Rad Air Franchise Systems

The vendor opportunity at Rad Air

Rad Air Franchise Systems operates a small, tightly controlled network of 10 automotive service locations—8 franchised and 2 company-owned—all concentrated in Ohio. The average unit volume reaches $1,000,000, with a 6.0% royalty rate. For software vendors, the immediate addressable market is limited to these 10 units, but the franchisor’s centralized control and mandated tech stack create a clear path to adoption: win HQ, and you win the system.

The unit-band split shows all mapped operators fall in the 1-unit category, with zero multi-unit operators reported. This means every location is either company-run or a single-unit franchisee, reinforcing HQ’s role as the sole technology decision-maker. No parent company exists; Rad Air appears independently owned.

Who controls software purchasing

Software purchasing authority sits squarely with Rad Air’s headquarters. The 2022 FDD lists Andy Fiffick, Founder, President, and CEO, as the top executive, supported by William Snow, VP of Franchise Development and Operations, and Elissa Fiffick, Secretary and Treasurer. For a vendor pitching operational or business management software, Andy Fiffick and William Snow are the likely buying center. There is no CIO or CTO named, so the decision-making group is lean and executive-driven.

Because the franchise system has no multi-unit operators, there is no secondary buying layer at the franchisee level. All technology mandates flow from HQ to the 8 franchised locations and the 2 company-owned units. This simplifies the sales process but also raises the stakes: a single “no” from leadership closes the entire system.

Mandated and current tech stack

Rad Air’s 2022 FDD mandates six specific technology systems, making this one of the more prescriptive tech environments in automotive services franchising. The mandated systems are:

• Business Management and Technology System
• Identifix
• My Shop Manager
• Shop Management System
• Tekmetric
• The Portal

Additionally, the franchisor requires use of third-party site selection assistance software. This stack covers shop management, diagnostics (Identifix), and business operations, leaving little room for unsanctioned alternatives. Vendors offering complementary or replacement tools must demonstrate integration capability with Tekmetric and My Shop Manager at minimum. The presence of both a generic “Shop Management System” and the specific “Tekmetric” suggests Tekmetric may serve as the primary shop management platform, but the FDD does not clarify the overlap.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Procurement signals are absent from the 2022 FDD. Item 8, which typically discloses designated suppliers, approved suppliers, or rebate arrangements, contains no extract in the available data. This means the franchisor’s formal procurement model—whether it uses designated suppliers, maintains an approved vendor list, or allows open purchasing—is not disclosed. Vendors should approach with the assumption that HQ controls vendor selection tightly given the mandated tech stack.

Renewal and contract timing are similarly opaque. The initial franchise term length is not disclosed, and Item 17, which covers renewal, modification, and termination, provides no extract. Without term or renewal data, predicting software contract windows is not possible from the 2022 filing alone. Vendors should monitor any updates in subsequent FDDs or engage HQ directly to understand purchasing cycles.

How to read the Rad Air FDD

The 2022 Rad Air Franchise Disclosure Document is embedded below for full review. This document is filed with state franchise regulators and contains the legal and operational disclosures that govern the franchise system. Key sections for software vendors include Item 11 (franchisor’s assistance, advertising, computer systems, and training), where the mandated tech stack is detailed, and Item 8 (restrictions on sources of products and services), though in this case Item 8 yields no extract. Reviewing the FDD directly is the most reliable way to validate the tech mandates and identify any undisclosed procurement requirements before approaching HQ.

For a ranked target list of franchise systems aligned to your software category, FranCloud can help you prioritize opportunities like Rad Air based on tech mandates, unit counts, and decision-maker access.