How much does a Tire Pros franchise cost in 2026?
The 2026 Tire Pros Franchise Disclosure Document gives two separate Item 7 investment ranges: $111,475 to $251,225 to convert an existing retail tire center, and $271,975 to $443,725 for a start-up location. These are not interchangeable formats. The start-up range includes substantially more Shop Equipment and a broader Computer Equipment/Point of Sale System and Furniture allowance, while the conversion range assumes an operating tire center already exists.
2026 Item 7 ranges. The first range is for converting an existing tire center, whether owned or leased. The second is for a start-up location. Both totals include Additional Funds for the first three months; neither should be treated as a disclosed Liquid Capital requirement. The FDD cover states that $7,000 to $27,000 of the total is payable to the franchisor or an affiliate.
Data basis: Asphalt Tire Pros Francorp, LLC d/b/a Tire Pros Francorp; U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document issued April 28, 2026; conversion and start-up formats; Item 5, pp. 4-5; Item 6, pp. 5-8; Item 7, pp. 8-13; cost-relevant portions of Items 8, 10, 11, 15, and 17. Information checked July 17, 2026.
The legal franchisor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Asphalt Buyer II, LLC d/b/a American Tire Distributors. The parent company's current public context is available through the official American Tire Distributors overview and its March 2025 ownership-transition announcement. No matching 2026 FDD was located on an official franchise-controlled public page, so FDD references in this article are unlinked and identified by Item and page.
Key cost figures
Scale runs from $0 to $450,000. Each bar begins at the disclosed minimum and ends at the disclosed maximum.
Source: 2026 Tire Pros FDD, Item 7, pp. 8-13. The chart plots official format-specific ranges; it does not calculate an average or typical budget.
The start-up minimum is $20,750 above the conversion maximum. That derived gap is driven mainly by the start-up Shop Equipment range of $150,000 to $175,000 and the broader Computer Equipment/Point of Sale System and Furniture range of $7,500 to $35,000. It is not evidence that one format is preferable.
What is included in each Tire Pros investment range?
The 2026 FDD uses the same core opening categories for both formats, but it adds Lease Deposit and Remodeling Costs to the start-up table and assigns much larger Shop Equipment costs to a start-up. The tables below preserve the two formats separately and show when each category is normally paid.
Brand, premises, systems, and equipment
| Item 7 category | Conversion center | Start-up location | Payment timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $7,000 | $7,000 | Signing of Franchise Agreement |
| Pre-Opening Purchases | $0-$5,000 | $0-$5,000 | As incurred |
| Lease Deposit | Not separately listed | $0-$15,000 | Signing of lease |
| Remodeling Costs | Not separately listed | $0-$25,000 | Before opening |
| Computer Equipment/Point of Sale System and Furniture | $0-$7,500 | $7,500-$35,000 | As incurred for conversion; before opening for start-up |
| Shop Equipment | $0-$50,000 | $150,000-$175,000 | As incurred for conversion; before opening for start-up |
| Signs | $1,500-$25,000 | $1,500-$25,000 | As incurred for conversion; before opening for start-up |
Opening expenses and the first three months
| Item 7 category | Conversion center | Start-up location | What it covers or when due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $500-$5,000 | $500-$5,000 | As incurred; includes an estimated year of additional insurance premium, added utilities, and for start-ups possibly legal-entity organization costs. |
| Opening Inventory | $0-$5,000 | $3,000-$5,000 | Before opening; Continental GOLD requires an opening order of 24 units, estimated at approximately $3,000. |
| Rent for the First 3 Months | $15,000-$45,000 | $15,000-$45,000 | Monthly during the first three months. |
| Additional Funds - 3 Months | $87,475-$101,725 | $87,475-$101,725 | As incurred during the first three months after conversion or opening. |
FDD reconciliation note: the conversion table visually prints the high-end three-month rent figure as “$45,00.” The official conversion total of $251,225 reconciles only when that figure is $45,000, and the start-up table lists the same category as $45,000. This article therefore uses $45,000 and identifies the reconciliation rather than silently reproducing the apparent typographical omission. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 8-11.
Additional Funds are already part of both official totals. The $87,475 to $101,725 category covers estimated payroll, excluding any wage or salary paid to the owner; vendor payments; miscellaneous expenses; working capital; at least two months of Monthly Franchise Fees; three months of National Advertising Fund Contributions; three months of Nationwide Warranty Coverage; three months of the minimum local Marketing Contribution based on the Ad Plan; and additional advertising and marketing costs. Adding that range a second time would overstate the FDD investment.
The start-up Remodeling Costs range does not include building a Tire Pros Center from scratch. Item 7 also does not estimate the purchase price of real estate or the full cost of obtaining a lease. A ground-up project or property acquisition therefore needs a separate, location-specific budget outside the disclosed $271,975 to $443,725 range.
When is the money paid?
The largest cash demands are not all due on one date. The 2026 FDD separates signing payments, lease and pre-opening commitments, opening-period spending, and post-opening reimbursements.
At Franchise Agreement signing
The standard Initial Franchise Fee is $7,000 for the first Tire Pros Center. State-specific addenda may defer payments owed to the franchisor until pre-opening obligations are completed. The fee is otherwise non-refundable.
At lease signing and before opening
A start-up may pay a Lease Deposit of $0 to $15,000 at lease signing. Remodeling Costs, Computer Equipment/Point of Sale System and Furniture, Shop Equipment, Signs, and Opening Inventory are generally paid before opening or as incurred. A conversion may avoid some of these amounts if suitable assets already exist.
During the first three months
Rent and Additional Funds are spent as operating obligations arise. The first month's Monthly Franchise Fee is waived, which is why Additional Funds include two months of that fee but three months of the National Advertising Fund, Warranty Fee, and minimum local Ad Plan spending.
After opening, within the first year
Approved identification expenditures may qualify for reimbursement of up to $3,500. The reimbursement is primarily for exterior signage and painting and may include interior displays. It is not an upfront credit against the Item 7 signage range.
Item 7 lists Signs at $1,500 to $25,000 for either format, paid as incurred or before opening.
Item 11 permits up to $3,500 for approved identification expenditures after opening, normally within the first year. The official Tire Pros franchise information also describes the Initial Franchise Fee, veteran discount, fixed-fee model, and signage reimbursement.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 8-13; Item 11, pp. 19-21.
What Tire Pros fees continue after opening?
The 2026 FDD does not list a percentage-of-gross-sales Royalty Fee. Instead, it lists a fixed Monthly Franchise Fee, currently $695 for the first Center, plus separate advertising, local marketing, and warranty obligations. The official franchise page describes the model as having no royalties, but a buyer still needs to budget the fixed and minimum monthly amounts below.
Bars compare the four disclosed current or minimum monthly amounts. The local Ad Plan is spending by the franchisee, not a fee paid to the franchisor.
Source: 2026 Tire Pros FDD, Item 6, pp. 5-6. The $1,230 figure is arithmetic from compatible disclosed amounts, not a franchisor estimate. It excludes any Ad Plan above $250, Computer/POS support, product purchases, insurance, additional training, and conditional charges. The first-month equivalent is at least $535 because the $695 Monthly Franchise Fee is waived.
| Continuing obligation | Current amount or range | Basis and timing | Material qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Franchise Fee | $695/month | 20th of each month | First month waived; may be reduced for multiple Centers; permitted maximum is $1,000 per month. |
| National Advertising Fund Contribution | $200/month | 20th of each month | May increase by up to $100 per month annually, but not above $500 per month. |
| Marketing Contribution based on Ad Plan | At least $250/month | As incurred | Mutually agreed amount; not paid to the franchisor; amounts are reconciled and due in full at termination or expiration. |
| Tire Pros Warranty Fee | $85/month | 20th of each month | Supports the required warranty and Roadside Assistance Plan. Program context appears on the official Tire Pros warranty page. |
Other continuing costs that are not in the $1,230 calculation
Item 7 estimates approximately $125 to $600 per month, but the actual scope and vendor cost must be confirmed. Repairs, maintenance, modifications, and Upgrades/Updates remain the franchisee's responsibility.
Item 8 estimates that approximately 25% of purchases and leases used to establish a Center and approximately 75% in continuing operation will come from approved suppliers or comply with Brand Standards. Those percentages are not dollar budgets.
The franchisee must maintain specified coverage, including current minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence for commercial general liability and $1,000,000 for workers' compensation. Premium cost varies by carrier, terms, and insurance history.
The Initial Franchise Fee includes New Dealer Onboarding and Program Training at the Center, avoiding initial airline, lodging, and meal costs. Other training may involve variable fees, course materials, travel, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses.
Does Tire Pros disclose a liquid-capital or net-worth requirement?
No minimum Liquid Capital, Net Worth, or Non-Borrowed Funds threshold is stated in the 2026 FDD or on the official U.S. franchise page reviewed for this article. That absence should not be read as an approval standard. The Item 7 range is an Estimated Initial Investment, not a statement of how much cash a lender or franchisor will require.
Ask Asphalt Tire Pros Francorp, LLC for its current written financial-qualification criteria and clarify how much of the Item 7 investment must be funded with cash. Item 10 states that the franchisor and its affiliates do not offer direct or indirect financing and do not guarantee a note, lease, or obligation.
Outside financing may depend on creditworthiness, collateral, lender policies, and local economic conditions. Shop Equipment may be purchased or leased; when financed, the lender may require a UCC lien superior to a landlord's lien. Inventory purchased from the affiliate is not financed by the franchisor. The FDD also says that neither the owner nor the owner's spouse is required to sign a guaranty of performance when the franchisee operates through a legal entity; that statement does not prevent a third-party lender or landlord from requiring separate guaranties. Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 10-13; Item 10, p. 18; Item 15, p. 30.
Which fees change with additional locations, transfers, defaults, or exit?
Several costs are triggered by a specific event rather than ordinary opening or monthly operation. The 2026 FDD does not list a separate Renewal Fee, but renewal is discretionary, requires compliance, and may require signing the then-current Franchise Agreement for another five-year term. It also does not quantify a separate relocation or refurbishment fee; future compliance with changed Brand Standards may still require spending that the current tables do not price.
The Initial Franchise Fee is reduced to $2,000 for each additional Center after the first. A qualifying U.S. military veteran receives a 50% discount, reducing that additional-location fee to $1,000.
A U.S. military veteran with at least a general discharge receives a 50% Initial Franchise Fee discount, reducing the standard $7,000 fee to $3,500. The discount does not reduce every Item 7 category.
The current Transfer Fee is $2,000, due before the transfer and capped at $2,000. It is waived when the transferee is another Tire Pros franchisee. A veteran with an honorable discharge receives a 50% transfer-fee discount.
A $25 Late Fee applies, plus interest at the lesser of 18% or the highest legal rate, payable immediately on demand.
If the Center is not de-identified within 90 days, the Failure to De-Identify Fee is $695 per month until completion. The franchisee may also reimburse the franchisor's costs of entering, removing signs, repainting, altering the premises, or stopping unauthorized digital use of the Marks.
Reasonable attorneys' fees and costs may be due when the franchisor prevails; indemnification varies with the circumstances; and an insufficient bank draft can produce the bank's return costs plus an administrative fee.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 5, pp. 4-5; Item 6, pp. 6-8; Item 17, pp. 30-32.
What should a buyer verify before treating the range as a complete capital plan?
The official range is a disclosure framework, not a location-specific construction or financing quote. The most important unresolved amounts are real estate, any ground-up building cost, local code and signage constraints, the condition of existing Shop Equipment, the final Ad Plan, computer-support scope, insurance pricing, required supplier purchases, and owner compensation during the first three months.
Use the conversion range only for an existing retail tire center. Use the start-up range only for the start-up model described in the FDD. The official franchise page discusses mobile tire installation as an expansion service, but Item 7 provides no separate mobile-unit investment range.
Obtain separate quotes for property acquisition, full lease procurement, ground-up construction, triple-net obligations, zoning, permits, and any repairs not captured by the disclosed Remodeling Costs.
Document whether the current POS system, lifts, tire machines, wheel balancers, alignment equipment, signs, and inventory meet Brand Standards. The conversion low end assumes several categories can be $0.
Do not net the potential $3,500 signage reimbursement against pre-opening cash unless the franchisor confirms the approval, documentation, timing, and eligible expenditures in writing.
Additional Funds exclude any wage or salary paid to the owner. Confirm whether personal living expenses and owner compensation require capital beyond Item 7.
The FTC's franchise buying guide explains the 14-day disclosure period, while the FTC's FDD review guidance emphasizes reading the complete disclosure and attached agreements before signing or paying.
What is the practical Tire Pros cost picture?
The practical capital decision is to use the correct format-specific Item 7 range, keep Additional Funds inside that total, and budget separately for excluded site costs. The Initial Franchise Fee is a relatively small portion of the opening requirement; premises, equipment, systems, rent, signage, and the first three months create the larger cash demands.
After opening, the current fixed and minimum monthly obligations total at least $1,230 from month two onward, before variable purchases, insurance, computer support, extra training, or event-triggered charges. Because no minimum Liquid Capital or Net Worth threshold is disclosed and ground-up construction and real-estate acquisition are excluded, the remaining question is how much cash the franchisor, landlord, and any third-party lender will require for the buyer's exact site and format.