Maaco Franchise

About the Maaco franchise

Maaco — Uh-oh, better get Maaco — paint & collision — has built its franchise system in the automotive category since 1972, headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Driven Brands auto paint and collision franchise.

As of recent disclosures, Maaco operates approximately 450 units worldwide. Initial investment for a single location typically falls between $367,000 and $634,000, with a franchise fee of approximately $40,000.

Unit economics and ongoing fees

Ongoing royalties run approximately 8.0% of gross sales, plus a brand fund / national advertising contribution of about 8.0%. Model these as recurring overhead — they apply to top-line revenue, not profit. Confirm the exact fee schedule and any local/regional marketing co-op requirements in Items 5, 6, and 11 of the current FDD.

Why prospective franchisees consider Maaco

Operators considering Maaco typically weigh the following advantages:

• Differentiated category with limited national competition
• Insurance-pay collision work
• Driven Brands network
• Strong category awareness

Where Maaco has real trade-offs

Honest diligence also requires looking at where the system has friction:

• High combined royalty + ad fund (~16%)
• Specialized labor and equipment
• Real estate (large bay + paint booth) hard to find
• Capex heavy

How to evaluate the Maaco opportunity

Before signing any franchise agreement, request the current Maaco FDD, talk to at least 8–10 existing franchisees (both new and mature), and build a unit-level model that stress-tests labor, occupancy, royalties, and ramp. Pay particular attention to Item 19 (financial performance representations) if disclosed, Item 7 (estimated initial investment), and Item 20 (system size and turnover) trends over the past three years. Validation calls with existing operators are the single highest-leverage step in the process.

Figures above are seed estimates compiled from public sources and may not reflect the most recent FDD. Always verify against the current Franchise Disclosure Document before relying on any number commercially.