1-800-RADIATOR & A/C
Key figures
| Initial franchise fee | $45,000 |
| Total investment (Item 7) | $457,500 – $1,269,000 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 8% of gross sales |
| Headquarters state | CA |
| Legal name (Item 1) | 1-800-RADIATOR FRANCHISOR SPV LLC |
| FDD issuance date | 2025-07-03 |
| Franchised units (Item 20) | 193 (Item 20, p.78) |
| Brand website | https://www.1800radiator.com |
About 1-800-RADIATOR & A/C
Find detailed information about 1-800-RADIATOR & A/C franchise costs and fees. 1-800-RADIATOR & A/C franchises offer primarily wholesale distribution of radiators and certain other automotive parts. Franchises doing between $500k and $2 million in sales could have employee counts between two and eight. Also, about 40% of your employees are relatively inexpensive delivery drivers. To own a 1-800-Radiator location, a franchisee must have a net worth of half a million dollars, with at le...
Due diligence dossier
Every figure below is as disclosed in this brand's own FDD, with its FDD citation. FranchiseKI adds no analysis and estimates nothing.
Unit history (Item 20)
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 191 | 1 | 192 |
| 2021 | 193 | 1 | 194 |
| 2022 | 193 | 1 | 194 |
Source: Item 20, p.78 of the brand's FDD.
Risk & history facts
| Transfers in the last 3 years | 23 (Item 20, p.79-80 of the FDD) |
| Litigation matters disclosed (Item 3) | 5 (Item 3, p.23 of the FDD) |
| Bankruptcy (Item 4) | No bankruptcy disclosed (Item 4) (Item 4, p.26 of the FDD) |
Litigation summary (Item 3): Predecessor-franchisor matters: a 2014 AAA demand (Fairfield franchisee, same case number) and a separate San Francisco franchisee arbitration, both settled in 2015, and a 2013 Solano suit by a former franchisee that settled and was dismissed. A December 23, 2022 Ontario claim by a former Take 5 franchisee against a Driven affiliate and executives is pending. (Item 3, p.22-26 of the FDD)
Item 19 — franchisor-provided financial performance representations
These figures are the franchisor's own representations in Item 19 of its FDD. They are not verified earnings and are not a promise of what any unit will earn.
| Revenue range | $151,284 – $8,884,446 (Item 19, p.71 of the FDD) |
Ownership & operations
| Owner-operator required | Yes (Item 15, p.68 of the FDD) |
| Absentee ownership allowed | No (Item 15, p.63 of the FDD) |
Territory description (Item 12): Franchisor designates a mutually approved Territory. The franchisee does not receive an exclusive territory. Franchisor will not establish or authorize another 1-800-RADIATOR & A/C Warehouse in the Territory or solicit or accept Warehouse orders there, except Chain Account activity and reserved alternative channels. (Item 12, p.58-59 of the FDD)
Training: FRANCHISOR’S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING Except as listed below, we are not required to provide you with any assistance. (Item 11, p.56 of the FDD)
Ongoing support:
- Additional training programs as franchisor deems appropriate
- System advertising and promotion programs
- Use of Local Marketing Fees to market the Warehouse in the Territory
- Collection and use of System Marketing Fees for system promotion
- Designated recordkeeping system, forms, and procedures
- Periodic visits to the Warehouse
- Manual in written and/or electronic form
- Opening-week advice and assistance for the first 5 days
Source: Item 11, p.51-52 of the brand's FDD.
Company facts
| Headquarters | Benicia, CA (Item 1, p.9 of the FDD) |
| Parent company | Driven Systems LLC (Item 1, p.9 of the FDD) |
| Initial term | 20 years (Item 17, p.70 of the FDD) |
| Renewal term | 20 years (Item 17, p.64 of the FDD) |
| Advertising / brand fund fee | 2% of gross sales (Item 6, p.29 of the FDD) |
| Company-owned units | 1 (Item 20, p.84 of the FDD) |
Questions to ask the franchisor
Generated from what this brand's FDD data does not disclose — ask 1-800-RADIATOR & A/C directly:
- What liquid capital does the franchisor require of a new franchisee? It is not disclosed in the FDD data we hold for this brand.
- What minimum net worth does the franchisor require? It is not disclosed in the FDD data we hold for this brand.
Territory — what the FDD says (Item 12)
Under this brand's Item 12 rule, you do not receive an exclusive territory. The franchisor may sell additional franchises in the same area. It may also operate company units there. Or it may sell through other channels. No area is reserved for you. No area is closed to you by another franchisee's exclusivity either. Placement is the franchisor's decision.
The FDD's own words (Item 12): “territory is NOT exclusive - the FDD states you will not receive an exclusive territory.”
Availability
Because this brand grants no exclusive territory, there are no territory-based exclusions: no area is reserved for an existing franchisee, and no area is reserved for you. Whether a new unit is placed anywhere is the franchisor's decision under Item 12.
Next steps with 1-800-RADIATOR & A/C
Put 1-800-RADIATOR & A/C on a shortlist. Compare it side by side with two other brands. Check it against your budget in the PerfectFit Quiz. Or talk it through with a vetted consultant. That conversation is free to buyers; call (385) 475-5319. Only the franchisor can confirm current terms. Only the franchisor can confirm territory availability.