The cost of a 1800radiator franchise.

[PandaBear]

Ok so we have 2 or even more issues to address here:

1) Do you want to run a franchise? Based on what I hear here is that there isn't really a strong benefit of doing so. Franchise is a business partner that can help you with their domain knowledge and network. If you are just going to do custom stuff that the franchise isn't doing for you then that franchise is useless. If you are going to rely on their network but their network are not competitive with the big guys in the industry (say Amazon or Rock Auto) then that is also a useless franchise. Again, if you are doing custom work and rely on the reputation of Chris instead of 1800 radiator then this is not a franchise that will benefit you. Are they going to guarantee inventory and delivery network? Will you have to hold the inventory till they are sold? Are you locked into only sourcing from your franchise?

2) Are you really in the right location to run a business in a scale that benefit you? How many customers do you think you will have, what is your cost, do you have new customers coming all the time or is it always the same guys repairing the same stuff in your area? Will those customers move out of the area gradually? Will new customers move in because your area is booming? You need to run the number to see for yourself.

3) Are you going to run it out of your garage? What is your plan? Stay small? Follow the franchise's plan? What do you see yourself doing 5 years from now? Is it worth moving closer to your customers (that means your home as well not just working out of your garage)? How's your family situation? What's your plan for your life down the road? I think you have time and can take some risk but you need to set some goals and check over time to see if it is heading where you wish live takes you.

4) Do you like the reputation of the franchise you want to invest in as a customer yourself, or do you just want to invest because someone promise you a get rich over time plan, or you just want to pay for a dream? Based on the yelp review of 1800 radiator I wouldn't want to be its customers, the number they have looks very polarizing, and the way they deal with customers say a lot about how stressed a franchise head quarter is. All it take is some distressed franchisees to ruin YOUR business' reputation and you are going to rely on the franchise head quarter to keep their qualities up. Some people just want to get rich quick and open franchise, some people just want to get rich quick and license franchise, you need to make sure your business partners are there for the long term instead of all just get rich quick.

 

[andrew_j]

What is rooting you to this hot place in CA coupled to work that exposes you to it?

 

[Snagglefoot]

The only reason my old boss retired was he was old lol. We still had tons of radiator business. The auto parts stores don't sell new radiators for equipment,old cars ,semi trucks etc.

Plenty of radiator shops and alternator starter shops in my area.

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Those are good points and I’ve heard of many complaints with even modern radiators, especially those ones with plastics ends. I’d be concerned with the high franchise cost when a person is in the later part of their life. I believe a franchise is a young man’s game. Pay the franchise fee and amortize it over a long time while you build the business, then finally sell the business. I think it takes a long time to achieve that.

 

[Nessism1]

California is very difficult on business owners, particularly those with nasty chemicals like dip tanks. I'd pass for that reason alone.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I am pretty sure the big sale pitch to owning a franchise is you build your sales up over a couple decades and then someone buys the franchise out, which is then your retirement nest egg. I know that is what the fast food industry promotes.

What is the exit plan for a radiator franchise in a rural area - even if it is successful.

If you want to get into the parts business - I suggest talking to as many people as you can in the parts business. I googled, and I just happened to find in a few months there is a big aftermarket parts convention in Vegas. I would sign up and go. Network with as many people as you can. My experience in the industrial world is that people love talking about their business, so you never know who you might meet? Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo https://www.aapexshow.com/networking-opportunities/

 

[Snagglefoot]

The guys in the muffler business ran into problems when the exhaust systems became longer lasting. Case in point, my exhaust system on my 20 year old Taurus is still fine.

There are recent advances in the coolant business and now manufacturers are calling out 10 and 15 year coolants. With that kind of reliability to have to believe future issues with radiators may be diminishing. If the vehicle comes from the factory with a “ fifteen year “ coolant, wouldn’t be possible those rads might not fail? My 18 year old Suburban and 20 year old Taurus have used Prestone products with no coolant failures so far. Both have their original rads. That’s not good news for a radiator repair business. It was a lot easier before when coolants lasted 3 years and people simply forgot to change it.

 

[RhondaHonda]

1-800-RADIATOR was big in the collision parts business too. If you don’t have a lot of body shops and population density I’m not sure this makes sense. Did the prior franchisee sell their business or just close up shop and retire? If the latter, that should tell you something. Good luck to you but buying a radiator franchise isn’t something I’d recommend.

 

[Chris142]

California is very difficult on business owners, particularly those with nasty chemicals like dip tanks. I'd pass for that reason alone.

We didn't have a tank. We pressure washed.

 

[Chris142]

1-800-RADIATOR was big in the collision parts business too. If you don’t have a lot of body shops and population density I’m not sure this makes sense. Did the prior franchisee sell their business or just close up shop and retire? If the latter, that should tell you something. Good luck to you but buying a radiator franchise isn’t something I’d recommend.

Ya it was just a thought I had. I was floored when I saw the cost.

 

[Dave Hess]

I'm looking to find work that is easier on me. I'm a little old now to be in the heat all day. I come home absolutely wiped out after crawling around cars all day long.

Plus barely scraping by is getting old.

Looked into a 1800radiator franchise. I was good friends with the one we had years ago until they retired and moved away. I never asked them the specifics.

So I looked them up. Looks like you gotta have a lot of $$$ to get into that gig.

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Is there an $____ per hour are you looking to make with change of jobs ?

As a mechanic I thought you can beat flat rate ‘book’ time and get paid for 50 hours but you physically worked 40 hours.

 

[Dave Hess]

I have a friend that has a franchise mobile diesel mechanic business and they are so busy they only take the jobs they want..

Yep, I follow a few truckers on YouTube and when they break down out on the road they call these mobile diesel mechanics.

 

[Owen Lucas]

My 18 year old Suburban and 20 year old Taurus have used Prestone products with no coolant failures so far. Both have their original rads. That’s not good news for a radiator repair business. It was a lot easier before when coolants lasted 3 years and people simply forgot to change it.

My 05 Scion ran on original coolant for like 20 years IIRC, no leaks, looked great when I drained it as well. Rad looks like new and it's been all over the country through salt and extreme weather.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I'm looking to find work that is easier on me. I'm a little old now to be in the heat all day. I come home absolutely wiped out after crawling around cars all day long.

Plus barely scraping by is getting old.

Looked into a 1800radiator franchise. I was good friends with the one we had years ago until they retired and moved away. I never asked them the specifics.

So I looked them up. Looks like you gotta have a lot of $$$ to get into that gig.

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Taking on substantial business debt of which you're having to personally guarantee doesn't sound like low stress living

Edit: Maybe a service writer for a euro dealership?

 

[Chris142]

My 05 Scion ran on original coolant for like 20 years IIRC, no leaks, looked great when I drained it as well. Rad looks like new and it's been all over the country through salt and extreme weather.

That is very unusual. Most plastic radiators rarely get 100k here.

 

[SC Maintenance]

That is very unusual. Most plastic radiators rarely get 100k here.

I have not had a radiator fail in years.

The radiator in my Xterra had a class action for being defective. At 80K (when the extended class action full warranty was over) I replaced it with a Koyo. That koyo Radiator lasted another 10+ years and 300K+ miles. It actually only broke when I leaned on it - snapped the little overflow exit fitting. Replaced with another Koyo.

The Radiator in my truck is now what - 14 years, 225K. I have thought of pro-active replacement, maybe will soon?

 

[maduroman]

I don't think radiators are replaced as often as they used to be
Too risky of an investment
How old are you , find another shop maybe with better working conditions
Start being proactive to better yourself

 

[Chris142]

I don't think radiators are replaced as often as they used to be
Too risky of an investment
How old are you , find another shop maybe with better working conditions
Start being proactive to better yourself

Im 56. There's no shops with better working conditions. Everyone sweats or freezes depending on the time of year

 

[JimPghPA]

Radiators use to require more attention and replacing when the heat exchanger core was made of copper. Now days aluminum heat-exchangers and better antifreeze makes them last a lot longer. So theres less demand for replacements and coolant drain and fills.

I think anyone looking to get into that business should talk to existing Radiator shops to see how their business is doing.

There may not be enough demand now to make that a worthwhile endeavor.

 

[Chris142]

Radiators use to require more attention and replacing when the heat exchanger core was made of copper. Now days aluminum heat-exchangers and better antifreeze makes them last a lot longer. So theres less demand for replacements and coolant drain and fills.

Complete opposite here. The aluminum plastic tank radiators do not last like the old copper and brass ones did.

The plastic tanks split and the aluminum core gets eaten by electrolysis which can't be fixed. Replacing a plastic tank often costs as much as a complete new radiator.

 

[bdcardinal]

There is a franchise south of us I think in Ventura. I don't use them because whenever I call I get put on hold then they take forever to look up whatever I need like somehow I get someone on their first day everytime. For me it is significantly faster to have tabs open for IMC/Parts Authority, Autozone, and O'Reillys, copy-pasta the VIN from the repair order in all 3 and look up a radiator on all 3 all at the same time. And this is on the rare occasion that a competitive make vehicle is in that needs a radiator, or the Ford or Mazda one is disco duck. I fully realize the irony that part of my job involves taking calls and looking up parts, but I know that I am somewhat passably competent most days and am pretty quick at looking up the correct part.