Securing franchise financing is a key step toward opening a successful auto repair business with Christian Brothers Automotive. While starting a franchise requires upfront capital, qualified candidates can cover their initial investment smoothly through SBA-backed loans and trusted third-party lending options.
Christian Brothers Automotive supports candidates through every stage of the evaluation process, connecting you with industry-experienced lenders who understand auto care business models. By securing competitive funding and leveraging brand guidance, aspiring franchise owners can comfortably launch their business without overextending personal savings.
Understanding how franchise financing works simplifies your path to business ownership. Securing a loan for franchise expansion is not a grant, meaning candidates contribute personal equity alongside third-party lending to cover startup costs.
Christian Brothers Automotive connects qualified candidates directly with preferred third-party lenders to streamline access to competitive franchise loans. For entrepreneurs looking for franchises that offer financing guidance, working alongside brand-approved lenders ensures a smooth, clear application process from start to finish.
Under the current Christian Brothers Automotive model, here is what the typical funding setup looks like:
These numbers reflect the current business model and serve as a baseline, not a guarantee that every applicant gets the exact same terms.
No. You have to qualify with both Christian Brothers Automotive and your chosen bank. Approval, loan amounts, terms, collateral, and required down payments depend on lender underwriting and your individual financial health.
Getting approved by a franchisor and getting approved by a bank are two completely different things. Figuring out how to get a loan for a franchise means understanding where those two sets of expectations overlap and where they differ.
To start the discovery process with Christian Brothers Automotive, candidates need to meet two initial financial benchmarks:
When you apply for a loan for franchise growth, lenders dig into your background to ensure you can repay what you borrow:
Keep in mind that credit score expectations vary by lender, so there is no single universal requirement.
Our innovative profit-sharing royalty model is designed with your financial success as a top priority. Unlike most franchise systems, Christian Brothers Automotive offers franchisees the opportunity to earn a $60,000 annual salary from their business for as long as they own it.
Being accepted as a franchise candidate means you match the brand's culture, values, and business goals. However, franchisor approval cannot force a bank to lend you money. On the flip side, getting a thumbs-up from a bank does not automatically make you a franchise owner either. Both sides run independent evaluations.
The Christian Brothers Automotive model gives candidates several valid pathways to gather the $85,000 in starting liquid capital required to begin.
Using cash from a savings or checking account is the simplest path. Make sure you leave enough personal cash in reserve to cover everyday living costs and unexpected expenses after closing.
Some people tap retirement savings using a Rollover for Business Startups structure. This lets you invest retirement funds into your new business without early withdrawal penalties or an immediate tax hit. Because retirement funding involves strict legal rules, candidates should consult qualified tax and legal professionals. Christian Brothers Automotive does not provide tax or investment advice.
Financial help from family or close friends can help cover your cash requirement, subject to lender approval. You will need a signed gift letter confirming repayment is not expected, alongside proof of transfer and statements showing the source of funds.
If you hold a permanent life insurance policy with accumulated cash value, you may be able to borrow against or withdraw from it. Discuss tax rules, policy impacts, interest rates, and repayment terms with your insurer and financial advisor.
Financing can take several weeks or longer, depending on the lender, loan structure, applicant, and completeness of the documentation. Starting financial preparation early helps prevent avoidable delays.
Timing depends on:
Your franchise development contact can give you the most accurate timeline based on current lending conditions.
Christian Brothers Automotive handles the franchisee’s loan differently than most brands. Knowing the royalty fee structure is a monthly net profit split, CBA allows the business to make its monthly loan payment first and then calculates remaining profit to be shared between the franchisee and CBAC. This results in Christian Brothers receiving a royalty payment that is equal to the franchisee’s profit distribution to themselves - a true 50/50 share in the profit.
This supportive structure offers a strong foundation whether you want to invest in a franchise or are looking into franchise opportunities for veterans with strong leadership skills.
Christian Brothers Automotive helps candidates understand the financing process and common third-party funding options. Most new owners use conventional loans secured through a CBA lending partner. Speak with the franchise development team for current details about financing assistance and support.
For a new startup location, CBA-approved candidates make an $85,000 investment to become a franchisee. If purchasing an existing location, requirements will vary based on a number of factors.
Christian Brothers Automotive currently looks for candidates with a minimum net worth of $250,000. Meeting this benchmark does not guarantee franchise or loan approval.
On average, approximately 82%–83% of the investment may be financed over a 10-year period through an SBA loan, depending on lender approval and qualifications.
Eligible retirement funds may be one possible source of the initial capital contribution. Candidates should obtain independent tax, legal, and financial advice before using retirement assets.
Family or friend gifts may be an eligible funding source, subject to lender documentation and approval requirements.
There is no single credit-score requirement. Lenders review the candidate’s complete financial profile, including credit history, liquidity, debt, collateral, and repayment ability.
Prior automotive experience is not required. Christian Brothers Automotive evaluates leadership, business experience, values alignment, financial qualifications, and other candidate attributes.
No. Christian Brothers Automotive and the lender conduct separate evaluation and approval processes.
The current Franchise Disclosure Document provides the controlling estimated initial-investment range and related fees. Your franchise development manager will share a copy of the current Franchise Disclosure Document as part of your franchise discovery process.
Disclaimer: *The above reported Average Unit Volume and Highest Unit Sales figures are published in Item 19 of our April 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document and represent (302) units that were open for the entire year of 2025, (146) of which exceeded this average. A franchisee’s results may differ from the represented performance. There is no assurance that you will do as well and you must accept this risk.
Information made available through this website regarding the Christian Brothers Automotive franchise opportunity is for general information only and is not intended to be a franchise offer. Offers are made only after delivery of an effective Franchise Disclosure Document in compliance with applicable federal and state laws. None of the communications made through this website should be construed as an offer to sell Christian Brothers Automotive franchises in, nor is any such communication directed to the residents of, any jurisdiction requiring registration of a franchise before it is offered and sold in that jurisdiction. No Christian Brothers Automotive franchises will be sold to any resident of such jurisdiction until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such jurisdiction and the required Franchise Disclosure Document has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law.
Format Disclosure: Assuming you qualify as a prospective franchisee of Christian Brothers Automotive, we may provide you with a Franchise Disclosure Document in hard copy or electronic format. If the Franchise Disclosure Document is furnished electronically, it will be provided in a Portable Document Format (PDF) file. You must use the Adobe Acrobat program in order to open and view this type of electronic file.
