Top Brand Auto Repair Franchise, 25-Year Ocala FL Center

$1.7M

Revenue

$543K

SDE

3.1x

Multiple

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Full Editorial Writeup

This is a franchised complete car care center in Ocala, Florida, operating for roughly 25 years under a nationally recognized brand. The shop runs out of a 6,500 square foot, eight-bay facility on a high-traffic corridor and handles the full spectrum of repair work: transmissions, brakes, electrical, tune-ups, and oil changes. The model is structured so owners act as senior decision makers rather than turning wrenches, with trained technicians and a manager already in place.

On the reported numbers, the business does about $1.68M in revenue against $543K in cash flow, a fat 32% margin that is high for an auto repair shop and worth scrutiny given the seller notes these figures are 2026 projections rather than trailing actuals. The asking price of $1.678M represents a 3.09x multiple on projected cash flow, which is toward the upper end for a single-location franchised auto shop.

What makes this attractive is the combination of an essential, non-discretionary service, a recognized franchise system with a built-in training program, and a management layer that reduces owner dependence. What makes it require careful diligence is a listing heavy on ROI marketing and projection-based math, plus a real estate arrangement that is not clearly disclosed in the asking price.

Why we like it

Auto repair is genuinely non-discretionary: people fix the car they already own rather than buy a new one in a downturn, which is exactly why deferred maintenance often shows up as repair demand when money is tight. The complete car care mix (transmissions, brakes, electrical) skews toward high-ticket necessary jobs rather than cosmetic work.
The reported 32% cash flow margin on $1.68M revenue is unusually strong for a single-shop operation, and the listing cites low inventory and a small headcount, both of which protect margin and simplify operations. If the trailing financials confirm these figures, the earnings quality is clean and cash-generative.
A recognized national franchise brand brings pricing power, marketing scale, and a proven playbook that lets a non-industry buyer step in with a four-week training program rather than years of trade experience. The manager and trained technicians already in place reduce key-person risk on day one.
The 25-year operating history in a fixed, high-visibility location means an established customer base and referral flow, not a startup gamble. Longevity in auto repair signals a real reputation and repeat local demand that is hard for a new entrant to replicate quickly.

How to improve it

Verify the split between projected and actual numbers immediately, then rebuild the operating plan on trailing twelve-month actuals. If real cash flow is closer to $400K than the projected $543K, the entire ROI case and the 3.09x multiple need to be repriced before close.
Push high-margin recurring services like scheduled maintenance packages, fleet accounts, and prepaid oil change memberships to convert one-off customers into repeat visits. Auto repair is not naturally recurring, so building a maintenance program materially improves lifetime value and revenue predictability.
Expand into commercial fleet and municipal contracts around Ocala, which deliver steady, higher-volume ticket flow that smooths out seasonality in retail repair. With eight bays and trained techs, there is likely capacity to absorb more volume without major capex.
Implement digital vehicle inspections and a formal service advisor upsell process to lift average repair order value, which the listing already flags as high. A disciplined estimate-and-approve workflow typically increases per-ticket revenue 10 to 20% without adding a single new customer.
Add Saturday and extended weekday hours strategically to capture the working customer who cannot come in during M-F business hours. Even limited weekend coverage in a high-traffic location can meaningfully raise bay utilization on otherwise idle capacity.
Audit technician productivity and bay throughput per labor hour, then tie compensation to billed hours and customer satisfaction. Small gains in labor efficiency drop almost entirely to the bottom line in a shop with low inventory and few employees.
Negotiate the real estate situation up front rather than letting it stay ambiguous: either buy or secure a long-term lease at market rent, because an unstable occupancy cost can quietly erase the projected returns.

Diligence notes

The single biggest flag is that cash flow and sales are stated as 2026 projections, not trailing actuals. Demand three years of tax returns and P&Ls, and rebuild the multiple and ROI entirely on verified historical earnings before trusting any of the seller's math.
The listing markets a bank-grade appraisal and a 41% ROI scenario, but that ROI depends on 20% down, a specific 10-year note at 9.25%, and the owner working 30 to 40 hours weekly. Confirm actual SBA or bank financing terms and note that the owner drawing $200K in wages means this is an operator role, not a passive investment.
Clarify the real estate arrangement completely, since the asking price appears to cover the operating business only and the facility occupancy cost is unclear. Verify current lease terms, remaining lease length, renewal options, and rent, because a below-market lease that is about to reset could destroy the margin story.
Scrutinize the franchise agreement in detail: royalty and marketing fees, transfer approval and fees, remaining term, renewal conditions, and any required capex or remodel obligations. These franchisor costs are already baked into cash flow, so confirm they are stable and that the franchisor will approve your specific buyer profile.
Assess the condition and remaining life of the diagnostic equipment and the eight-bay facility, and quantify near-term capital expenditures. A 25-year-old shop may face equipment replacement or building maintenance that the projections conveniently omit.

Source

Originally listed on BusinessBroker.net. View original listing →