Should you join a senior care franchise?
Auto-Lab Complete Car Care Centers is moving forward with its Southeast Michigan expansion plans with a new store that has just opened in the township of Waterford in the Great Lake State. The owner of the Waterford franchise business is Fawzi Simon, who signed the franchise agreement in May 2017 and completed renovations on the site before opening. Simon also plans to expand his business, with a second location already planned for the Clinton township area.
Brand COO and President Stephen Wilson noted that the renovation and prep of the Waterford store is proof of the value of franchise systems. As Wilson pointed out, while an independent owner could have rehabbed the location the same way Simon did, it would have been a much bigger challenge with a larger upfront investment for someone doing it alone.
The car care franchise brand is notably proud of the vendor relations it has established and developed over the years. Vendors like Snap-on, O'Reilly Auto Parts, AutoZone and more provide a lot for the Auto-Lab franchise system, including equipment, some staff training, parts and nationwide warranties. Currently, this franchise is also able to offer a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty on its parts and labor. The wide range of vendors also provides Auto-Lab franchisees with diverse information about the auto repair industry and what businesses must do for success. Some franchisees have limited auto service experience, so the knowledge they gain through the franchiser's support is invaluable.
According to Wilson, some people considering auto repair franchise opportunities believe they have to have experience in the industry, which the president and COO says is simply not true. Auto-Lab actually encourages prospective franchisees who don't have automotive backgrounds to join their team. Some of the brand's most successful stores are actually run by franchisees who did not have automotive backgrounds coming in.
Established in 1989, the Michigan-based Auto-Lab currently has 25 stores in Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan and Florida. There are currently franchise opportunities available with this growing auto care and repair brand, with the franchise fee ranging from $13,750 to $27,500 and the initial investment averaging from $130,750 to $313,500.
