Brakes To Go

Brakes To Go offers on-demand brake service and repairs.

Rather than servicing vehicles in a repair shop, Brakes To Go technicians visit customers wherever their car is located. This enables the company to offer repair services more affordably, and enables customers to get the help they need when they need it.

This is a big opportunity. In the U.S. alone, there are approximately 263 million registered vehicles. And according to Liberty Mutual Insurance, the average American household spends more than $400 a year on each car for repairs.

As of 2016, the global market for automotive brake services is valued at more than $19 billion.

Similar on-demand services companies have recently received funding from venture capital firms, for example:

In October 2018, YourMechanic raised $10.1 million in a Series B funding round whose investors included SoftBank Capital, Verizon Ventures, and former General Motors (NYSE: GM) CEO Rick Wagoner. The same month, Wrench, Inc. raised $12 million in a Series B funding round led by Tenaya Capital.

But while these companies hire independent contractors to conduct repairs, Brakes To Go uses its own employees. This enables the company to ensure greater quality control and, as a result, receive greater customer satisfaction.

For many car owners, getting repairs done is a challenge. Most don’t have the time or expertise to perform basic maintenance or repairs themselves. And taking a vehicle to a repair shop can be expensive and inconvenient.

According to a 2016 survey from The American Automobile Association (AAA), 66% of Americans don’t trust repair shops. Common complaints included being overcharged, recommendations for unnecessary repairs, and poor past experiences.

Brakes To Go solves these problems by eliminating the repair shop experience from the equation. Drivers can receive brake repair service at home, work, or wherever is convenient for them.

Here’s how the process works:

Customers either call or request a quote online. They answer a few questions about their car and Brakes To Go provides them with an estimate.

If the customer wants to proceed, Brakes To Go will schedule an appointment. A specialist will meet the customer, assess the vehicle, and complete the job.

Brakes To Go charges $149 per axle to replace brake pads, and this cost includes parts and labor. Typical passenger cars have two axles. Customers pay a fixed labor fee and a 15% markup on MSRP for parts for all other brake repairs. Labor charges are based on the complexity of the repair, not the make/model of a vehicle or amount of time needed to complete the job.

Each of Brakes To Go’s mechanics are certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). This independent non-profit organization has worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair and service since 1972.

In addition to passing an ASE certification test, technicians must have two years of on-the-job training, or one year of training and a two-year degree in automotive repair.

Brakes To Go purchases almost all of its parts from CARQUEST Commercial, a subsidiary of Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP). All repairs come with a 24-month, 24,000-mile nationwide warranty which features a zero-cost, total replacement guarantee for the duration of coverage.

This guarantee is available through the company’s inclusion in the TechNet Professional nationwide service center network. This is a network of repair professionals and includes more than 9,600 automotive service and repair centers across North America.

Brakes To Go has a partnership with Meals on Wheels of Central Texas. It provides a 10% discount on repairs for Meals on Wheels’ fleet vehicles and donates $5,000 annually to the organization. The company also offers discounts to Uber and Lyft drivers.

Since launching in May 2015, Brakes To Go has generated $5.6 million in gross revenues. This month, it will reach profitability.

As of July 2019, the company has a five-star rating on Yelp, a 4.8-star rating on Google, and a 4.9-star rating on Facebook.

With funds raised, Brakes To Go plans to purchase additional service vans and speciality equipment to help deploy more technicians to customer service appointments. Marketing plans for the company include highly-visible branded service vehicles, a centralized booking team in Austin, Texas, and digital marketing campaigns.

Team Background

Jonathan Ganther - Co-Founder & COO

Jonathan directs and manages all service operations for Brakes To Go. In addition, he trains and directs all of the company’s newly-hired technicians.

Jonathan first gained experience in the auto industry at Wyoming Technical Institute, where he studied Automotive Technology and Automotive Engineering. He graduated in the top 5% of his class.

From there, he earned a certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence before starting Brakes To Go.

Randall Huntsinger - Co-Founder & CEO

Prior to starting Brakes To Go, Randall spent 20 years as an attorney.

He ran his own legal business, specializing in technical and consulting services for small businesses. In addition, he was general counsel for a private energy services company.

Before that, he was an attorney for Godwin Gruber, a Dallas-based law firm. He began his career as an assistant attorney general for the Texas Attorney General.

Randall is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Texas and a Law degree from the University of Houston.

Co-Investors