百大连锁店-Rank no. 284 – 新移民致富之路

Rank no. 284 – Tuffy Associates Corp./Car-X Associates Corp. – US

Products & Services: Complete automotive repair

Number of Locations: 350

Total Investment: $232K – 413.5K

Founded: 1970

Began Franchising: 1971

About Tuffy Associates Corp./Car-X Associates Corp.

Charles Amy founded Tuffy Auto Service Centers when he opened the first Tuffy Muffler shop in 1970. The private company began franchising one year later and now has shops in several states. It is based in Toledo.

Franchise Units

YEAR	U.S.	CANADIAN	INTERNATIONAL	COMPANY OWNED
2013	317	0	0	33
2012	326	0	0	46
2011	352	0	0	30
2010	362	0	0	32
2009	369	0	0	43

Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units in the following states:
Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Midwest, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northeast, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South, South Dakota, Southeast, Southwest, Virginia, Wisconsin.

Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing

Total Investment: $232,000 – $413,500
Franchise Fee: $25,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 1-5%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 15 years, renewable

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS

Net Worth: $250,000
Liquid Cash Available: $125,000

OPERATIONS

30% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4 – 5. Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (90% of current franchisees are owner/operators).

FINANCING TYPE	IN-HOUSE	THIRD PARTY
Franchise Fee
Startup Costs
Equipment
Inventory
Accounts Receivable
Payroll

How This Franchise Supports Franchisees

Training: Available at headquarters: 3 weeks. At franchisee’s location: 2 weeks. At existing store : 1 week.

Ongoing Support: Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives

Marketing Support: Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising,

Franchise Ranking History

Franchise 500®: #284 (2013), #269 (2012), #217 (2011), #199 (2010), #159 (2009),

America’s Top Global: #124 (2009),

Tuffy Auto Service Centers

Type	Private
Founded	1970
Founder(s)	Charles Amy
Headquarters	Toledo, Ohio
Number of locations	210
Parent	Tuffy Associates Corp.
Website	www.tuffy.com

Tuffy Auto Service Centers is a chain of franchise and company-owned automotive service centers headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. As of March 2012 there were 235 locations in 20 states in the eastern United States.The company is owned by the Tuffy Associates Corporation which also owns the Car-X Tire and Auto dealerships. Tuffy was founded in 1970 by Charles Amy as a muffler shop, but later diversified into repairing steering, suspension and brakes.^[1]^[2]^[3]