Frequently Asked Questions

A typical project (excluding Real Estate) will average around $220k-$240k including the license fee, equipment, signage and working capital. You will be required to come up with 25% of the cash (typically $55k-$75k). This 25% can come from cash, stocks & bonds, home equity or your 401 k pension funds (which can be accessed without penalty).

Assuming that you have a reasonable credit profile (FICO credit score over 650), Meineke has preferred lender programs with a number of financing sources including Seigel Capital, Wachovia and Business Loan Express who can lend the balance necessary to get you in business.

Typically, these same lenders will lend up to 85% of the cost of land & buildings should you choose to own the property.

Meineke has both in-house and field based employees and a network of real estate brokers who are there to assist you in the whole real estate selection and development process. (see project support page)

One of the provisions in Meineke's Franchise and Trademark Agreement guarantees that no other shop will be placed within 2 miles of your shops location. In addition you will have the 1st right to purchase the license for any location within 3 miles of your shop. To add a further layer of protection, Meineke has developed (with input from it's franchisees) an "encroachment policy" that requires we compensate you for any material impact that a new shop might have that we have allowed to open within 6 miles of your shop.

You are not required to have any automotive or mechanical background. It would be typical, however, for lenders to require that you have 2-3 years of "management" experience and we prefer to see some experience in dealing with members of the public in some capacity (although this is not required).

Meineke is continually researching automotive services and products to help our franchisees maximize their earnings potential.

The current automotive products and services offered include:

Exhaust Systems, Brake Systems, Steering & Suspension Systems, Wheel Alignment, Front End Parts, Wheel Balancing, Tire Rotation, Shocks & Struts, Strut Mounts, Coil & Leaf Springs, Steering Stabilizers, Rack & Pinion, Motor Cushions, CV Shafts (including joints & boots), Oil & Filter Change, Air Filters, Universal Joints, Lift Supports (Hood & Trunk), Motor & Transmission Mounts Trailer Hitches, Wiper Blades, Batteries, Belts, Serpentine, V-belts, Cooling System Service, Cooling System, Flush, Hoses (Radiator & Heater), Thermostats, Radiator Caps, Transmission Flush, Air Conditioning Systems, State Inspections, Tires, Tune-Up, Fuel Injection, Maintenance Packages, Radiators, Water Pumps

Unlike most automotive franchise systems Meineke offers a complete advertising service. We arrange for all national and local TV placement, your yellow page listings and local print. In addition, Meineke is able to provide direct mailings to your customers on a monthly basis. This is all provided with the contribution to the Meineke Advertising Fund (MAF). We do recommend that you spend some money beyond the contribution to MAF on local community programs. Even in these areas Meineke has full in-house capability to assist with any creative work you need. (see Meineke Advertising page)

Meineke has in-house and field based operational and training employees and vendor resources at it's disposal. These resources are used to provide regular visits and communications to ensure that you are adequately prepared to achieve success. (see Meineke Training program page)
In addition, Meineke continues to invest in technology to provide Business Tools on-line. Meineke has an extensive "Dealer Access" web-site that provides operations manuals, on-line training modules, an interactive forum for franchisees to discuss common issues and publications designed to keep you up to date. Meineke has recently added an on-line Business Planning tool that will help you to understand any weaknesses in your financial or operational performance (through benchmarking) and will provide specific action plans to remedy those weaknesses.

Meineke has provided within it's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) detailed sales and expense information that will allow you to formulate your own financial projections. Please note that it is illegal for any employee or agent of a franchisor to provide any information beyond that which is disclosed in it's FDD.

You may speak with any franchisee at any time of your choosing. As is required, Meineke has provided within it's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) a complete list of all of it's franchisees. Our recommendation is that you wait to contact Meineke Franchisees until after you have received the FDD and understand the right questions to ask.