In 1996, Christian Brothers Automotive opened its first franchise location and followed that up with six more that same year…all in the Austin, Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth markets. It was a strong, but strategic, entry into a new chapter in the company’s growth. Since that first year of franchising, our steady expansion nationwide has been sustained and we’ve now grown to more than 240 locations and 40-plus new locations in development.
So, what’s our key to success?
RECORD-BREAKING REVENUE
Not only has Christian Brothers Automotive driven significant growth over the last 25 years, but like a classic car, it just gets better with age. This year alone, we have broken our weekly systemwide revenue record six times. The strong performance of our franchise units across the country is creating a solid foundation to build upon our momentum and growth.
“We have a franchise business model that resonates with our franchisees, the teams at their locations and the guests they serve. It is built on trust, our values and best-in-class guest experiences,” said Brad Fink, Vice President of Franchise Development for Christian Brothers Automotive and a former franchisee of a Christian Brothers Automotive location. “I take a lot of pride being part of building a franchise system that leverages these attributes only to get stronger and stronger.”
NEVER CLOSED A SINGLE BUSINESS
At Christian Brothers Automotive, we have a different way of doing business. We believe that treating our customers like family and ensuring every transaction is built on respect, transparency and integrity. In our 25 years, we have never closed a single business due to our business model and commitment to service.
"People see the respect we show and realize we’re devoted to helping them. We’re not just here to work on cars—we’re here to serve our customers as they entrust us with their safety every time they get behind the wheel,” Jeff Toth, owner of two CBAC Houston locations.
Of course, in addition to upholding processes and systems that allow our franchisees to build strong connections with their customers, we are equally as committed to establishing immense franchisee satisfaction. We go the extra mile every day to ensure our franchisees are well equipped to be atop their local market’s automotive services sector. To us, our franchisees are trusted ambassadors of our brand and we know they’re committed to reflecting our values and quality care that we were founded on. That’s why we are proud to be ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power for two years in a row (2020 and 2021).
THE ROAD AHEAD: AFTERMARKET COMPANIES ARE RECESSION RESISTANT
The aftermarket car care industry is uniquely poised for rapid growth, as U.S. households are holding onto their cars for longer. According to CNN Business, around 40% of U.S. households make some sort of car purchase every year and annually spend more than $600 billion on their cars. This provides owners of aftermarket care businesses with a steady stream of customers, which replenishes itself as generations grow up and mature.
With more cars on the road and their average age increasing between 11.5 and 12.1 years, there has bever been a greater need for trustworthy, auto care services like ours.
Consumer trends combined with high satisfaction bring great returns for our franchisees. Learn more about franchise opportunities with Christian Brothers Automotive.
