What is the estimated range for total initial investment for a Christian Brothers Automotive franchise?
Christian_Brothers_Automotive Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Type Of Expenditure | Amount (Note 13, 16 and 17) | Method Of Payment (Note 14 And 15) | When Due | To Whom Payment Is To Be Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE | $135,000 (Note 1) $121,500 with IFA VetFran Program Discount (Note 1) | a) $85,000 b) $50,000 With Discount: a) $85,000 b) $36,500 (Note 1) | a) See Note 1 b) See Note 1 | CBAC (Note 1) |
| REAL ESTATE AND IMPROVE- MENTS | $0 at startup, but monthly thereafter (Note 1 and Note 2) | Monthly rent | First day of the month | CBAC |
| EQUIPMENT, FURNITURE AND SOFTWARE | $255,000 to $280,000 (Note 3) | Cash As Purchased, invoiced by CBAC | Prior to opening Franchised Business, upon receipt of invoice | Equipment Vendors and/or CBAC (Note 3) |
| SHUTTLE VEHICLE | $30,000 to $50,000 (Note 4) | Auto finance/Lease program | Prior to opening Franchised Business | Dealership vendor/individual seller |
| SHUTTLE VEHICLE WRAP | $1,750 to $3,400 (Note 4) | Auto finance/Lease program | Prior to opening Franchised Business | Third party wrap vendor |
| INVENTORY | $11,000 to $12,000 (Note 6) | Cash As Purchased | Prior to opening and then as needed | Suppliers |
| SECURITY DEPOSITS | $5,000 (Note 7) | Lump Sum | Prior to opening Franchised Business | Local utility companies |
| SIGNS | $0 (Note 5) | Provided through Franchisor and Real Estate Lease | ||
| Type Of Expenditure | Amount (Note 13, 16 and 17) | Method Of Payment (Note 14 And 15) | When Due | To Whom Payment Is To Be Made |
| INSURANCE & BUSINESS LICENSE | $15,000 to $60,000 (Note 8) | Per Agreement with Insurance Companies | Can be prior to opening Franchised Business but is usually financed with a monthly payment | Insurance Companies |
| MARKETING/ ADVERTISING | $35,000 to $40,000 incurred during your first year in business (Note 9) | When required by Advertising Suppliers | Start-up, monthly, or otherwise, per agreement with advertisers | Advertisers and Suppliers |
| NEW STORE OPENING MARKETING/ ADVERTISING | $20,000 to $30,000 (Note 10) | By Advertising suppliers | Starting 90 days prior to store opening until 60 days after store opening | Advertisers and Suppliers |
| PRE-OPENING TRAINING TRAVEL/ SALARY | $7,500 to $10,000 (travel for training) (Note 11) | General travel expenses such as flight, rental car, hotel and food costs for approximately 45-60 days. | Starting approximately 90 days prior to store opening and will be needed for a period of approximately 45- 60 days. | Airline, car rental agency, hotel, restaurants and your salary if needed |
| OTHER PAYMENTS | $5,000 to $15,000 (Note 12) | Cash at purchase and/or included in business loan | Prior to applying for commercial financing | CBAC, bank of your choosing, Federal Govt and other 3rd party vendors |
| ADDITIONAL FUNDS DURING INITIAL 3 MONTHS | $30,000 to $40,000 (Note 13) | General operational expenses such as office supplies, employees, vendors and utilities | First three months of operations | Vendors, suppliers, employees and utility companies |
| TOTAL | $550,250 to $680,400 (Note 14) |
Source: Item 7 — INITIAL INVESTMENT (FDD pages 26–32)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Christian Brothers Automotive's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the estimated total initial investment ranges from $550,250 to $680,400. This includes various expenditures that a franchisee will incur when starting the business.
The initial investment covers a variety of costs, such as the initial franchise fee of $135,000, equipment, furniture, and software ranging from $255,000 to $280,000, and a shuttle vehicle costing between $30,000 and $50,000. Additionally, franchisees must account for a shuttle vehicle wrap ($1,750 to $3,400), inventory ($11,000 to $12,000), and security deposits of approximately $5,000. Insurance and business licenses are estimated to cost between $15,000 and $60,000, while marketing and advertising during the first year can range from $35,000 to $40,000.
Furthermore, Christian Brothers Automotive franchisees should budget for new store opening marketing and advertising ($20,000 to $30,000), pre-opening training travel and salary ($7,500 to $10,000 for travel), and other payments ($5,000 to $15,000). Franchisees also need to consider additional funds during the initial three months of operation, estimated at $30,000 to $40,000, to cover general operational expenses like office supplies, employee wages, vendor costs, and utilities. Real estate costs are listed as $0 at startup, but monthly thereafter, with monthly rent payments between approximately $22,000 to $38,000 for base rents.