Jason and Aaron Eich are brothers and owners of two successful automotive shops in Evansville, Eich Brothers Automotive and Dartt Automotive Service. Their small business story began in 2014.

When Jason visited Thrifty Automotive that year for a routine oil change, he had a casual conversation with the owner who suggested he should buy the business. Normally he wouldn’t have given it much thought, but he was frustrated enough with his corporate job that day that it stirred his interest. Jason shared the idea with his dad and brother, and within days, they showed up with an intent to buy.

“It took three banks to even look at us,” Jason recalls. “Lindsay Botsch at German American Bank was the first to take us seriously. She is the only one who showed interest in us and helped us understand exactly what we needed to do. We still do all our banking with her today because of that.”

With the help of their business advisor, Pete Sabella at the Southwest Indiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Eich brothers purchased Thrifty Automotive and rebranded it as Eich Brothers Automotive. Seven years later, with a thriving business under their belts, they decided to do it again.

In late 2019, Jason was introduced to Dale Dartt, the owner of Dartt Automotive on Evansville’s west side, through a mutual connection—Dave Cosby of Qadco -NAPA Auto Parts. Dale Dartt had purchased his father’s Amoco station in 1986 and spent decades building it into a trusted, locally known repair shop. Knowing that Dale was considering retirement and the Eich brothers were looking to expand, Dave saw a natural opportunity and brought them together.

COVID delayed the acquisition process, but by March 2021, the Eich brothers were ready to refocus on growth. They reconnected with the SBDC, and received invaluable guidance from their advisor, Grant Glackman, as they negotiated the deal and prepared financial analysis and projections for the bank. The Dartt acquisition closed in November 2021 with financing again through German American Bank.

Now operating two shops, Eich Brothers employs 17 people, including 9 technicians, 2 service runners, customer service, and admin staff. And while they’ve modernized equipment and systems, Jason says their real strength is culture. Every staff member and customer is treated as family. One employee, Jerry, has been there since he was 15—and still works there today, over 42 years later.

“We do better work than a dealership and we work on all makes and models,” Jason says. “We invest in training, we keep our shops clean, and we treat our people like family.”

Eich Brothers offers full healthcare, 401K matches, bonuses, and even air-conditioned bays—helping retain talent in an industry where turnover is common.

One of the biggest challenges has been balancing tradition with innovation. “People have known these shops for decades. Not everyone loves change, but we’ve focused on raising the bar while honoring what came before.”

The team has weathered sharp increases in supplier pricing since 2022, often keeping only 15-20 cents on the dollar. But their commitment hasn’t wavered. “We’ve made the business profitable, helped our employees build savings, and created a place that gives back,” Jason says. “We’re active members of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP), Rotary, and the BNI networking group. We support various community service projects. Our shops are in a great place.”

Today, Eich Brothers are eyeing a third location. Their growth has been strategic, shaped by not only business experience, but also coaching and professional services. Jason advises other aspiring business owners to build a great team—a banker, accountant, lawyer, and a trusted business coach—someone who will hold you accountable and show you the big picture when you can’t see it yourself.

He also emphasizes the importance of clear roles when working with family. “Without that, there’s friction,” he notes. “Define responsibilities early and revisit them often.”

Jason continues to meet with the SBDC to explore new opportunities and plan for industry changes. He takes advantage of available resources such as QuickBooks classes and networking opportunities whenever possible.

“God has had his hand on our business every step of the way,” Jason says. “We’ve made the most of every opportunity, but we’ve also had great people come alongside us at just the right time.”

You can find Dartt Automotive at 301 W Franklin St, on their website, or be sure to check out their “Question of the Day” posts on Facebook. Visit the Eich Brothers Automotive location at 4500 E Morgan Ave in Evansville or visit their website and Facebook page as well.