How Much Do Automotive Franchise Owners Make?
Automotive service franchise owners earn between $80K and $280K annually. High-ticket repair services, recurring oil change and maintenance revenue, and essential-service demand make automotive one of the most durable franchise categories. This hub compares income across the top auto franchise brands.
Last Updated: July 2026 | SharpSheets Editorial Analysis
For full FDD cost and fee data on any of these brands, visit FranchisePayback.com — the companion site for franchise disclosure research. SharpSheets owns the income analysis layer; FranchisePayback owns the FDD disclosure layer.
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Automotive Services Franchise Owner Income: Brand Comparison
All income estimates use SharpSheets’ bottom-up methodology: disclosed AUV minus total fee load, minus sector-benchmarked operating costs (labor 30–35%, COGS 28–35%, occupancy 8–12%, overhead 5–8%). This is estimated annual net income to an engaged owner-operator — not gross revenue.
| Brand | Est. Annual Owner Income | Full FDD Data |
|---|---|---|
| Christian Brothers Automotive | $120K–$280K | FDD Review → |
| Midas | $80K–$180K | FDD Review → |
| Maaco | $100K–$220K | FDD Review → |
| Jiffy Lube | $80K–$180K | FDD Review → |
How SharpSheets Calculates Franchise Owner Income
Every income estimate on SharpSheets uses the same bottom-up methodology:
- Step 1 — Start with AUV: Disclosed average unit volume from the brand’s FDD or public filings
- Step 2 — Subtract total fees: Combined royalty and marketing fee load off the top
- Step 3 — Subtract operating costs: Labor (30–35%), COGS (28–35%), occupancy (8–12%), and overhead (5–8%) benchmarked to the automotive services sector
- Step 4 — Result: Estimated annual net income to the owner-operator
This is what an engaged owner-operator takes home at a single location performing near system average. Semi-absentee operators typically see income compress 25–40% due to management overhead.
Brand-by-Brand Income Analysis
Christian Brothers Automotive Franchise Owner Income
Christian Brothers Automotive franchise owners earn approximately $120K–$280K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Christian Brothers Automotive Franchise Owner Make? →
Midas Franchise Owner Income
Midas franchise owners earn approximately $80K–$180K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Midas Franchise Owner Make? →
Maaco Franchise Owner Income
Maaco franchise owners earn approximately $100K–$220K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Maaco Franchise Owner Make? →
Jiffy Lube Franchise Owner Income
Jiffy Lube franchise owners earn approximately $80K–$180K annually at the owner-operator level. See the full payback period analysis, break-even timeline, and owner income breakdown: How Much Does a Jiffy Lube Franchise Owner Make? →
Payback Period: What to Expect in Automotive Services
Payback period is calculated as total initial investment divided by annual net owner income. In the automotive services franchise category, payback periods typically range from 2–7 years depending on investment level, market performance, and owner involvement. Owner-operated locations in strong markets compress this timeline materially; semi-absentee or weak-market locations extend it.
→ Model your franchise break-even timeline →
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do automotive services franchise owners make?
Automotive Services franchise owners earn between $80K and $280K annually depending on brand, market, and owner involvement level. See the full comparison table above for brand-by-brand income estimates.
What is the difference between franchise AUV and owner income?
AUV (average unit volume) is gross revenue before any costs. Owner income is what remains after royalties, marketing fees, labor, COGS, occupancy, and overhead — typically 10–20% of AUV in most franchise categories. They are very different numbers.
How long is the payback period for a franchise?
Payback periods for automotive services franchises typically range from 2–7 years depending on investment level, market performance, and owner involvement. See individual brand pages for brand-specific payback estimates.
What is the best franchise to own for income?
The highest-income automotive services franchises tend to have higher AUV, lower fee loads, and strong owner-operator involvement. See the comparison table above and individual brand income pages for side-by-side analysis.
Where can I find full FDD data for these franchises?
Full FDD data — investment tables, Item 19 disclosures, royalty schedules — is available at FranchisePayback.com. SharpSheets handles income analysis; FranchisePayback handles disclosure research.
Bottom Line
Income in the automotive services franchise category ranges widely — brand selection, market, and owner involvement are the three biggest variables. Use the comparison table above to shortlist brands, then visit individual income pages for full payback period analysis and break-even modeling.
For FDD cost and fee data on any brand, visit FranchisePayback.com.
— SharpSheets Editorial Team | sharpsheets.io | Last Updated: July 2026
