How to Start a Christian Brothers Automotive Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

Agreement sources used: Receipt and Acknowledgement Letter Agreement, Franchise Agreement, Commercial Sub-Lease Agreement and related exhibits. Public context: the official Christian Brothers Automotive franchise website and the FTC’s franchise buyer guide.

Christian Brothers Automotive Corporation evaluates each applicant case by case and retains discretion to approve or reject the candidate. The official discovery process describes an Initial Inquiry, Brand Review, Request for Consideration, Territory Analysis, FDD Review, two-day Discovery Day in Houston and Final Validation. Those marketing-stage milestones are not the same as contractual approval, award or signing.

The FDD does not publish a universal minimum credit score, fixed education requirement or fixed automotive-experience requirement. The official candidate requirements page says automotive experience is not required and emphasizes leadership, sales, career progression and values alignment; these are candidate preferences rather than guaranteed approval criteria.

• Financing qualificationFailure to qualify for the financing needed to open and operate is a Letter Agreement “Termination Event.”
• Accurate disclosuresFalse or inaccurate candidacy representations can permit immediate pre-opening termination.
• Credit, character and background reviewThe applicant and Principal Operator must submit to and pass checks required by CBAC.
• Principal Operator controlIf the franchisee is an entity, the Principal Operator must own or control at least 51% and control governance.
• Personal supervisionThe Principal Operator must personally supervise; a third party cannot replace that role without prior written discretionary consent.
• Service Manager and spouse documentsA trained Service Manager must also supervise, and the Principal Operator’s spouse signs the required acknowledgment or joinder.

Source: 2026 FDD, Items 1, 5 and 15, pp. 1–2, 5–7 and 50–51; Franchise Agreement §§10.04 and 10.23; Letter Agreement §§6–8.

The new-unit path has nine decision-relevant stages. Applicant approval, FDD delivery, the Letter Agreement, site development, the Franchise Agreement, the Commercial Sub-Lease, training completion and opening authorization are separate events.

1. Inquiry and mutual screening

   Action: Complete the brand review, Request for Consideration and financial/background screening.

   Actor: Applicant and CBAC franchise-development team.

   Timing: The official site describes an approximately eight-week approval process, not the opening timeline.

   Blocker: CBAC may decline the applicant or market.

2. Territory discussion and FDD receipt

   Action: Discuss the desired market, receive the current FDD and review all agreements and state addenda.

   Actor: CBAC delivers; applicant reviews.

   Timing: At least 14 calendar days before a binding contract or payment to CBAC or an affiliate.

   Next: Discovery Day and final validation may proceed, but disclosure receipt is not an award.

3. Discovery Day and final validation

   Action: Attend the two-day Houston visit described by the official site and resolve final candidacy questions.

   Actor: Applicant and CBAC.

   Timing: No contractual completion period is disclosed for this stage.

   Blocker: Mutual interest does not remove CBAC’s approval discretion.

4. Letter Agreement and initial payment

   Action: Execute the Receipt and Acknowledgement Letter Agreement and pay the Franchise Fee when triggered.

   Actor: Applicant and CBAC.

   Timing: The fee is due at the earlier of signing the Letter Agreement or Franchise Agreement.

   Blocker: $20,000 is immediately non-refundable; later refund exposure changes when CBAC signs a land or business contract.

5. Confidential onboarding and site search

   Action: Sign the non-use, non-disclosure and non-competition agreement; begin training access, financing and real-estate work.

   Actor: CBAC provides the agreement and searches for land; applicant completes financing and requested documents.

   Timing: Confidentiality agreement within 30 days; land identification and LOI work within one year.

   Blocker: Financing, title, zoning, permits or an unacceptable site.

6. Franchise Agreement, territory and sublease

   Action: Execute the Franchise Agreement, confirm the Exhibit A Territory and sign the Commercial Sub-Lease when offered.

   Actor: Franchisee and CBAC.

   Timing: Franchise Agreement no later than 30 days before the Certificate of Occupancy; sublease within 10 days after CBAC’s notice.

   Blocker: Territory wording, master-lease terms or missed execution deadlines.

7. Construction and operating setup

   Action: CBAC acquires or leases the property and constructs or retrofits the facility; the franchisee procures required equipment, systems, insurance and approvals.

   Actor: CBAC, contractors, government authorities, suppliers and franchisee.

   Timing: No guaranteed construction duration in the FDD.

   Blocker: Permits, weather, labor, materials, inspections and equipment installation.

8. Training, hiring and pre-opening setup

   Action: Principal Operator and Service Manager pass required training; hire at least one Service Manager and three technicians; complete on-site setup.

   Actor: Franchisee makes final hiring decisions; CBAC trains and assists.

   Timing: Both leaders are on site 1.5 weeks before the projected opening for 75 hours of support.

   Blocker: Failed training, staffing or incomplete systems.

9. Possession and opening authorization

   Action: Take possession after substantial completion and open on CBAC’s designated Opening Date.

   Actor: CBAC gives notices; franchisee opens and operates.

   Timing: Possession within five days of substantial-completion notice; public opening on or before five days after operational notice.

   Next: A Certified Field Trainer supports the first full week of operations.

Source: 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 11, pp. 5–7 and 33–43; Letter Agreement; Franchise Agreement §§9.03, 9.05, 10.04 and 10.21–10.23; Commercial Sub-Lease §§2 and 4; official franchise ownership steps; 16 CFR §436.2.

All three ranges below use the same FDD unit and endpoint: months from first payment to opening. They describe historical or conditional experience, not a promised schedule for a particular property.

CBAC selects a proposed site and presents it to the franchisee for approval, considering demographics, access, traffic, competition, visibility, boundaries and customer base. CBAC or a related third-party structure then purchases or leases the property, constructs or retrofits the facility and leases or subleases it to the franchisee. The franchisee does not receive a general right to relocate; the 2026 FDD says relocation is currently not allowed.

CBAC must identify land and begin negotiating a letter of intent no later than one year after the Letter Agreement. If it misses that milestone, the candidate has a 30-day option to terminate and receive the Franchise Fee less the $20,000 non-refundable portion. If CBAC declines land the candidate approved, the candidate may select another CBAC-approved location or terminate under the stated refund rule.

Source: 2026 FDD, Items 5, 8, 11 and 12, pp. 5–7, 25–29, 33–35 and 46–47; Franchise Agreement §9.05 and Exhibit A; Commercial Sub-Lease. Market availability should be checked on the official available-markets page, but a map listing is not a territory award.

The Principal Operator must attend and successfully complete CBAC’s management training to CBAC’s satisfaction before operating. The Service Manager must also complete the required course. Mandatory instruction has no tuition charge, but the franchisee bears travel, lodging, living and personnel expenses.

Construction completion alone is insufficient. The franchisee must satisfy CBAC’s system standards and government requirements, while CBAC’s assistance does not guarantee permits, staffing, supplier delivery or an opening date.

• Required equipment and softwarePurchase the specified repair equipment, furniture, network hardware and operating systems from CBAC or approved sources.
• Approved signage, vehicle and inventoryInstall the CBAC-selected sign, obtain the required shuttle vehicle and stock opening parts and supplies to specification.
• Service Manager and techniciansHire the operating team; CBAC assists with at least one Service Manager and three technicians, but the franchisee decides whom to employ.
• Permits and government approvalsObtain and keep in good standing the licenses, permits and approvals applicable to the specific jurisdiction and automotive services offered.
• Insurance evidenceName CBAC and requested lenders or landlords as additional insureds and provide certificates and endorsed policies by the applicable trigger.
• Pre-opening marketing and systemsCoordinate the new-store plan, activate communications and accounting systems, and complete the 75-hour on-site setup.

Using an alternative supplier also requires advance written approval. CBAC states that it will attempt to respond within 60 days after receiving the complete written request and all requested evaluation information; silence is not approval.

Source: 2026 FDD, Items 7, 8 and 11, pp. 13–29 and 33–43; Franchise Agreement §§9.07, 10.03, 10.15 and 10.21.

The 2026 FDD reported 97 franchise commitments whose outlets were not open at December 31, 2025, and projected 28 new franchised openings in the following fiscal year. That does not establish why any particular location was delayed, but it makes current franchisee and unopened-commitment interviews especially relevant.

1. 1
   Confirm the exact applicant decision. Ask whether CBAC has approved the person, ownership group, entity, Principal Operator and proposed market—or only allowed the candidate to continue discovery.
2. 2
   Identify the fee-risk date. Confirm whether CBAC has executed a land, lease or existing-business contract, because that event changes the refundable status of the remaining Franchise Fee.
3. 3
   Obtain the site record. Request the proposed property, site-approval status, LOI status, title and zoning findings, expected permit path and a written development-stage schedule.
4. 4
   Read Exhibit A and the master-lease dependency. Verify the exclusive Territory map separately from the property address, and review how the Commercial Sub-Lease is subordinated to the Master Lease.
5. 5
   Reconcile the training schedule. Confirm 2026 online hours, Houston or virtual dates, CTL and CFT placements, Service Manager attendance, passing standards and the projected on-site week.
6. 6
   Define the opening notice. Obtain the designated Opening Date, operational-notice criteria, Certificate of Occupancy status, possession notice and remaining punch-list items in writing.
7. 7
   Interview comparable operators. Use Item 20 and Exhibit D to contact recent openings, current franchisees, former franchisees and signed-but-not-open candidates about site, financing, construction and training delays.

Source: 2026 FDD, Item 20, pp. 62–69 and Exhibit D. The FTC also recommends speaking with current and former franchisees in its consumer guide to buying a franchise.