Meineke is an auto maintenance and repair shop franchise that provides high-quality care from oil changes and tire inspections to brake maintenance, A/C service, and more. Since its start in 1972, the franchise has grown to over 900 locations nationwide and even some internationally.
When Alex Jones decided he was ready to own his own business, the auto industry was a no-brainer. Alex had been working on cars from an early age and transitioned into a management position at a local dealership before joining the army. There, he worked on helicopters and then switched to a role in technology. After ten years in the army, and a career in IT, Alex decided it was time to head back to his roots. He came full circle and is back where he started – in car care.
Alex is now the proud owner of the Meineke of South Florida, the #1 Meineke dealer in the state of Florida. He experienced first-hand how Meineke treated their customers and admired their honest approach to customer service. Although owning his own Meineke was an easy decision for him, he knew he needed help getting started.
Julia Robertson, an experienced Business Development Officer with FNB Small Business Finance, and Alex met early on through his broker to explore financing solutions that would best meet the needs of a franchise start-up and business acquisition. As a first-time business owner, Alex was clear about his potential funding concerns, but the SBA loan structure checked all of his boxes including lower down payments and working capital.
Alex reviewed multiple different options when searching for long-term financing, but as soon as he connected with Julia, he knew he was in good hands. From the very beginning of the loan process, Julia was hands-on. Even before she partnered with Alex, Julia did her homework about the business and possible financing solutions. She was responsive, attentive, supportive, and was ultimately the right lender he needed to get the job done.
Alex remarked on his experience with Julia and FNB Small Business Finance:
Partnering with Julia was one of the best decisions I made throughout the process of acquiring a business. She and the entire FNB team were awesome from the start and beyond, and I can hardly wait to partner with her again in the future. Without a doubt, I would recommend Julia and FNB to other small business owners in need of long-term financing!
The entire team at FNB Small Business Finance congratulates Alex on the successful ownership of Meineke! We wish you great success!
