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1-800-RADIATOR vs CAR-X — which franchise is the better buy?

Side by side from the public FDDs — no franchisor spin.

	1-800-RADIATOR	CAR-X
Disclosure honesty	B	C
Investment from	$463,500	—
Total fees	10%	4.2%
Outlets	194	97
Lawsuits	6	0

1-800-RADIATOR: what their numbers say

KPI analysis of 189 warehouses (2024): Metro sales $1,311 per customer avg; inventory availability 7-12% out-of-stock; sales visit frequency 2.6-5.2 times/year. EBITDA survey of 112 warehouses: avg $167,319 (8% EBITDA margin); median $110,239.

CAR-X: what their numbers say

Pro forma P&L for 46 franchised locations (2025) by sales terciles. Tercile 1: $1.17M sales, $234.8K net income (20%). Tercile 2: $758.6K sales, $82.6K net income (11%). Tercile 3: $500.6K sales, -$47.4K loss (-9%). Based on company-owned cost data; actual franchisee expenses vary.

Get the real owner take-home for either — $149

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