Client: Matt Johnson
Business: Kennedy Transmission
Location: Minneapolis and Apple Valley, MN
Services: Payroll Services
Relationship: About 5 Years
Outcome: Eliminated Payroll Errors, Improved Compliance, and Freed Up Time to Focus on Business Growth
Overview
Kennedy Transmission has built a reputation for taking on the work that many repair shops won't touch. Owned by Matt Johnson and his business partner, the company specializes in transmission repairs, hybrid drive units, and CVT transmissions. Their expertise has earned recognition throughout the industry, including features in Transmission Digest, a national publication focused on transmission repair.
As the business expanded, so did the administrative responsibilities. After purchasing a second Kennedy Transmission location in Apple Valley in 2021, payroll, compliance, and reporting became increasingly time-consuming. Matt wanted to spend his time supporting employees, serving customers, and growing the business—not managing payroll issues and tax reporting.
That's when Kennedy Transmission made the switch to CSI Accounting & Payroll.
The Challenge
Growth is exciting, but it often creates new challenges behind the scenes. As Kennedy Transmission expanded from one location to two, payroll administration and compliance became increasingly burdensome.
According to Matt:
"I think it's critical—and it might be a little cliché—but to really work on your business rather than in your business."
Unfortunately, Matt's experience with large national payroll providers made that difficult. Over the years, he worked with multiple payroll companies that frequently changed representatives, creating confusion and recurring payroll issues.
According to Matt:
"There was extremely high turnover with both of those companies."
Every time a new representative took over the account, payroll errors seemed to follow. Sometimes correcting those mistakes became just as frustrating as the mistakes themselves.
As Matt explained:
"Sometimes it was actually errors on top of errors."
For a business owner responsible for dozens of employees, payroll accuracy matters.
According to Matt:
"I think when it comes to building trust with your employees, it really has to start with getting their pay accurate."
Payroll mistakes weren't just inconvenient... they risked damaging employee trust.
How CSI Accounting & Payroll Helped
When Kennedy Transmission acquired its second location, former owner David Kennedy introduced Matt to Kris at CSI Accounting & Payroll. The difference was apparent almost immediately.
A Personalized Approach
Unlike the large national providers Matt had used previously, CSI offered direct access to real people who understood the business and were invested in its success.
According to Matt:
"I could kind of tell within minutes that this was a different type of organization."
Rather than navigating call centers and constantly changing representatives, Matt gained a dedicated team that provided consistent support and responsive communication.
A Seamless Transition
Kennedy Transmission processes payroll using custom Excel spreadsheets—a setup that many payroll providers would struggle to accommodate. CSI adapted immediately.
According to Matt:
"CSI was able to adapt immediately to that. There were no transition issues."
The transition was completed without disrupting payroll operations, allowing the business to continue running smoothly.
Ongoing Payroll and Compliance Support
CSI now handles payroll processing and compliance responsibilities, helping reduce the administrative burden on ownership.
The relationship remained strong even when Kris moved into a new role and Emma became Kennedy Transmission's primary payroll contact. To ensure accuracy, Kris remained actively involved throughout the transition.
According to Matt:
"Kris was involved with the processing of every one of our payrolls for months."
The result was a smooth handoff and continued payroll accuracy.
The Results
Since partnering with CSI Accounting & Payroll, Kennedy Transmission has been able to focus more attention on growth and less on payroll administration.
Key Outcomes
✔ Successfully transitioned away from a national payroll provider.
✔ Adapted custom payroll processes without disruption.
✔ Eliminated recurring payroll errors.
✔ Completed a payroll specialist transition with zero payroll errors.
✔ Reduced payroll and compliance stress.
✔ Gained responsive, knowledgeable payroll support.
✔ Created more time to focus on business growth.
Perhaps the most telling result is what hasn't happened.
According to Matt:
"I can't think of a payroll issue that I've actually had with CSI, and I can think of many, many issues I had with our previous providers."
For a growing business with multiple locations and employees depending on accurate paychecks, that level of consistency provides significant peace of mind.
What the Client Had to Say
"Not having to worry about the stress of doing payroll, making sure that all the compliance is taken care of properly, is a huge weight off your shoulders as a small business owner."
For Matt, the value of working with CSI goes beyond payroll processing. It's about having a trusted partner that understands the business, responds quickly when questions arise, and helps ensure payroll and compliance are handled correctly.
As compliance requirements continue to become more complex, Matt appreciates having experienced professionals helping manage those responsibilities.
As he put it:
"We decided to make the switch and haven't looked back. It's been a fantastic relationship."
Why This Testimonial Matters
Many business owners don't realize how much time payroll, compliance, and reporting can consume until their business begins to grow.
The Kennedy Transmission story demonstrates the value of partnering with payroll professionals who provide both expertise and responsiveness.
For Matt, outsourcing payroll wasn't simply about convenience. It was about reducing risk, maintaining employee trust, improving accuracy, and creating more time to focus on growing the business.
Related Services
CSI Accounting & Payroll provides a full range of accounting and advisory services for business owners, including:
- Payroll Services.
- Monthly Accounting Services.
- Business Advisory Services.
- Tax Planning & Preparation.
- Cash Flow Forecasting.
- Financial Reporting & Analysis.
