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Bill Snow never set out to become a franchisee. But on a road trip to North Carolina in 2012 with his wife, Sheila, and family, their Dodge Durango broke down less than an hour from the beach. They’d learn that between visits to the dealer and an automotive repair shop for services, someone had mixed the wrong antifreeze into their vehicle—essentially turning it into jello.
Sitting on the beach, waiting for their SUV to be repaired in town, Bill and Sheila agreed: If poor car care was happening to them, it was definitely happening to other people.
Bill felt a strong desire to find a way to make car care better, and this moment set him on a journey to opening his own automotive repair shop. He eventually connected with Andy Fiffick, CEO and Founder of Rad Air Complete Car Care & Tire Centers, and found many similarities.
“We spoke the same language and shared the same values,” said Bill.
Rad Air had been approached by a shop in Wickliffe, close to where Bill had grown up in Mentor, that was looking to sell and retire. The shop owners were in contact with Andy and expressed their desire to have the business be sold and operated by a Rad Air franchisee to continue their legacy and ensure their client base were going to be well taken care of going forward.
“I had such an itch to open a business,” said Bill. “I had looked at so many auto repair businesses that weren’t a good fit for me. Rad Air had this opportunity in Wickliffe, and there were great employees staying on board.”
The chance to open the shop in Wickliffe was it for Bill: He didn’t even consider looking at other automotive repair brands. He moved full steam ahead.
Bill had thought about multi-unit ownership. His original goal was to have 4 units in 10 years. But several years into owning the Wickliffe shop, he made the decision to hire a manager.
“This was a super complicated decision,” said Bill. “My wife and I were constantly wringing our hands. Are we ready to put someone’s livelihood and future in our hands?”
The decision became clear as Bill realized he had grown the shop to where he could get it.
“Because I was working in the business every day, I couldn’t work on it as much as I wanted to,” said Bill. “I knew something had to change. Either I find someone to work on the business—which is where I wanted to spend my time—or find someone to work in it.”
With a shop manager in place, Bill began to look for that second unit. He was in discussions regarding another opportunity when Rad Air approached Bill and said, rather than opening a new unit, why don’t you start to work with us?
It’s not every day that a franchisee decides to make this kind of move, but for Bill, it was a clear choice. In early 2020, he took on the role of Vice President of Franchise Development & Operations at Rad Air.
“This position connects my passion for cars and helping people,” said Bill. “Now I can take that to the next level and help people be the best business owners that they can be.”
In his role, Bill can offer a unique perspective: the blood, sweat, and tears that go into opening a unit as well as the many rewards, like engaging in the local community and building client relationships.
Rad Air is focused on laying the foundation for smart, sensible growth in the Midwest: Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky. The company started franchising in 1999 and as of 2023 is at ten units. Of the ten Rad Air shops in operation, half are owner/operator and half are semi-absentee. If someone has the dream or passion to build scale, the ability to be semi-absentee as a Rad Air franchisee offers an opportunity to become a multi-unit operator.
“There’s a lot of noise in franchising,” said Bill. “The question is how can Rad Air rise above the noise and get our brand more aware in the marketplace.”
One important differentiator for Rad Air franchisees is the support and hands-on training.
“We can be very nimble because we’re small,” said Bill. “What do you need and how can I get you there? That’s the level of support we’re offering.”
Ultimately, Bill wants to connect more business enthusiasts and entrepreneurs with the franchise opportunities that exist at Rad Air.
“There’s magic in this brand, and we want more business owners to discover it,” continued Bill. “We have our franchisees’ backs, and that’s a big deal.”
If you are interested in business opportunities and scalable franchise unit development, talk to Bill about what it takes to open a new Rad Air unit. As both a franchisee and the Vice President of Franchise Development and Operations at Rad Air, Bill can offer a unique and helpful perspective. Complete the form below or give Bill a call.