Meineke Car Care Centers, part of Driven Brands Inc., has been named the No. 1 auto repair and maintenance provider in Entrepreneur Magazine’s 37th annual Franchise 500 Rankings.
“Meineke has consistently ranked among the top automotive maintenance and repair providers in recent years. We’re very proud to be honored as a leader within the automotive aftermarket,” said Danny Rivera, president of Meineke. “Our franchisee partners and our employees at the franchise support center work incredibly hard to ensure we provide a top-notch customer experience throughout all facets of the business. This honor is a great recognition of those efforts and results.”
In 2015, Meineke ranked No. 53 overall. In 2016, the franchisor was bumped up three spots, to No. 50 overall, taking the top spot in the automotive repair and maintenance category. Entrepreneur Magazine judges all companies by the same objective, quantifiable measures of franchise operation, including: financial strength and stability, growth rate, size and longevity of the system.
“In 2015, Meineke worked diligently to unveil a new branding campaign, launch a world-class rewards program and improve multiple aspects of center-level operations in an effort to delight the millions of customers who visit our centers,” said Dave Schaefers, senior vice president of franchise sales and development for Meineke. “Franchisees took note of those efforts too, opening 65 additional locations, with more than 100 planned for 2016.”
Investment levels for franchise locations range from $225,000 to 275,000 and top-performing stores average more than $700,000 in annual sales. In addition, qualifying military veterans can receive a reduction in royalty fees for the first six months of operation of their Meineke center. Meineke also offers incentives for those interested in owning multiple shops.
“Every year, the Franchise 500 presents us with an incredible opportunity to share data-driven insight into the trends and strategies in the franchise world,” says Amy Cosper, vice president and editor in chief of Entrepreneur. “More importantly, it gives us the honor of celebrating its leaders and allows us to spotlight an overwhelming number of opportunities available to entrepreneurs. The franchises distinguished on this list represent strength in business showcasing their ability to be nimble and emerge in a changing marketplace. We are excited to recognize these deserving companies and thank them for the many ways they contribute to the business community.