In the heart of Kentville, Nova Scotia, Colby Daniels Service Center Ltd. has become a cornerstone of trusted automotive care. For more than 25 years, owner-operator Colby Daniels has carried on the legacy of his father, Merle, who first entered the industry in 1967. What began as a single service station has grown into a full-service repair facility known across the province for its honesty, reliability, and skilled workmanship.

“I grew up in this business,” Colby says. “I never took any courses—I learned everything firsthand. It was natural to continue doing what I knew, and I decided I wanted to work for myself.” That firsthand experience turned into a full-time career when Colby joined his father at the newly constructed shop in 1998. By 2000, he had fully taken the reins.

Colby Daniels Service Center Ltd. offers a complete range of automotive services, including Rust Check undercoating—something the family has been providing since 1983. In winter, they expand their services to include snow plowing and salting for parking lots. With a tight-knit team of three to four full-time employees, Colby continues to provide quality service while offering steady employment in the area.

“Quality control and consistency are important,” Colby explains. “You can have the best product in the world, but if it’s not applied properly, it’s no better than anyone else’s. We stick to our methods, ensuring every job is done right.” That commitment has kept customers coming back—some traveling from across Nova Scotia for service they can trust.

In 2020, Colby turned to CBDC Hants-Kings to help secure full ownership of the business and make needed improvements to the service center, including updates to the interior layout and customer waiting area. Colby had struggled to find support through traditional banks. “You have to jump through a lot of hoops,” he says, “but CBDC understood that I had a timeline and helped me meet my goals without having to put anything on hold.”

“Colby Daniels Service Centre is such a great business for our community,” says Andre Gaudet, Business Advisor at CBDC. “Colby built on what his father, Merle, started decades ago—an auto service shop where you can rely on trusted, reliable work. There are no vehicle concerns too small for them, and their team is always ready to help. Colby is very honest and straightforward… He has an entrepreneurial spirit and is methodical with his ideas as to the next project he wishes to work on.”

That next project may include expanding into self-storage—a long-considered idea that could take shape on a section of available land next to the shop.

At the heart of Colby’s business philosophy is a simple principle: “We try to treat everybody how we would want to be treated. We’re consistent, and when you’re straightforward, you never have to remember anything that you said.”

Thanks to his steady leadership—and the support of CBDC—Colby Daniels is continuing a family tradition that has served the community for over five decades.

Thank you to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), who collaborate with us to support small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. Together, we will continue to build a stronger Atlantic Canadian economy, fostering job growth and strengthening our rural communities.