About DPF Alternatives Franchise
DPF Alternatives is a specialized automotive services franchise that cleans and restores diesel particulate filters (DPFs) for commercial trucks, buses, and heavy equipment.
The brand has been franchising since 2016, offering a critical maintenance service that helps diesel vehicle owners avoid costly filter replacements and stay compliant with emissions regulations.
The franchise fee ranges from $2,500 to $25,000, providing one of the most flexible and affordable entry points in the automotive services franchise market.
DPF Alternatives Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$44K
Average Investment
$122K
Maximum Investment
$199K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $2,500 to $25,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | $750 per month of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | Local Advertising Costs: At least $250 per month; Regional Advertising Cooperative Fee: The then-current fee; Brand Development Fund Fee: The then-current fee (up to $500 per month) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $44,000 – $199,000 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $44K–$199K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty ($750 per month) and marketing fee (Local Advertising Costs: At least $250 per month; Regional Advertising Cooperative Fee: The then-current fee; Brand Development Fund Fee: The then-current fee (up to $500 per month)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $2,500 | $25,000 |
| Construction and Leasehold Improvements | $0 | $7,500 |
| Lease Deposit – Three Months | $0 | $8,500 |
| Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment | $30,000 | $100,000 |
| Initial Inventory | $1,000 | $15,000 |
| Signage | $250 | $3,000 |
| Computer, Software, and POS System | $0 | $3,500 |
| Grand Opening Marketing | $250 | $1,000 |
| Insurance Deposits – Three Months | $500 | $2,000 |
| Travel for Initial Training | $2,000 | $3,500 |
| Professional Fees | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| Service Vehicle | $0 | $10,000 |
| Licenses and Permits | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Additional Funds – Three Months | $5,000 | $15,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | 75% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee or $7,500 |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee |
| Technology Fee | The then-current fee (up to $500 per month) |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit and associated expenses |
| Training Expenses for Additional Personnel | As charged by third parties |
| Additional Operating Assistance | $1,000 per day plus associated expenses |
| Missed Quota Remedial Training | $500 per day plus associated expenses |
| Annual Conference Fee and Expenses | The then-current fee plus associated expenses |
| Default Interest Rate | The greater of (i) 1.5% per month, or (ii) the highest rate permitted by applicable law |
| Late Fee | $100 per incident |
| Relocation Fee | $2,500 |
| Investor Business Designated Territory Swap Fee | The greater of (i) $250, or (ii) our actual incurred legal costs |
| Inventory | As incurred |
| Approval of Suppliers | As we determine |
| Insurance | Varies |
| Attorney’s Fees and Other Professional Fees | Varies |
| Indemnification | Varies |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | approximate five-day period |
| Classroom Training | 24 |
| On-the-Job Training | 24 |
| Training Location | Our then-current headquarters or such other place we designate. |
| Additional Training | Franchisor may offer supplemental training and may require franchisees or managers to participate in additional onsite training, for which fees and travel expenses may apply. Attendance at any future annual conference will be mandatory. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Exclusive |
| Exclusive Territory | Yes |
| Territory Size | Your Designated Territory will be determined when you execute your Franchise Agreement. |
| Description | A defined geographic territory within which a DPF Business operates, determined by physical boundaries such as streets, geographic boundaries, ZIP codes, or political boundaries. Franchisees must operate only from their approved Operations Center within this territory and meet minimum Gross Sales quotas to maintain rights. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | Eight years |
| Renewal Term | Three five-year terms |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee |
| Renewal Conditions | Give written notice, receive our approval, full compliance, remodel, sign our then-current Franchise Agreement, sign a release, be in compliance with your Franchise Agreement or any other agreement, and renovate your DPF Business. The then-current Franchise Agreement may have significantly different terms, and fees may be adjusted. |
| Transfer Fee | 75% of the then-current Initial Franchise Fee or $7,500 |
| Transfer Conditions | Transferee qualifies, franchisee in full compliance, all amounts due paid, all required reports submitted, timely written notice, transferee attends training, transfer fee paid, new franchise agreement executed, general release signed, and franchisor consents to the transfer. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate if franchisee commits any one of several specific violations, including curable defaults (10-day cure period) or non-curable defaults (e.g., abandonment, bankruptcy, criminal activity, failure to pay amounts due, misuse of Marks, unauthorized transfer). |
| Non-Compete Period | three years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term, if a Start-Up, Conversion, or Investor Business, no involvement in a competing business deriving 10% or more of gross revenue from diesel engine filtration system cleaning. After termination or expiration, no involvement with a competing business for three years within 15 miles of the perimeter of the Designated Territory, another franchisee's Designated Territory, or any DPF Business. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | The franchisee, Principal Operator, or Designated Manager must successfully complete training and personally participate in the direct day-to-day operation of the DPF Business. A Designated Manager will sign a non-disclosure and non-competition agreement. If a business entity, the Principal Operator, all owners, and any officer, director, manager, or member may be required to sign such agreements. Monthly 'Franchisee Workshops' attendance is required, and the business must operate during designated hours. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase all diesel filter servicing equipment from the franchisor, DPFSource (an affiliate), other affiliates, designated suppliers, or approved suppliers. Initial inventory of Services and Products, certain tools, equipment, and consumables must be purchased from the franchisor or DPFSource. The POS System must be purchased only from an approved supplier. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must adhere to the franchisor's standards and specifications for services, products, appearance, design, service quality, and performance. The franchisor may modify approved suppliers at any time and may designate a single supplier as the sole approved supplier for certain items. Franchisees may be required to renovate their DPF Business no more often than every five years to meet current standards. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | The franchisor, DPFSource, or other affiliates may receive rebates, payments, or other material benefits from approved suppliers based on franchisee purchases. The franchisor did not receive revenue from suppliers of source-restricted products or services in 2021. DPFSource receives revenue from the sale of cleaning equipment to franchisees. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | Neither the franchisor nor its affiliate, DPFSource, offers direct or indirect financing arrangements, nor do they guarantee any franchisee's notes, leases, or other obligations. They also do not receive payments or consideration for placing financing. |
DPF Alternatives Franchise Earnings — Item 19
DPF Alternatives does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
DPF Alternatives does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
DPF Alternatives Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordDPF Alternatives has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
DPF Alternatives System Growth
Total Units
56
Franchised
56
Company-Owned
0
DPF Alternatives currently operates 56 franchised locations and 0 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 16 | 1 | 34 |
| 2020 | 8 | 2 | 42 |
| 2021 | 16 | 2 | 56 |
Transfers: 1 | Closures: 2
State Registrations
Registered in 16 states: CA, CT, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI, CO
DPF Alternatives Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a DPF Alternatives franchise ranges from $44,000 to $199,000, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $2,500 to $25,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
DPF Alternatives charges a royalty fee of $750 per month of gross sales, plus a Local Advertising Costs: At least $250 per month; Regional Advertising Cooperative Fee: The then-current fee; Brand Development Fund Fee: The then-current fee (up to $500 per month) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the DPF Alternatives Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from DPF Alternatives to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
DPF Alternatives does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
DPF Alternatives has been franchising since 2016. The FDD shows an investment range of $44,000-$199,000, a $750 per month royalty, and no Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $2,500 to $25,000 and the total investment ranges from $44,000 to $199,000 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from DPF Alternatives and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with DPF Alternatives or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com