Complete investment analysis based on official FDD data
Total Investment
$550,250 – $680,400
Franchise Fee
$135,000
Royalty Rate
N/A
The total initial investment to open a Christian Brothers Automotive franchise ranges from $550,250 to $680,400, as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the one-time franchise fee of $135,000.
Midpoint estimate: $615,325
$135,000
One-time initial fee
The Christian Brothers Automotive franchise fee is a one-time upfront payment made to the franchisor when you sign the franchise agreement. This fee grants you the right to operate under the Christian Brothers Automotive brand and is included in the total initial investment range above.
Royalty Fee
N/A
Ad/Marketing Fund
5.0%
of gross revenue
| Fee Type | Rate | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing Royalty Fees | 50.0 | PCT | Based on 'Split Profits' defined as all revenues minus Approved Expense Items calculated under GAAP. Estimated monthly payment due on last day of each month with annual true-up reconciliation. CBAC allows up to $60,000 combined salary to franchisee/spouse as Approved Expense Item. |
| Additional Training and Support Fees | N/A | VARIABLE | Established by CBAC, uniform for all franchisees. Mandatory or optional at CBAC's discretion. Franchisee responsible for travel and living expenses. As of FDD date, no fees have been charged yet. |
| Administrative and Accounting Fees | 550.0 | FIXED | Covers preparation of monthly financial reports, bank reconciliation, payroll processing, GL posting, hosting financial software, depreciation, etc. Optional additional services: sales/use tax filings ($25/month) and personal property tax renditions ($75/year). |
| Operating Systems & Internet Failover | 475.0 | FIXED | Includes point-of-sale software (Tekmetric), accounting software (QuickBooks Enterprise or Epicor Kinetic), middleware (FUSE), and internet failover system. Subject to change and data overages. |
| Marketing Fee - National Program | N/A | VARIABLE | Maximum Annual Cost capped at 3% of average total annual revenue of all franchisees operating 12+ months. Begins after 6 months in operation. Combined with Regional Program, cannot exceed 3% cap. As of Dec 31, 2023, total marketing was $12,500 (approx 0.46% of average revenue). |
| Marketing Fee - Regional Programs | N/A | VARIABLE | Must participate in regional programs for franchisee's region. Maximum Annual Cost applies to National and Regional Programs combined (3% cap). Begins after 6 months in operation. |
| Transfer Fee | 30000.0 | FIXED | Payable in two installments: $10,000 upon approval of term sheet/letter of intent, $20,000 at closing. Non-refundable. Both installments are non-refundable and considered Unapproved Expense Items. |
| Transaction Fee | 7.0 | PCT | Greater of 7% of gross value or $50,000. Only if CBAC finds buyer or provides buyer from candidates. Deposit of greater of $10,000 or 1% of listed price due when signing Transaction Fee Agreement. Balance due at closing. In addition to Transfer Fee. Non-refundable and Unapproved Expense Item. |
| Lease Payments | N/A | VARIABLE | Range $22,000-$38,000 base rent plus triple net (insurance, maintenance, property tax, sales tax, HOA dues, CAM). New stores: 15-year initial term, 1.5% annual increase. Transition stores: remainder of seller's term at seller's rate. High end reflects significantly higher land/construction costs. |
| IT Support Fee | 200.0 | FIXED | May include web hosting and software/hardware technical support. CBAC reserves right to increase in sole discretion. |
| Software and related annual maintenance/license fees | 10500.0 | FIXED | Approximately $10,500 annually plus data overages. Subject to change based on vendor pricing. Paid to CBAC who negotiates bulk purchases. All software except FUSE purchased from outside vendors. |
| Loan Administration Fee | N/A | VARIABLE | $2,500 if using CBAC's in-house loan administration services (due at startup loan closing, typically 30 days before Certificate of Occupancy). $4,000 if franchisee obtains own financing. $2,500 also applies to refinancing through CBAC services. |
| Liquidated Damages | N/A | VARIABLE | Payable upon termination for violation of confidentiality or non-compete obligations. Based on average monthly royalty fees over past 12 months multiplied by lesser of 48 months or remaining franchise term. See Section 15.09 of Franchise Agreement. |
| Step-In Rights Management Fee | 5000.0 | FIXED | $5,000/month plus reasonable compensation/expenses for CBAC representatives (including Interim Manager) and other costs. Applied when CBAC exercises Step-In Rights due to non-curable default, failure to cure, operational deficiencies, abandonment, or Principal Operator death/disability. |
| Renewal Fee | 10.0 | PCT | 10% of initial franchise fee for most recently sold franchise. Due upon renewal. Initial term is 15 years, renewable for 3 consecutive 5-year terms. Only payable if franchisee chooses to renew. |
Category
Automotive
System Size
302 units
Franchise Score
out of 100
Christian Brothers Automotive is an automotive service franchise offering comprehensive vehicle maintenance and repair services with Christian values. The brand provides honest, quality automotive care in a customer-focused environment.
Median Revenue
$1,336,536
per year, per location
Mean Revenue
$2,749,266
per year, per location
Estimated Owner Profit
$49,452
per year
Profit Margin
3.7%
of revenue
Estimation method: benchmark
Estimated ROI (Simple Payback): 12.4 years
Based on midpoint investment of $615,325 and estimated annual owner profit of $49,452.
Avg. Annual Closure Rate
0.0%
Low risk — below industry average
Net Unit Growth
+302 units
From Next Fiscal Year to 2024
| Year | Start | Opened | Closed | Transfers | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Next Fiscal Year | — | +21 | — | — | — |
| 2022 | 247 | +18 | — | — | 265 |
| 2023 | 265 | +15 | — | — | 280 |
| 2024 | 280 | +22 | — | — | 302 |
Based on the FDD data, here is a data-driven snapshot of the Christian Brothers Automotive franchise opportunity:
Overall Score
83/100
Strong opportunity
Est. Payback Period
12.4 yrs
Longer payback
Risk Level
Low
0.0% annual closure rate
Christian Brothers Automotive scores well across our evaluation criteria, indicating a strong franchise system. With median unit revenue of $1,336,536 , prospective franchisees should model their own financial projections carefully. For a complete analysis including risk factors, deal-breaker flags, and detailed financial modeling, see the full report.
Get the full Christian Brothers Automotive franchise intelligence report with risk analysis, deal-breaker alerts, and detailed financial projections.
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