Thrifty Rent-a-car vs Bandag
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Thrifty Rent-a-car and Bandag are automotive franchises. Thrifty Rent-a-car requires an investment of $879K – $16.2M while Bandag requires $357K – $6.5M. Neither Thrifty Rent-a-car nor Bandag makes a financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD — a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule — so the two cannot be compared on disclosed unit revenue. On SBA loan performance, Bandag has a lower charge-off rate (8.3%) compared to Thrifty Rent-a-car (21.4%). FranchiseVerdict rates Thrifty Rent-a-car B (Above average) and Bandag A (Strongest tier).
| Metric | Thrifty Rent-a-car | Bandag |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | BAbove averageAbove average | AStrongest tierStrongest tier |
| Investment Range | $879K – $16.2M | $357K – $6.5M |
| Franchise Fee | $25K | $3K |
| Royalty Rate | 6.0% | No royalty fee; Bandag earns revenue from required purchases of Materials and equipment by franchisees (approximately 100% of Bandag domestic revenues of $594,087,725 in 2025) |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | N/ANo Item 19 representation | N/ANo Item 19 representation |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | 21.4% (28 loans) | 8.3% (13 loans) |
| Total Units | 302 | 157 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | N/A | N/A |
| Year Began Franchising | 1962 | 1957 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Investment Range
$879K – $16.2M
$357K – $6.5M
Franchise Fee
$25K
$3K
Royalty Rate
6.0%
No royalty fee; Bandag earns revenue from required purchases of Materials and equipment by franchisees (approximately 100% of Bandag domestic revenues of $594,087,725 in 2025)
Average Revenue (Item 19)
N/ANo Item 19 representation
N/ANo Item 19 representation
SBA Charge-Off Rate
21.4% (28 loans)
8.3% (13 loans)
Total Units
302
157
Unit Growth (YoY)
N/A
N/A
Year Began Franchising
1962
1957
FDD Year
2026
2026