Is Christian Brothers Automotive right for you?
Exclusive Territory
Each franchise receives a defined geographic territory in which the franchisor will not open or franchise a competing location.
Proven Scale
326 franchised units open and operating at year-end 2025, with 24 net new stores added that year and zero terminations across the prior three years.
the financial-performance disclosure Disclosure
Financial performance data covering 302 stores open all of 2025, segmented by store age, sales range, and owner-benefit quartiles.
About Christian Brothers Automotive
Christian Brothers Automotive is an automotive repair and maintenance franchise founded in 1982 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. The company began franchising in 1996 and operates 326 franchised locations across 30 states as of year-end 2025. Franchisees provide a range of vehicle services from a fixed retail location supported by an exclusive geographic territory.
Christian Brothers Automotive centers perform scheduled maintenance, mechanical repairs, and diagnostic services on passenger vehicles. Operations center on a fixed bay facility with standardized equipment, proprietary shop management software, and a customer-facing service model that emphasizes transparency and trust. The system also offers an optional on-location mobile service program using branded vehicles for select services within the assigned territory.
The business model
How a Christian Brothers Automotive territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
$85,000 paid upon signing; partially refundable under certain termination conditions.
Ongoing Royalty
50 percent of monthly Split Profits as defined in the Franchise Agreement.
Marketing Contribution
3 percent of the average total annual revenue for the previous calendar year, capped for national and regional programs combined.
Initial Investment Range
$515,250 to $650,400, inclusive of franchise fee, equipment, opening inventory, insurance, marketing, training travel, and three months of working capital.
Supplier Program
Franchisees must purchase 95 percent of required equipment, software, and supplies from the franchisor or approved vendors; the franchisor received $1,101,792 in vendor rebates in 2025 used to offset system-wide program costs.
Real Estate Model
Up to six months of rent-free occupancy is possible at opening; thereafter monthly rent ranges from $22,000 to $38,000 depending on location and build-out.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$85,000
Total investment range
$515,250 to $650,400
Royalty
50.00% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
3.00% of gross revenue
Founded
1982
Headquarters
Houston, TX
Active US franchisees
n/a
Total US units
n/a
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Initial training program conducted at franchisor offices and Certified Training Locations prior to opening.
- +On-site training support during the first full week the location is open for business.
- +Required Service Manager training for each store-level manager.
- +Ongoing coaching from a designated Performance Consultant during the first year and at the franchisee's option thereafter.
- +Continued training on new procedures, systems, and proprietary software as developed.
- +Access to proprietary training materials and the Confidential Operations Manual after execution of a nondisclosure agreement.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
The franchisor does not provide on-the-job training hours, classroom training hours, or instructor details in Item 11. Franchisees are responsible for their own pre-opening travel, salary, and living expenses during the 45- to 60-day training period.
Multi-unit growth path
The multi-unit program is closed to new franchisees. Existing franchisees may be offered the opportunity to open additional locations at the franchisor's sole discretion, with a contractual maximum of three franchises per operator. No multi-unit development schedules or incentives are disclosed.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
SBA 7(a) Lending
Many franchisees utilize SBA-guaranteed loans; the brand is eligible and the franchisor provides loan-administration services for a $2,500 fee.
Equipment & Vehicle Financing
Equipment package of $270,000 to $300,000 and shuttle vehicles of $30,000 to $50,000 can be financed through vendor programs or third-party lenders.
Franchisor Loan Administration
Optional in-house administration for franchisees obtaining their own financing at a $4,000 fee; covers initial setup and ongoing compliance.
Personal Capital & Partnerships
Prospective owners typically combine personal equity, retirement-plan rollovers, and private investment to meet the $515,250 to $650,400 total investment range.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with existing franchisees, and validate the operational and financial model.
Letter Agreement
Execute Letter Agreement and pay initial franchise fee; territory is reserved.
Site Selection & Build-Out
Identify and secure real estate, complete tenant improvements, and install equipment over approximately 90 to 120 days.
Pre-Opening Training
Attend initial training at franchisor headquarters and certified locations; complete Service Manager training; incur 45- to 60-day travel and salary costs.
Grand Opening
Open the store with required $20,000 to $30,000 in launch marketing; receive on-site support for the first full week of operations.
First-Year Coaching
Receive regular Performance Consultant coaching, marketing support, and operational assistance for the initial 12 months.
Ongoing Operations
Operate under the 50 percent Split Profits royalty, 3 percent marketing contribution, and monthly administrative and technology fees.
Match assessment
Are you a Christian Brothers Automotive match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Christian Brothers Automotive franchise cost?
Total initial investment ranges from $515,250 to $650,400 according to the investment disclosure of the 2025 the filed disclosures. This includes an $85,000 franchise fee, $270,000 to $300,000 in equipment, three months of working capital, and other disclosed costs.
What is the royalty fee for Christian Brothers Automotive?
The royalty is 50 percent of monthly Split Profits. A separate 3 percent marketing contribution is assessed on the average total annual revenue for the prior calendar year.
Does Christian Brothers Automotive provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure contains average Net Sales, gross profit, NOI, and Total Owner Benefit data for 302 stores open all of 2025 and for 280 stores open both 2024 and 2025, segmented by store age and performance quartiles.
How many Christian Brothers Automotive locations are there?
There were 326 franchised outlets open and operating at year-end 2025. The system added 24 net new stores in 2025, 22 in 2024, and 15 in 2023 with no terminations or non-renewals in those years.
What training and support does Christian Brothers Automotive offer?
Initial classroom and hands-on training at headquarters and certified centers, on-site support the first week of opening, required Service Manager training, and ongoing Performance Consultant coaching during the first year.
Is territory exclusivity included?
Yes. Each franchise receives an exclusive geographic territory defined in Exhibit A. The franchisor will not open or franchise a competing location inside that territory.
Can I own multiple Christian Brothers Automotive franchises?
The multi-unit program is not available to new franchisees. Existing operators may be invited to open up to a maximum of three locations at the franchisor's discretion.
How does Christian Brothers Automotive compare to other auto repair franchises?
Christian Brothers Automotive is distinguished by its 50 percent Split Profits royalty structure, detailed the financial-performance disclosure reporting across 300-plus stores, exclusive territories, and a 40-year operating history with zero reported terminations from 2023 through 2025.
What is the working capital requirement?
the investment disclosure lists $30,000 to $40,000 for working capital to cover the first three months of operations. Additional liquidity may be required depending on ramp-up speed and local market conditions.
Are there any ongoing technology or administrative fees?
Yes. Franchisees pay approximately $11,000 annually for software and network solutions, $200 per month for IT support, $550 per month for administrative and accounting services, and $725 per month for operating systems and internet failover.
Does the franchisor receive rebates from suppliers?
Yes. Christian Brothers Automotive received $1,101,792 in vendor rebates in 2025. These funds are used to support the annual convention, manager workshops, and purchasing program administration.
What is the typical timeline to open a Christian Brothers Automotive franchise?
From signing the Letter Agreement, site selection, build-out, training, and opening typically require 4 to 7 months. Pre-opening marketing begins 90 days prior to launch.
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