Car-X franchise
An automotive repair shop offering maintenance, brakes, tires and other repair services. At the end of 2025 there were 97 Car-X locations in the US, 46 franchised and 51 company-owned, so most are run by the company itself.
- Cost to open
- $396K–$582K
- Franchise fee
- $35,000
- Royalty
- 5%; introductory rate available
- Locations, 2025
- 97−30 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- SBA loans
- Not on the SBA Franchise Directory
From CAR-X, LLC’s 2026 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
How much a Car-X franchise costs
Opening one Car-X costs an estimated $396,200 to $582,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: CAR-X, LLC, 2026 filing, page 18
Car-X franchise fee
The franchise fee is $35,000. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: CAR-X, LLC, 2026 filing, page 12
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 2.5% of gross sales for a newly developed shop’s first 180 days, then 5%; the introductory rate does not apply to transfers or renewals. |
|---|
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: CAR-X, LLC, 2026 filing, page 15
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Car-X publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: CAR-X, LLC, 2026 filing, page 49
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 50 (−26) | 74 | 26 |
| 2024 | 47 (−3) | 71 | 3 |
| 2025 | 46 (−1) | 51 | 1 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
Source: CAR-X, LLC, 2026 filing, page 52
How Car-X compares
Of the 25 auto repair franchises on this site, Car-X is the 18th cheapest to open and the 16th largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Car-X | Typical auto repair |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $396K | $250K |
| Royalty | 5% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 14.1% | 4.4% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −39.5% | +0.7% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 18 of 25 |
Typical is the median across the 25 brands in auto repair franchises.
