A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires
A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires: A+ Transmission costs $57K to $620K to open; Big O Tires costs $512K to $1.9M. A+ Transmission has 17 units, Big O Tires has 461. SBA loan history: A+ Transmission = 23 loans (13.0% default); Big O Tires = 466 loans (9.2% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
A+ Transmission requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($57K vs $512K for Big O Tires), a 89% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $55K for A+ Transmission versus $18K for Big O Tires, Big O Tires has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Big O Tires operates 461 units to A+ Transmission's 17, roughly 27× the system size. Big O Tires has been operating 64 years (founded 1962) versus 43 for A+ Transmission (founded 1983), a 21-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Big O Tires has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 466 7(a) approvals compared with 23 for A+ Transmission.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 13.0% for A+ Transmission and 9.2% for Big O Tires, Big O Tires has the cleaner SBA loss record by 3.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 20 (Fair) for A+ Transmission and 67 (Strong) for Big O Tires, giving Big O Tires the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 20/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 23 | 466 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 13.0% | 9.2% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $57K to $620K | $512K to $1.9M |
Franchise Fee | $55K | $18K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 0.9% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $300K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 17 | 461 |
Franchised Units | 17 | 461 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1983 | 1962 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1982 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 44 yrs |
Headquarters | HOUSTON, TX | Palm Beach Gardens, FL |
Category | All Other Automotive Repair | All Other Automotive Repair |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better, A+ Transmission or Big O Tires?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
A+ Transmission: $57K starting · Big O Tires: $512K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Big O Tires
A+ Transmission: 23 SBA loans · Big O Tires: 466 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Big O Tires
A+ Transmission: 13.0% · Big O Tires: 9.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
A+ Transmission: 17 units · Big O Tires: 461 units
More lender financing options
Big O Tires
A+ Transmission: 8 unique lenders · Big O Tires: 96 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing A+ Transmission and Big O Tires is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $57K to $1.9M.
A+ Transmission has 23 SBA loans on record and Big O Tires has 466. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, A+ Transmission or Big O Tires?
How much does a A+ Transmission franchise cost compared to Big O Tires?
Can I finance A+ Transmission or Big O Tires with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, A+ Transmission or Big O Tires?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman