Honest-1 Auto Care Named 2013 Military Friendly Franchise ®

Honest-1 Auto Care was ranked in the top 10 percent of all franchises nationwide and named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise® by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs.

Honest-1 Auto Care the only national full-service auto repair and maintenance franchise that is 100 percent ESA® Certified Eco-Friendly, honors military veterans by offering service members a discount of more than 15 percent off the franchise fee for qualified military veterans from any branch of the military service. This program helps military veterans make an easier transition to civilian life by using their background and training to launch a new civilian career. With a dedication to servicemen and servicewomen, Honest-1 Auto Care looks to our nation’s heroes to help grow their business.

“There should be much gratitude given to our veterans and current men and women in the armed forces,” said Chip Baranowski, Vice President of Franchise Development for Honest-1 Auto Care. “For the sacrifices they make and dedication they show on a daily basis, Honest-1 offers incentive initiatives to give back to servicemen and servicewomen. Their willingness to learn, honor and exceptional work-ethic makes them ideal candidates for any franchise system, and especially for Honest-1.”

Being selected as a Military Friendly Franchise^® places Honest-1Auto Care in an elite group and is testimony to Honest-1’s commitment to supporting military veterans interested in franchise opportunities.

“One in four returning service members indicate interest in owning their own business,” said Sean Collins, director for G.I. Jobs.  “Franchises are a perfect fit for service members, who bring unparalleled operational skill sets and work ethic but are often unclear how to start a business.” 

The 2013 Military Friendly Franchises^® list was compiled via a data-driven survey overseen by an advisory board of industry experts. The survey results list were independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media.

Aiming to fix the auto care customer experience, Honest-1 took the time to re-define how the entire experience should look and feel, from the customer service members at the front desk to the waiting areas and top-quality amenities available while customers wait. Honest-1 is not only the best option for all consumer bases, who need all scopes of service work, from basic oil changes to full transmission diagnostics and complete auto repair services, but one that any car owner would feel comfortable spending time in. Plus, Honest-1 utilizes technology to review repairs with their customers by showing the customer their vehicle and service issue in 3D interface to visually see their vehicle needs, and not just hear it from their customer service manager.

Honest-1 Auto Care plans to expand into markets around the country including, Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville, Indianapolis, Miami, Orlando, Raleigh, Charlotte, Michigan, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Denver, and many others. For more information about Honest-1 franchising, visit www.h1franchise.com.  

Honest-1 Featured in Star Tribune

Honest-1 was recently featured in the Star Tribune in an article titled, "On the Job with Terry Mary". 

The article discusses Terry’s background and his career path from his beginnings as an automotive technician to now, where he is shop foreman at Honest-1 Auto Care in Cottage Grove, MN.  The article discusses how there will be 120,000 automotive technician jobs available next year.  The article also discusses what the industry has to offer, the changes seen in the field, and Terry’s favorite part of the job.

Click HERE for the full article or begin reading below:

On the Job with Terry May

By: Laura French

“My dad bought a ’63 Ford Fairlane in 1973, and the thermostat needed to be changed. At age 13, I was told to give it a shot.” That was the beginning of Terry May’s career as an automotive technician.

May’s first paying job was at age 16, in the small garage in Roberts, Wisconsin. Then he honed his skills as a jet engine mechanic in the U.S. Air Force for four years. When he came out of the military, he went back into automotive repair. “I’m pretty much self-taught,” he said. “I took a lot of night classes. I got the CERTITECH certification from Amoco. I went to foreign car schools.”

Honest-1 Auto Care Revs Up its Industry Recognition with Respected Oil & Lube Magazine Ranking

Second Industry Award of 2013 Puts Growing Auto Care Chain in Center of Conversation of Lube Shops

SCOTTSDALE, AZ – Honest-1 Auto Care (Honest-1), a national full-service auto care company that is 100 percent ESA® Certified Eco-Friendly, was named number 31 on Oil & Lube Magazine’s annual Tops In The Industry Rankings for 2013. The company increased five spots from their number 36 rank in 2012.

“We are thrilled to be chosen as one of Oil & Lube Magazine’s top oil change locations this year since our locations are constantly focusing on these cornerstone auto care jobs,” said Chip Baranowski, Vice President of Franchise Development for Honest-1 Auto Care. “While our mechanics are trained to handle most repairs, oil changes remain at the center of our 21-point inspection, or patented ECO 360 oil.”

Each year, the publication conducts an extensive research program to quantify and rank the top auto care changes in not only the nation, but internationally, as well. The rankings particularly looked at “fast lube” locations, or those organizations deriving much of their income from quick, convenient oil change services and other preventative car care maintenance. It also takes into account “plus” locations having dual profit centers, such as muffler shops, auto care shops and mass merchant retailers. Companies offering oil changes as simply an additional service, but not the prime focus, were left off the list.

In total, 54 fast lube change companies were selected and 57 oil change plus locations were selected, with Honest-1 being in the plus category for its diversity in maintenance offerings. Coming off the brand’s inclusion in the eighth annual Franchise Business Review’s 2013 Franchise Satisfaction Awards (FBR50), the only awards program to rank companies based solely on actual franchise satisfaction, this ranking helps position Honest-1 as a major player in the industry.

Aiming to fix the auto care customer experience, Honest-1 took the time to re-define how the entire experience should look and feel, from the customer service members at the front desk to the waiting areas and top-quality amenities available while customers wait. Honest-1 is not only the best option for all consumer bases, who need all scopes of service work, from basic oil changes to full transmission diagnostics and complete auto repair services, but one that any car owner would feel comfortable spending time in. Plus, Honest-1 utilizes technology to review repairs with their customers by showing the customer their vehicle and service issue in 3D interface to visually see their vehicle needs, and not just hear it from their customer service manager.

“We know the customer has a myriad of options to choose from for their auto care service,” said Rissy Sutherland, COO of Honest-1 Auto Care. “But we like to think that we ‘get’ our customer better than any other company in the segment. Not only will you feel fully confident in our auto care services, you will also be able to relax and get what you need to get done while we service your vehicle, making your experience much more efficient and satisfying.”

Honest-1 Auto Care plans to expand into markets around the country including, Phoenix, Atlanta, Nashville, Indianapolis, Miami, Orlando, Raleigh, Charlotte, Michigan, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Denver, and many others. For more information about Honest-1 franchising, visit www.h1franchise.com. 

To read the full article and findings, please click here: http://noln.epubxp.com/i/110840

Caring for Your Car

Let's be honest: cars are as much work as kids. The difference is, you can leave your car in the garage and forget about it.

We said your CAR.

We've all been there, driving around with the engine light on, assuring ourselves it's not serious. Then, the engine light goes off and we live in fear that maybe it was serious and the car is simply daring you to keep driving. But from check-ups to oil changes to rotations, the time and the money seem like too much to put in for something that seems to be doing its job just fine. Shut the garage door and forget about it.

WAIT!

The repercussions of ignoring your car could be creeping up on you faster than you think. In fact, you could even be voiding your cars warranty without knowing it. AOL Autos released this list of the top ten WORST things you can do to your car.

Click HERE for the full article, or begin reading below:

Top Ten Worst Things You Can Do To Your Car

Don't put off your car's routine maintenance

By: Michael Zak

Getting an oil change is a pain, whether you do it yourself or have it done professionally. You have to take time out of your day, pay for it and, if you're at a lube shop, often endure a stream of questions and accusations that make you feel like a worse car owner than Tommy Callahan.

But it's just this type of annoying, small maintenance procedure that can prevent some seriously pricey repairs in the future.

According to a recent study by CarMD.com, which polled professional mechanics, putting off oil changes is one of the top ten worst things that you can do to your car. Along with neglecting other small repairs, such as replacing the air filter, small issues can snowball into much bigger problems -- like engine failure -- and huge repair bills in the future.