The Car-X Opportunity
The automotive aftermarket is growing by leaps and bounds. Sticker prices on new vehicles keep going up and consequently, vehicles remain on the road longer and consumers are spending more money to maintain them over a greater number of years. According to the American Market Research Council (AMRC), the average age of domestic vehicles on the road today is at an all time high. More and more households have multiple vehicles. And the variety is growing – full size,
subcompacts, minivans, light trucks, and sport utility vehicles. It all makes for a tremendous opportunity in automotive repair.
While gas stations have evolved into convenience stores and repair costs at dealerships soar, conveniently located Car-X Auto Service centers are getting an increased share of the business. While we’re not the biggest, Car-X has been consistently ranked by Entrepreneur, Success, and Income Opportunities magazines as “One of the Best Automotive Service Franchises in the United States.”
In 1971, the first Car-X Muffler shop opened in Hammond, Indiana. To keep up with the changing times, we’ve changed too – from a muffler shop to an..auto service center. Our service line-up currently includes exhaust, brakes, shocks, struts, springs, C.V. joints, alignment, front-end, air conditioning, lube/oil/filter, batteries, starting and charging, flush and fill, tires, and more. Car-X Auto Service franchisees are doing more business than ever before and today there is an opportunity for additional new stores in many markets throughout the United States. Are you right for Car-X? Is Car-X the right opportunity for you? The following information may help you decide.
Join the Car-X Program
When you join the Car-X program, you become a Car-X franchisee – an independent entrepreneur
with access to the expertise of a firmly established chain. You have the freedom to run your own business while sharing the resources of a proven franchise. With over 30 years experience, we have
a network of successful franchisees and we pass
along that cumulative knowledge and expertise to you. Nonetheless, it’s up to you to turn the power of our name and our systems of doing business into a successful operation.
What does it take to become a member of the Car-X Team? The drive to be successful. The discipline to empower that drive. Diligence, honesty, hard work, attention to detail, sufficient capital and a commitment to excellence.
It is crucial that you be consumer-oriented. You must make the customer feel that you appreciate their business and are fully capable of honestly servicing their vehicle to their complete satisfaction. These “people skills” must be finely-honed. They are called into play every single day in managing your employees, working with suppliers and most importantly, when interacting with customers. Your attitude about customers shines through in your facility as well as in your service. Inside and out, your shop must exude professionalism. Your staff should be courteous and attentive from the time they answer the telephone and first speak with the customer until the repair is completed and the customer is out the door. The customer must know he is dealing with professionals. This is invaluable in generating repeat business plus word-of-mouth referrals, both keys to building sales volume.
Mechanical aptitude is helpful, but not necessarily a prerequisite. Many of our successful franchisees have very different backgrounds. Key traits that Car-X looks for during our approval process for prospective franchisees include a desire to satisfy customers and a commitment to excellence. Each of our successful operators has a deep appreciation for the fact that a satisfied customer is what makes an operation competitive and successful.
A Car-X franchise could be right for you if you’re willing to invest your time, attention and labor, as well as your capital. It’s a hands-on, working situation, not simply a financial investment. Active, full-time involvement is essential.
