Established
2001
Franchise Units
201
Minimum Investment
$458,000
Franchise Fee
$45,000
Total Investment Range
$1,300,000
Home Based
No
Description
1-800 Radiator & AC is a leading B2B automotive parts distributor offering a simple, proven business model that requires no automotive experience. Franchisees serve repair shops, collision shops, dealerships, and part stores, providing quick, same-day delivery with a stock availability rate of 90-95%. Unlike competitors like Autozone and Napa, 1-800 Radiator & AC focuses on bulkier, harder-to-stock product lines, giving franchisees a competitive edge. Their exclusive service provides high-quality parts at competitive prices, making them the preferred choice among automotive service shops. With new product lines introduced regularly, franchisees benefit from long-term growth opportunities and a scalable business model that drives profitability. Join 1-800 Radiator & AC today and thrive in the rapidly growing automotive parts industry!
Background
Established Year: Founded in 2001; began franchising in 2005.
Headquarters: Benicia, California.
Brand Journey & Ownership: The company started in a single warehouse in Union City, CA, targeting the growing trend of radiator replacement. In 2015, the brand was acquired by Driven Brands, the world’s leading automotive service company. This merger gave franchisees unprecedented access to a massive corporate network and even deeper purchasing power.
Active Franchise Units: Approximately 201 units currently operating across the USA and Canada.
Market Presence: The brand maintains a dominant footprint in over 40 US states, with a massive logistics network that allows for seamless cross-territory support.
Industry Category: Automotive Parts Distribution / Wholesale Logistics.
Company Owned Units: 1
States Registered In: All
Canada Franchises: Yes
International Franchises: No
Support Training
Financial Assistance Provided: No
Site Selection Assistance: Yes
Lease Negotiation Assistance: Yes
Recruiting Assistance: Yes
Co-Operative Advertising: Yes
Training: 2 weeks of remote training with subject experts. 1 week at the corporate office for hands-on training. Support staff on-site the week before and after launch.
Other Info: No automotive knowledge or experience needed. No service or repair, just moving boxes.
Ideal Candidate
A typical day in a life of a franchisee: 1-800 Radiator & AC franchisee's receive all of the tools needed to be successful as well as support to make sure they have complete visibility into their business. This allows them to focus on the areas that generate results. Below are areas that an owner will focus during typical week.
- Working with franchisor support staff to review:
- Current marketing activities, reviewing owner reporting to give visibility into how staff is executing the program.
- Upcoming marketing program launches
- Key Metric reporting to identify areas of strength and weaknesses
- Employee ranking reports. Always have visibility into performance of key employees
- Weekly stock orders
- Tools make this an easy process. Once a week ordering typically takes 1-2 hours of an owner's time.
- Outbound Calls & Sales Visits
- While your employees will do the bulk of this activity, dedicating part of your time to speak to visit large customers or make a phone call to a new customer to thank them for a recent purchase goes a long way with this customer base.
- Fill in as needed to keep the operation running smoothly
- Answer a few calls during peak call volume
- Run a part to a customer that needs a part ASAP when you do not have a driver readily available etc
Financial Detail
Total Initial Investment : $458,000 – $1,300,000
Minimum Net Worth: $750,000
Franchise Fee: $45,000
Royalty: 8%
Ad: 2%
Average Number of Employees: 7
Item 19: Yes
visa-candidates: No
Passive Ownership: No
Home Based: No
B2B: Yes
Master Franchise Opportunities: No
Veteran Discount Yes
Special Discount Programs: $5,000 off Franchise Fee for Veterans.