A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires
A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires: A+ Transmission costs $57K–$620K to open; Big O Tires costs $512K–$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, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
A+ Transmission vs Big O Tires — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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 historical 7(a) approvals versus 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 historical loss profile 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 – $620K | $512K – $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
A+ Transmission
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 historical default rate
Big O Tires
A+ Transmission: 13.0% · Big O Tires: 9.2%
Larger system & brand presence
Big O Tires
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.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — A+ Transmission with 23 SBA loans and Big O Tires with 466. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.