SPECIAL SECTION: AUTO FRANCHISING
Wrenching DECISION Should you consider an auto-services franchise? by Mary Vinnedge
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hade-tree mechanics are a rare breed. Most people don’t even change their oil or rotate their tires themselves, and those are among the easiest, lowest-tech tasks. Because today’s cars, trucks, and SUVs are heavily computerized, very few people have the equipment and skills to handle complicated maintenance or trouble-shoot problems in their vehicles. And there are a lot of horses out there under those hoods. Some 278 million vehicles are on the road in the United States, according to the Automobile Aftermarket Industry Association, with the average age of each nearing 12 years. The Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association says there’s a $381 billion—yes, billion with a B!—market for after-sales parts and accessories. Tires alone offer tremendous income potential: Modern Tire Dealer Magazine reported last year that the replacement tire market for cars and trucks exceeds $39.6 billion a year. What do these numbers add up to? Older vehicles need millions of replacement tires, batteries, filters, belts, and fluids as well as major repairs to engines, transmissions, air-conditioning, and electrical systems. That’s a huge opportunity knocking for owners of automotive-service franchises.
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