Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
- Investment
- $100K – $1.1M
- Disclosed sales
- not disclosed
- SBA charge-off
- Not SBA-matched
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Big Al's Mufflers, Brakes & More is an automotive franchise offering exhaust, brake, and general auto repair. Franchisees run the service centers, managing technicians, scheduling, and customer service.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More franchise requires a total initial investment of $100K – $1.1M, including a $15K franchise fee and an ongoing 5.5% royalty[2]. This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. FranchiseVerdict grade: B (Above average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Sources, dates and evidence
FDD issued: · Data extracted: · Last cited check: · Staleness risk: medium - issued 12 to 24 months ago; a newer filing is likely on file
Evidence: strong✓ Investment (Item 7)✓ Item 19 status✓ Units and owners (Item 20)✗ SBA loan coverage✓ Litigation (Item 3)✓ Financial statements (Item 21)✓ Franchisor identityhow this is scored5 of 5 headline figures on this page cite a page of the filing.
Overview
- Investment
- $100K – $1.1M
- 13th pct Automotive
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 5.5%
- 14th pct Automotive
- Units
- 15
- 11th pct Automotive
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Automotive · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Automotive median · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $100K – $1.1M including a $15K franchise fee, 5.5% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSThis franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that.
- RISKVerdict B (Above average), verdict score 60/100 (higher is better).
- GROWTHFlat: no net change in franchised outlets in the latest year (0 opened, 1 closed) (Item 20).
- DATAThis franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Big Al's Franchising, Inc.
- Predecessor
- corporation
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Executive Officer, Director
- Ralph L. Wetherington, Jr.
- CEO experience
- 2012 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Founder active
- Yes
- Original founder still leading the business
- Incorporated in
- VA
- HQ
- 109 East 40th Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23504
- Auditor
- Colonial CPA Group
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $48K
- vs $58K prior year
- Management churn noted
- Frequent turnover
- Item 2 disclosed frequent executive changes
Overview
About
- CEO
- Ralph L. Wetherington, Jr.
- Headquarters
- VA
- Founded
- 1988
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 1
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 62% above the typical automotive franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
The filing's Item 7 TOTAL row prints $99,875 to $1,089,000. Its own line items add to $99,875 to $1,048,500. The total is shown as the franchisor printed it; the lines are listed as printed. The only Item 7 table (pp.12-16; Big Al's Mufflers, Brakes & More 2026, an old-format disclosure with narrative payee cells).
Full Item 7 breakdown12 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $15K | $15K | |
| Leasehold Improvements | $3K | $480K | |
| Equipment | $33K | $465K | |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $1K | $5K | |
| Lease and Utility Deposits | $5K | $8K | |
| Real Estate (Leased) | $2K | $5K | |
| Initial Inventory | $13K | $29K | |
| Office Supplies | $2K | $3K | |
| Working Capital | $15K | $20K | |
| Signage | $3K | $10K | |
| Initial Advertising | $10K | $10K | |
| Insurance | $375 | $500 | |
| Total initial investment | $100K | $1.0M |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $100K – $1.1M
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $15K – $20K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $15K – $15K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 5.5%
- typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 4.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 9.5%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 5.5% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 4.0% of gross sales |
| Training fee | $1K |
| Transfer fee | $2K |
| Renewal fee | $0 |
| Inventory (initial) | $13K – $29K |
| Total fee load | 9.5% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD - a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule - so no unit revenue figures are disclosed. The return models need a revenue figure to start from, and the operating costs that turn gross sales into a profit are in no FDD. Enter your own and the calculator runs on your assumptions — nothing here is modelled until you do.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More unit return on the cash you put in?
Illustrative category typicals — not sourced to any filing, survey or sample. Replace them with figures from franchisee validation calls before you rely on the output.
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Your modelled return on total invested capital, before any debt financing.
—
An FDD discloses gross sales, not profit. We hold no sourced figure for annual revenue, COGS, labour, rent / occupancy and other operating costs, and will not substitute an assumed one. Enter your own and the model runs on your assumptions.
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2025 FDD
Financial Performance
No financial performance representation
This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that.
Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 9.5% — above the Automotive median of 8.0%.
Disclosure
This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Operator retention
System contracting at -6.7% CAGR over 3 years. Investigate whether closures are franchisor-driven consolidation or franchisee exits.
Multi-unit rate
33% of franchisees own multiple units, a moderate multi-unit rate.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Automotive medians
How Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More Compares
Category median of published Automotive brands that report the figure; the middle half spans the 25th to 75th percentile and n counts the brands behind it. Medians are used because a few very large systems pull an average far from the typical brand. Revenue is disclosed gross sales, not profit.
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 15
- Opened
- 0
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 1
- Turnover rate
- 7.1%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Multi-unit owners
- 33.3%
- Net growth (3-yr)
- -6.7%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- -6.7%
- Compounded over last 3 years
Last fiscal year · Item 20 exits and transfers
- Transfer rate
- 0.9%
- Owners selling to other franchisees
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 1 state reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
1
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
Where the owners are · Item 20 owner list
13 current owners across 1 state.
- VA 13
Counts only, from the list the franchisor prints in Item 20. Names and phone numbers are for your own due diligence and are not shown here.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
A micro-system with undisclosed unit economics, no territorial protection, and franchisor financial concerns presents substantial risk; the absence of Item 19 data makes informed investment impossible.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Colonial CPA Group
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Item 21 attaches single-year audited statements of Big Al's Franchising, Inc. for 2024, 2023 and 2022 (scanned). 2024 total income $47,650 (royalty fees $26,464, advertising fees $21,186), net income $0; 2023 total income $58,243. December 31, 2024 balance sheet: total assets $10,000, total liabilities $5,991; the printed equity total ($10,000) does not foot - common stock $6,278 less the $2,269 deficit gives $4,009, which is shown. The row had held the 2022 set with the revenue years reversed.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: No
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 60 / 100 verdict
- 01MEDNo average revenue or net income disclosed in FDD Item 19 — impossible to validate ROI claims
- 02MINOROnly 14 units system-wide with unknown growth trajectory suggests stagnant or declining brand
- 03MINORTerritory completely unprotected — franchisees face internal competition and cannibalization risk
- 04MINORWide investment range ($99K-$1.09M) with no clarity on what drives 11x cost variance
- 05MINORLow franchise fee ($15K) paired with high royalties (5.5%) may indicate franchisor relies on royalty extraction vs. franchisee success
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 9.5% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 2 |
| Territory type | No territory protection |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory radius | 3 mi |
| Territory population | 30,000 |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 10 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| RoFR response window | 10 days |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Mutually agreed upon (default: Franchisor's offices in Norfolk, Virginia) |
| Jury trial waiver | No |
| Governing law | VA |
| Litigation count | 0 |
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 18 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 280 hrs
- Training location
- Company or franchise store location; home office in Norfolk, Virginia
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 4 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee selects; franchisor must approve
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Point of Sale Software
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Point of Sale Software
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
13 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More franchise?
The total investment to open a Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More franchise ranges from $100K – $1.1M, with an initial franchise fee of $15K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More franchise owners earn?
Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD - a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule - so no unit revenue figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Who owns Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More?
Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More is franchised by Big Al's Franchising, Inc.. Source: FDD Item 1, 2025 filing.
What is Item 19 in the Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More has 15 total units in the United States, including 15 franchised units and 0 company-owned units.
Is Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Big Al's Mufflers–Brakes & More as a B-grade franchise with a verdict score of 60 out of 100 (higher is better). The grade is a deterministic score built from six weighted dimensions — financial health, unit economics, unit growth, scale, legal, and transparency — then calibrated against SBA loan charge-off rates and FDD age. Transparency is one of the six, so a filing that discloses less scores lower on that dimension than one that discloses more. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.