Franopolis
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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Auto Lab vs Christian Brothers Automotive

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Auto Lab2026 FDDChristian Brothers Automotive2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Auto Lab

    $111,000 – $746,000

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    $515,250 – $650,400

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Auto Lab

    $27,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Auto Lab

    $6.00

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    50%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Auto Lab discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Auto Lab: 2, Christian Brothers Automotive: 4). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Auto Lab

    $111,000 – $746,000
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    $515,250 – $650,400
    Total initial investment
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Auto Lab

    $27,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 12

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Auto Lab

    $6.00
    Royalty
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    50%
    Royalty fee share of Split Profits
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Auto Lab

    $3.00
    Regional/national advertising maximum
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    3%
    National and regional marketing maximum annual cost rate — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Auto Lab

    19
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    326
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 73
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Auto Lab

    +18
    Calculated: 1 at end of 2022 → 19 at end of 2024

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    +46
    Calculated: 280 at end of 2023 → 326 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Auto Lab

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Auto Lab

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    1996
    From a verified franchisor listing
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Auto Lab

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Christian Brothers Automotive

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Auto Lab
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — 17 Auto-Lab Complete Car Care Center franchised stores operating for the full 2…
    47 percent
    other Percent of stores attaining or surpassing average gross sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 38
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Affiliate Belleville, Michigan franchise
    $87,884
    other Gross sales from tire sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 38
    Christian Brothers Automotive
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Five stores with negative NOI; age categories as quoted
    -$116,330.00
    other Negative NOI case amount
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 72
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Stores open entire calendar years 2024 and 2025
    280 stores
    other Comparable franchisee-owned CBA stores open full years 2024 and 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Existing franchisee figures adjusted in tables
    50 percent
    other Royalty fee basis used for adjusted existing franchisee figures
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 66
    +1 more groups in the full report

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Auto Lab vs Christian Brothers Automotive: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Auto Lab or Christian Brothers Automotive?
    Auto Lab: $111,000 – $746,000 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Christian Brothers Automotive: $515,250 – $650,400 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 29). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Auto Lab. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Auto Lab and Christian Brothers Automotive royalties compare?
    Auto Lab: $6.00 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13); Christian Brothers Automotive: 50% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Auto Lab or Christian Brothers Automotive?
    Auto Lab: 19 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 39); Christian Brothers Automotive: 326 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 73). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Auto Lab and Christian Brothers Automotive disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Auto Lab has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 location groups; Christian Brothers Automotive has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Auto Lab report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Christian Brothers Automotive report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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