkey customer retention program focused on post-service follow-up, quality assurance, and relationship building that brings clients back through shop doors. Currently serving 28 shops with customer engagement services.
• AutoShop Recruiting A specialized hiring service that helps automotive shops recruit technicians, advisors, and leaders who align with their culture and performance goals. Places automotive professionals across the US and Canada, generating placement fees.
• AutoTech Answers Advanced technician training program including diagnostics coaching, real-world repair strategy, and DSOP-driven workflows that elevate shop performance and efficiency.
• AutoShop Media Cinematic media and branding services spanning social media content, video production, and web content to ensure automotive shops are seen, heard, and remembered.
• AutoShop Coaching Leadership training and KPI mastery program that empowers service teams with proven strategies to boost performance and customer experience.
• Live Virtual Class Series National live virtual class series equipping automotive shop owners, service advisors, managers, and technicians with practical, results-driven strategies, delivered nationwide.
• Adams Automotive The largest independently owned automotive service center in the country, led by Joe Adams (2023 Ratchet & Wrench All-Star Award Winner), serving as a flagship operating entity within the HBP platform. One Houston flagship surpassed $10M individually; Woodlands flagship achieved record $683,000 revenue month in March 2026.
• Bartel's Auto Clinic Family-owned automotive service group established in 1958, operating locations in Warrenville, Carol Stream, and Plainfield, Illinois, integrated into the HBP platform in May 2025.
• JB Auto Care Automotive service business established in 1987, serving the Boston area from Weymouth, MA, as a partner in the Houston Boston Partnership network.
• Now AutoCare Automotive care business with flagship locations on Spring Cypress and in Sienna, TX, established January 2021, operating within the HBP platform under President Jose Garcia.
• Pleasant Car Care Partner automotive service business within the HBP network, led by Charlie Zlatkos (2024 Ratchet & Wrench All-Star Award runner-up), focused on operational leadership and industry innovation.
• Premier Tire Partner automotive business within the HBP network.
• JJ's Automotive Partner automotive business within the HBP network (JJ Mott / JJ's Automotive).
• Scott's Auto Repair Houston, Texas-based automotive repair business strategically integrated into the HBP platform in May 2025.

Quantifiable outcome

• Platform scaled from $3M to $80M in five years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Lakewood Church / DeVante TidwellminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026AutoShop Answers launched AutoShop Ministries with DeVante Tidwell, Pastor at Lakewood Church, as recurring speaker and spiritual leader within the AutoShop Answers ecosystem, integrating faith, purpose, and leadership into automotive service industry training.
• RillacoreTechnology or Integration · 27 April 2025AutoShop Answers partnered with Rilla, the premier AI-powered speech analytics company, to launch a groundbreaking initiative redefining the future of the auto repair industry through AI-powered phone coaching and analytics capabilities.
• Mike Allen / Confessions of a Shop Owner PodcastminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 March 2025Todd Hayes teamed up with Mike Allen, host of Confessions of a Shop Owner podcast, for dynamic collaboration bringing bold conversations and unfiltered industry insights to the automotive service world. Sponsored by AutoShop Answers.
• Dan Taylor / Power Peer GroupsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2024Dan Taylor (Chief Learning Officer) and Todd Hayes (COO) co-hosted Power Peer Group Event - exclusive gathering for top automotive shop owners and operators in Houston, Texas.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/3XYoe6xxI9IRLeBR7LPeuP?go=1&sp_cid=aa0b8a261123eea188d756eea163d2b2&utm_source=embed_player_p&utm_medium=desktop&nd=1&dlsi=df1ed70cb545491a
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/todd-hayes-177819141

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Houston Boston Partnership