Why I Never Change the Name, Pay, or Hours

An acquisition can lose value quickly when new ownership changes the conditions employees have built their lives around. Employee retention after acquisition often depends less on immediate improvement than on knowing what to leave alone. Parham Parastaran learned this after selling the business he had built over 24 years and watching nearly the entire team leave within a year. Now leading Left Lane Auto, he explains why changes to pay or schedules can push people out, while replacing a local name can weaken the trust surrounding a shop. His approach to employee retention after acquisition begins with preserving continuity and earning buy-in before introducing change. For owners considering a sale or managing acquired locations, employee retention after acquisition protects more than staffing; it preserves the relationships that keep the business working. Listen to Parham’s account of why patience gives acquired teams time to support changes they can sustain. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 01:03 - Who is Parham Parastaran? 01:37 - How Parham found his way into automotive 07:40 - Why Left Lane leaves acquired shops intact 13:16 - What a painful sale taught him about people 16:33 - The ambition behind his love of Scarface 21:19 - How tires became part of the business 23:27 - How Left Lane approaches prospective sellers 26:10 - Giving owners flexibility after the sale 27:38 - How the Bertram partnership expanded deal options About Our Guest: ➣ Parham Parastaran is the founder of Left Lane Auto, a multi-location automotive service company comprising 40 brands across 90 locations in 20 states. After fleeing Iran with his family at age nine, he entered the automotive business while attending the University of Illinois and helped grow his family’s operation into a 17-location portfolio. His experience building and later selling that company shaped Left Lane Auto’s people-focused acquisition model, which preserves local brands and prioritizes continuity for employees and customers. Connect with Parham Parastaran: ➣ Parham Parastaran LinkedIn   / parhamparastram   ➣ Left Lane Auto LLC Website https://leftlaneautollc.com/ Resources: ➣ Visit our website https://treadpartners.com/ ➣ Find more podcast episodes here https://gaintractionpodcast.com/ ➣ Follow us on Facebook   / treadpartners   ➣ Work with Tread Partners https://treadpartners.com/contact/ Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Gain Traction for more insights from top automotive leaders. ➣ Subscribe on YouTube:    / @gaintraction   ➣ Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kuJgyq... ➣ Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...