Tuffy Auto Service Centers vs TechZone Airbag Service Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Tuffy Auto Service Centers vs TechZone Airbag Service including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
Investment $224,000 - $413,500$51,500 - $110,400
Franchise Fee $30,000$15,000 - $35,000
Royalty Fee 2.5%-5%8.5%+marketing fee 2%
Advertising Fee 5%-
Year Founded 19701992
Year Franchised 19711994
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Renewal Fee -$5K


Business Experience Requirements

 
Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience

  • Industry experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Financing Options

     
    Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
    TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/YesNo/No
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support

     
    Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
    TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 104 hours Additional Training: At existing store -
    Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
    Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising
    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)

    Franchise can be run from home.

    20% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Tuffy Auto Service Centers Franchise
    TechZone Airbag Service Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoYes

    Company Overviews

    About Tuffy Auto Service Centers

    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.

    If you purchase an area development franchise you must pay an additional area development fee that will be negotiated based on the number of franchises to be developed and the development schedule, but you will only pay an initial franchise fee of $5,000 for each franchise developed.

    #222 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

    About TechZone Airbag Service

    In the early '90s, engineer Douglas C. Hansen was working for an aerospace firm developing airbag inflators. He discovered there was a lack of understanding regarding airbag systems'how they worked, how they should be handled and how they should be repaired.

    Propelled by that discovery and recent legislation that required all cars to be equipped with driver and passenger airbags, Hansen and his wife, Victoria, founded Airbag Service. Franchisees work with repair shops and consumers in testing, maintaining and replacing airbags.

    The company has co-branding relationships with Novus and Apple Auto Glass.