AAMCO Transmissions, vs Honest1
AAMCO Transmissions, vs Honest1: AAMCO Transmissions, costs $475K–$868K to open; Honest1 costs $1.5M–$2.3M. AAMCO Transmissions, has 462 units, Honest1 has 70. SBA loan history: AAMCO Transmissions, = 584 loans (19.9% default); Honest1 = 89 loans (7.9% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
AAMCO Transmissions, vs Honest1 — 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
AAMCO Transmissions, requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($475K vs $1.5M for Honest1), a 68% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for AAMCO Transmissions, versus $35K for Honest1 — Honest1 has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for AAMCO Transmissions, and 6% for Honest1 — equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, AAMCO Transmissions, operates 462 units to Honest1's 70 — roughly 7× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
AAMCO Transmissions, has the deeper SBA lending track record with 584 historical 7(a) approvals versus 89 for Honest1.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 19.9% for AAMCO Transmissions, and 7.9% for Honest1 — Honest1 has the cleaner historical loss profile by 12.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 48 (Fair) for AAMCO Transmissions, and 51 (Moderate) for Honest1, giving Honest1 the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 48/100 | 51/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 584 | 89 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 19.9% | 7.9% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $475K – $868K | $1.5M – $2.3M |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 1% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 462 | 70 |
Franchised Units | 462 | 70 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1963 | N/A |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | N/A | N/A |
Category | General Automotive Repair | General Automotive Repair |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2025 |
Which Is Better — AAMCO Transmissions, or Honest1?
Lower upfront capital required
AAMCO Transmissions,
AAMCO Transmissions,: $475K starting · Honest1: $1.5M starting
More SBA lender confidence
AAMCO Transmissions,
AAMCO Transmissions,: 584 SBA loans · Honest1: 89 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Honest1
AAMCO Transmissions,: 19.9% · Honest1: 7.9%
Larger system & brand presence
AAMCO Transmissions,
AAMCO Transmissions,: 462 units · Honest1: 70 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
AAMCO Transmissions,: 6% · Honest1: 6%
More lender financing options
AAMCO Transmissions,
AAMCO Transmissions,: 194 unique lenders · Honest1: 44 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
AAMCO Transmissions, vs Honest1: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing AAMCO Transmissions, and Honest1 is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $475K to $2.3M.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — AAMCO Transmissions, with 584 SBA loans and Honest1 with 89. 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.