From the filings

HQ-led decisions

DLA Piper L

Automotive services

Meineke's headquarters, part of Driven Brands, requires every new franchisee to license its proprietary M.Key shop-management software and to run a computer system that uploads sales and marketing data to the home office. The system spans 705 franchised automotive-service centers with no company-owned locations.

For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.

Live signals

Total units
705
705 franchised
Franchised outlet growth
-0.142%
Item 20, last two year-ends
AUV
$970K
Item 19, 2022
Royalty
3%–7% component; full terms unconfirmed
percentage component
Ad fund
8%
percentage component
Initial fee
$45K
per unit
Investment range
$227K–$562K
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
from the filing

Ordinary royalty terms

7% component; full terms unconfirmed

Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.

Recorded percentage components

These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.

1recorded components (FY2023)

Recorded percentage components (FY2023)Ad fund 8%. Components use their own filing bases and conditions. Drawn against a 15% reference scale.

15% reference

Ad fund 8%

Mandated & recommended tech

The systems vendors compete with

Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.

ALLDATAALLDATA
Industry softwareItem 19

82 Meineke 2023 ACTIVE\200143451.4 advertising beyond the advertising expenses required under the Franchise Agreement; office supplies; automobile; bad debt expense; bank fees and service charges; donations a Meineke Center may choose to make to charitable organizations; dues and subscriptions (like technical tools and ALLDATA or Mitchell on demand, magazine subscriptions, business association dues (e.g., Chamber of Commerce and BBB), and additional software fees for, among other things, QuickBooks); equipment leases; general liability insurance; licenses and permits; merchant fees; repair and maintenance (including repairs related to equipment and facilities); training fees; costs related to laundry and uniforms, small tools, hazardous waste, resolving warranty and customer complaints, and cash over/short; and software license fees payable to operate the Meineke Center’s point of sale system.

AutoVitalsAutoVitals
Field serviceItem 6

M.Key Software $375 Basic Software Monthly Payable under the M.Key Maintenance Fee Maintenance Fee Software License and (or, if you purchase Payable only by Maintenance Agreement. AutoVitals, $275) authorized electronic bank draft We reserve the right to Additional options: increase the monthly Software Maintenance Up to $150 per Fee: (a) on each month – Technical anniversary of the M.Key Procedures Software Software License and Maintenance Agreement’s $89.50 per month – effective date to reflect Mitchell 1 on any increase in the CPI for Demand 5.0 ($99.50 the preceding 12-month per month for period or, if we elected not Mitchell 1 on to increase the Software Demand 5.0 with Maintenance Fee on any ESTIMATOR) anniversary of that effective date, the aggregate increase in the $25 per month – CPI from the date of the Quick Books last increase; and (b) at Integration any time to reflect any increase in any third AutoVitals party’s charges to us. (eInspection): See Notes 6 and 7. $399 one-time setup fee

Mitchell 1Mitchell 1
Industry softwareItem 6

M.Key Software $375 Basic Software Monthly Payable under the M.Key Maintenance Fee Maintenance Fee Software License and (or, if you purchase Payable only by Maintenance Agreement. AutoVitals, $275) authorized electronic bank draft We reserve the right to Additional options: increase the monthly Software Maintenance Up to $150 per Fee: (a) on each month – Technical anniversary of the M.Key Procedures Software Software License and Maintenance Agreement’s $89.50 per month – effective date to reflect Mitchell 1 on any increase in the CPI for Demand 5.0 ($99.50 the preceding 12-month per month for period or, if we elected not Mitchell 1 on to increase the Software Demand 5.0 with Maintenance Fee on any ESTIMATOR) anniversary of that effective date, the aggregate increase in the $25 per month – CPI from the date of the Quick Books last increase; and (b) at Integration any time to reflect any increase in any third AutoVitals party’s charges to us. (eInspection): See Notes 6 and 7. $399 one-time setup fee

QuickBooksIntuit
AccountingItem 19

82 Meineke 2023 ACTIVE\200143451.4 advertising beyond the advertising expenses required under the Franchise Agreement; office supplies; automobile; bad debt expense; bank fees and service charges; donations a Meineke Center may choose to make to charitable organizations; dues and subscriptions (like technical tools and ALLDATA or Mitchell on demand, magazine subscriptions, business association dues (e.g., Chamber of Commerce and BBB), and additional software fees for, among other things, QuickBooks); equipment leases; general liability insurance; licenses and permits; merchant fees; repair and maintenance (including repairs related to equipment and facilities); training fees; costs related to laundry and uniforms, small tools, hazardous waste, resolving warranty and customer complaints, and cash over/short; and software license fees payable to operate the Meineke Center’s point of sale system.

VASTVAST
Industry softwareItem 8

We require you to purchase or lease, at your expense, a computer system meeting certain specifications as described in Item 11. You may use any computer hardware you consider to be appropriate, provided it meets or exceeds our then-current requirements. You may only use shop management software in the operation of your Center that we have approved. Currently, we are the only approved supplier of shop management software (M.Key Software) for new franchisees. New franchisees will be trained by us or MCC using the M.Key system. Existing franchisees may opt to use VAST software from MAM Software Group, Inc. as their shop management software, and, if they do, they will be responsible for obtaining training. You also must install and use in the operation of your Center the Franchisee Profitability Program software. This software assists you in preparing and submitting standardized profit and loss information to Meineke’s Franchise Profitability Program department directly, so that we may use the data to improve overall franchisee performance within the Meineke system.

The vendor opportunity at Meineke

Meineke operates 705 franchised automotive-service centers with no company-owned locations, and franchised outlets were essentially flat year over year, down 0.14%. Item 19 of the FDD makes a financial performance representation across several cohorts, including 496 centers meeting age, bay, and reporting criteria, reporting a figure of $969,604. Meineke is part of Driven Brands, whose officers — including CEO Jonathan Fitzpatrick and CFO Gary W. Ferrera — also serve as officers of Meineke.

Who controls software purchasing

Headquarters sets the technology mandate centrally: every new franchisee must sign the M.Key Software License and Maintenance Agreement, and the company is currently the only approved supplier of that shop-management software for new franchisees. Franchisees must also purchase or lease a computer system that uploads sales, marketing, and other required information to the home office, and must install the Franchisee Profitability Program software used to submit standardized profit-and-loss data.

Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required

The filing mandates the M.Key shop-management software, the Franchisee Profitability Program software, and a home-office-linked computer system and computer-based point-of-sale system, all under company-set specifications. Franchisees may use any computer hardware that meets those specifications and works with the required software.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Item 8 lists required equipment — including an alignment machine, tire changer, wheel balancer, lifts, and a computer-based point-of-sale system — which may come from any supplier meeting company standards, and franchisees must buy sequentially numbered customer receipts from Dominion Holdings, Inc., a designated supplier. Other supplies may come from any supplier meeting company standards. The initial term runs 15 years, with successor terms of 15, 8, or 5 years available on at least 180 days' notice, continued possession of the premises, and a remodel to then-current standards.

How to read the Meineke FDD

The embedded viewer below carries Meineke's 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document, including the Item 8 and Item 11 language summarized above.

Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like Meineke where the technology mandate and procurement structure line up with your product.

Ordinary royalty terms

Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.

Questions vendors ask

DLA Piper L, answered from the filing

Meineke's headquarters, led by CEO Jonathan Fitzpatrick and CFO Gary W. Ferrera — both also officers of parent Driven Brands — designates the required computer-system specifications and licenses the proprietary M.Key shop-management software to new franchisees. Vendors should approach corporate development rather than individual centers.
Meineke requires every new franchisee to license its M.Key shop-management software, the only approved option for new franchisees, and to run a computer-based point-of-sale system and computer system that interfaces with the home office. Franchisees must also install the Franchisee Profitability Program software.
705 franchised automotive-service centers, with no company-owned locations, and franchised outlets essentially flat year over year, down 0.14%.
Item 8 sets standards rather than a closed supplier list: franchisees must buy sequentially numbered customer receipts from designated supplier Dominion Holdings, while required equipment and other supplies may come from any supplier meeting company standards. Meineke is currently the only approved supplier of M.Key Software for new franchisees.
The initial term runs 15 years, with successor terms of 15, 8, or 5 years available on at least 180 days' notice, compliance with the agreement, and a remodel. Franchised outlets were essentially flat year over year, down 0.14%.
The embedded PDF viewer below carries Meineke's 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document.
Source

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DLA Piper L2023 FDDView only

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The brands you can actually sell into, from the filings.

Operator footprint

Who runs the locations

622 operators run 626 mapped locations. 3 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.

Operators by units owned

Single-unit619
2–9 units3

Ownership

The portfolio behind DLA Piper L

Parent company: Driven Brands, Inc..

Related Automotive services brands

Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.