At a Glance
- Founded: 1982
- Locations: 217
- Initial Investment: $ $ 454 K - $ 582 K
- Headquarters: Houston, TX
- Category: Auto Services & Repair Automotive
Auto service and repair is almost always a necessity in every community, but right now, we are experiencing national trends that are making this industry even more in demand. According to IHS Automotive, there are more than 250 million cars on the road in America and these car owners are keeping their cars longer and driving them further than any generation of drivers in the past. With the oldest fleet of cars on the road the United States has ever had—it's a good time to own an auto repair franchise.
However, this is only part of the equation—because, yes, there are auto services and franchises in most communities, but drivers and their families dread going to them. They don't want to wait around in unkempt waiting areas, deal with high pressure "upsells", or wonder whether or not they've been overcharged or ripped off. This is where Christian Brothers Automotive comes in. For more than three decades, we have been changing the way customers experience auto service.
When customers come to a Christian Brothers Automotive center:
Yes, customer service is a cornerstone of any service business, but Christian Brothers Automotive is an auto service franchise opportunity that is about more than just that. For example, we put a distinct emphasis on the success of our team members. When we open a new location, we make an upfront investment in the land. We also provide a high level of training and support to ensure that our team members have everything they need for success in their local marketplace.
Our mindfulness for those that work with us also applies to our franchisees employees, as well. Because our Nice Difference® services makes it easier for car owners to drop off their car during the week, our franchisees are able to close their shops on Saturdays and Sundays, giving their employees the critical time they need to spend with their family and engage other pursuits beyond their commitment to Christian Brothers Automotive.
There's one word that comes up again and again whenever we poll our customers and ask for feedback on how we're doing with customer service: "Nice."
At all our franchise locations, the customers we serve consistently appreciate how "nice" their experience is at Christian Brothers Automotive. Yes, this includes their interactions with our friendly, knowledgeable staff and our Courtesy Inspections, but it also includes a lot of other things, too. Our brick building facilities are designed and built to be accommodating. We keep our lobby and waiting areas furnished and clean like one would expect at a respectable hotel—and that goes for our bathrooms, as well.
We offer complimentary beverages and free Wi-Fi. When our customers can't wait at our facilities, we also offer a free shuttle service to get them where they need to go so that their auto service doesn't completely derail the rest of their day. Christian Brothers Automotive also offers a generous warranty on all the work that we do, so customers can always feel confident about the integrity of their vehicle every time they drive away from one of our facilities.
We've come to call all of these practices the Christian Brothers Automotive "Nice difference.®" and it continues to resonate with both returning and new customers throughout our more than 218 different locations.
At Christian Brothers Automotive, many of our franchisees don't actually have previous experience in the auto service industry. While some may be skeptical of that, our team has long-recognized that this has a key advantage: it means our franchisees know how to relate to the average customer and ensure that our car maintenance and repair services always meet the standards and concerns of the modern car owner.
These qualities, and a commitment to running an honest, vibrant, compassionate business, is far more necessary than automotive know-how. When it comes to that kind of knowledge, our robust training and support programs are ready to set our franchisees up for success.
Before opening a new Christian Brothers Automotive location, each of our franchisees receives more than 275 hours of extensive training. This training is specifically designed to give each franchisee the knowledge they need to successfully run their business.
Franchisee training covers:
This training will take place at the Christian Brothers Automotive corporate headquarters, at an existing Christian Brothers location with a Certified Franchise Trainer, and in your own store once it has opened. Follow-up training in Houston is also scheduled for all franchisees after 8 to 14 months of operation. Remember: our goal isn't to turn each franchisee into an automotive expert, but to give them the knowledge and instincts to run a successful car repair franchise.
One of the most important aspects of this training will be introducing our franchisees to our Nice difference.® standards: Providing a clean, welcoming environment. The elements of our Courtesy Inspection. How to properly organize and run our complimentary shuttle service. Everything a franchisee needs to put customers at ease and provide an above-and-beyond auto service experience.
This is just a glimpse of our new and ongoing training program and the many resources that our franchisees will continue to have at their disposal as they navigate their Christian Brothers Automotive franchise to success. Our franchise support team will even help our franchisees identify the right people to staff their auto shop and provide world-class finance tools and resources needed to maximize profits.