Lentz U.S.A. Service Centers Franchise

Last Updated on July 31, 2012 by DeanR

Lentz U.S.A. Service Centers Franchise

Lentz U.S.A. Service Centers is a franchise for a business providing automotive repairs. It was founded in 1983 and started franchising in 1972. It was founded by Gordon Lentz.

He is a trained mechanical engineer. He was first exposed to the industry in early 1970’s. He was selling tube racking products with storage systems to muffler shops. It was then that he realized there were a lot of room for improvement from the shops that he visited. He decided to quit his job and invested his life savings to open his own shop. He first opened it with the name Tuffy Muffler and it was located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

It started out slow since it was winter then but after he got a $3,000 line of credit, the following day became their busiest day in business. He and his wife kept growing the business until they had four locations. They started franchising and now, they have 12 locations in the United States and 11 locations that are company owned.

What services do they offer at Lentz U.S.A. Service Centers?

For Brakes, they have Brake Drums & Rotors, Brake Shoes & Pads, Brake Calipers, Wheel Cylinders, Brake Lines & Hoses, Master Cylinders, Anti-lock Brakes, Brake Fluid Flushes, and Traction Control. For Muffler Systems, they have Tailpipes, Mufflers, Catalytic Converters, Exhaust Pipes, Manifolds, 0 2 Sensors, and Hangers & Gaskets. For Steering & Suspension, they have Ball Joints, Shocks & Struts, Idler arms, Tie rod ends, Rack & pinion units, Pitman arms, Bushings, Coil springs, Drive Belts, Power steering pumps, and Wheel alignments. For Fluid Services, they have Transmission filters & flushes, Oil & filter changes, Brake fluid flushes, Radiators & Anti-freeze flushes, Gasoline treatments, and Power steering flushes. For Engine Services, they have Head gaskets, Intake manifold gaskets, Tune-ups, Valve cover gaskets, Timing chains & belts, Fuel injection cleaning, Thermostats, Computer diagnostics, and Engine replacements. For Transmissions, they have Fluid flushes, Filters & fluids, and Transmission replacements. For Drive Train, they have Axle seals, Axle shafts, Differential service, C/V Joints & axles, Universal joints, and 4 Wheel drive repairs. They also have services for Electrical, Heating and Air Conditioning, and other services such as Cabin air filters, Serpentine belts, and Wiper blades.

Cost and requirements on running a Lentz U.S.A. Service Centers franchise

You need to have a net worth of $150,000 and a total liquid asset of at least $50,000. Expect to be investing about $115,000. The cost of Lentz U.S.A. Service Centers franchise fee is $20,000 with an on-going royalty fee of 7%. This is for a renewable 10 year term agreement. You will need about four employees to run one location. They allow multi-unit ownership. They do not allow absentee ownership.

What is included in the franchise package?

There will be two weeks training at the headquarters and one week at your location. You will receive newsletters and a toll free phone number. You will be provided assistance at the grand opening. You will be given access to the internet and to purchasing cooperatives. Expect to be receiving occasional field evaluations. For marketing support, there will be ad slicks.

Lentz U.S.A. Service Centers Contact Details

You may reach them at:

Address: 1001 Riverview Dr. Kalamazoo, MI 49048

Phone: (800) 354-2131 or (269) 342-2200

Email: quietcar@lentzusa.com

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