By Thomas E White

Meineke was founded in Houston, Texas, in 1972, by Sam Meineke. He started with one store and a single product line. The initial idea was to provide quality exhaust service at discount prices. Since then, it has grown and evolved. It is no longer a “muffler shop,” but is a well-known car care franchise. Its services include brake service, oil and lube service, front-end alignment, shock and strut service, and Catalytic converters. In the United States alone, there are more than nine hundred service centers. These centers are all geared toward perfect customer service and complete satisfaction. Meineke is a subsidiary of Driven Brands, which is the leading automotive franchise in the United States.

Meineke has very high brand recognition and customer loyalty is extremely high. This is because of the high quality customer service that is provided. The automotive aftermarket is a huge industry, which is recession proof. With so many cars on the road that need parts and service, Meineke has always grown, even during the recession.

The brand name is recognized by 92% of people living in the United States, and has been a strong presence for over thirty years. The wide range of services and the excellent customer service means that customers remain loyal to Meineke for all their automotive needs. Franchise opportunities are everywhere, as this is a continually growing industry which relies and thrives upon its franchises. It was ranked #55 in the Franchise 500, and #48 in America’s Top Global Franchises. Other media that give Meineke high ratings include Hispanic Enterprise Magazine, Franchise Times Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, the American Association of Franchises and Dealers, and National Minority Franchising Magazine. “Meineke Car Care Centers staff has board and committee seats on many franchise and automotive organizations including the International Franchise Association (IFA), the American Association of Franchises and Dealers (AAFD) and the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Meineke fully supports the IFA’s Vetfran program and is a founding charter member of their MinorityFran initiative.”

The initial cost to start a Meineke franchise is between $15,000 and $30,000. The estimated total cost of the franchise is between $167,214 and $398,243. The ongoing royalty fee is between 3% and 7%. To qualify to start a franchise, applicants must have a net worth of at least $150,000, and liquid assets of at least $60,000. They must also have experience in supervision and general business.

Car care experience is not needed, as training will be provided. This training course lasts four weeks in the main headquarters, and four days at the franchise location, with ongoing online training courses and a technical hotline for emergency help. Ongoing support also includes a newsletter, security and safety procedures, internet, meetings, and field operations and evaluations. The company manages the advertising, leaving each franchise free to focus upon providing the perfect customer service that the company strives to achieve.

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