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AutomotiveEst. 1979Low CostLarge SystemEstablished

Matco Tools

Mobile tool distribution to professional mechanics, route-based, no royalty, proven 45-year track record.

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Min. cash req.

$25K

Min. net worth

$75K

Franchise fee

Royalty rate

Units open

1.8K

Yrs. operating

Video

See it in action.

Overview

About Matco Tools

Mobile tool distribution to professional mechanics, route-based, no royalty, proven 45-year track record. Founded in 1979, Matco Tools has grown to 1.8K units across the United States: a mature franchise system with a clear playbook, national brand recognition, and dedicated franchisee support from day one.

The brand operates in automotive, a category that benefits from vehicle ownership and the growing average age of cars on U.S. roads.

With a 0% royalty and an initial franchise fee of $0, the total investment is positioned for owners who value both an established system and fair economics. FDD available on request.

The model

How the business actually works.

Essential service with non-discretionary demand; cars always need maintenance.

Mobile or fixed-location model available depending on the brand.

B2B fleet contracts add high-volume recurring revenue alongside retail.

Low inventory model; most revenue from labour and service, not parts.

Recognition

Entrepreneur

Franchise 500

2025

IFA

25+ Year Member

SBA

Approved System

FDD

Fully Disclosed

2026

FC Analysis

Favorable Royalty

Investment details

The full financial picture.

Initial franchise fee

Paid to the franchisor at signing. Grants territory rights and initial support.

Min. liquid cash required

$25K

Personal liquid capital verified before signing. Separate from any financing.

Min. net worth required

$75K

Total assets minus liabilities, verified through financial disclosure.

Estimated total investment

$25K – $60K

Includes fee, setup, equipment, improvements, and 3–6 months working capital.

Ongoing royalty

0% of gross revenue

Paid periodically. Covers ongoing support, systems, and brand development.

System size

1.8K active units

Active locations across the U.S., a measure of system maturity.

Years in franchising

47 years

Longer track record generally means lower risk.

SBA franchise eligible

Yes

Listed on the SBA Franchise Directory. Streamlines SBA 7(a) loan approval.

SBA financing available. Our funding partners pre-qualify you in 48 hours at no cost. You'll typically need 20–30% equity; SBA finances the rest.

Need Funding? Click Here →

Training

No prior experience needed.

Matco Tools invests heavily in franchisee preparation. Here's what the training journey looks like.

Before you open

Two weeks at HQ

Immersive training covers operations, management, marketing, and technology. You leave knowing exactly how to run the business before a single customer walks in.

Opening week

On-site corporate team

A support team arrives at your location for your first 1–2 weeks. They work alongside you through live operations, troubleshoot, and refine your team in real time.

Months 1–6

Weekly coaching calls

Your regional business coach checks in weekly during your first six months. No question is too small; this is the period where habits and routines are formed.

Ongoing

Field visits + annual summit

Quarterly field visits from your regional rep, plus an annual franchise conference that brings the full network together for training and peer learning.

Is this for you?

Ideal candidate profile.

Comfortable leading a small team (5–15 people)

Sales, ops, or management background helpful

Liquid capital matching the minimum cash req.

Owner-operator for at least the first 12 months

Interest in growing to multiple units over time

Strong desire to follow a proven operating system

What happens next

The path to opening day.

Today

Request info

Submit the form on this page. Takes 30 seconds.

Day 1–3

Discovery call

A Champs consultant and the franchisor team walk you through the model.

Day 7–14

Receive the FDD

Federal law requires 14 days before any signing, so read it carefully.

Day 14–30

Validation calls

Talk to 5–10 existing franchisees. Free, unfiltered, unscripted.

Day 30+

Discovery day & sign

Visit HQ, meet the team, sign the franchise agreement.

In the press

Recent company news.

Visit website

Matco Tools announces expansion into 12 new U.S. markets

Franchise Times · Jun 2026

Matco Tools named to the 2026 list of fastest-growing franchises

Entrepreneur · May 2026

Matco Tools rolls out a new franchisee training and support platform

QSR Magazine · Apr 2026

Illustrative headlines — a live news feed for Matco Tools is coming soon.

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