DPF Alternatives Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

DPF Alternatives is a diesel emissions franchise offering cleaning and maintenance services for diesel particulate filters to improve vehicle performance.

DPF Alternatives is a leading franchise in the diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning and restoration industry. Founded in 2007, DPF Alternatives quickly established itself as a pioneer in ultrasonic DPF cleaning technology, which has become the cornerstone of their services. 

Headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, the company has expanded its operations across the United States, offering superior emissions solutions that restore DPFs to like-new conditions.

The franchise began its expansion in 2017, leveraging its proven business model and proprietary cleaning processes to attract franchisees nationwide. 

Today, DPF Alternatives boasts numerous locations from coast to coast, each offering a comprehensive range of services, including DPF cleaning, EGR cooler restoration, and VGT turbocharger cleaning.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

DPF Alternatives offers 2 types of franchises:

Type of Business Initial Investment Amount
DPF Business Start-Up Business $86,000 to $289,000
Conversion Business, Co-Branded Business, Competitive Conversion Business, or Investor Business $64,000 to $282,000

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a DPF Business Start-Up Business franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

DPF Business Start-Up Business

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $2,500 to $50,000
Construction and Leasehold Improvements $0 to $7,500
Lease Deposit – Three Months $0 to $8,500
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment $30,000 to $100,000
Initial Inventory $43,000 to $80,000
Signage $250 to $3,000
Computer, Software, and POS System $0 to $3,500
Grand Opening Marketing $250 to $1,000
Insurance Deposits – Three Months $500 to $2,000
Travel for Initial Training $2,000 to $3,500
Professional Fees $1,500 to $3,000
Service Vehicle $0 to $10,000
Licenses and Permits $1,000 to $2,000
Additional Funds – Three Months $5,000 to $15,000
Total Initial Estimate $86,000 to $289,000

DPF Alternatives offers 2 types of franchises:

Type of Business Initial Investment Amount
DPF Business Start-Up Business $86,000 to $289,000
Conversion Business, Co-Branded Business, Competitive Conversion Business, or Investor Business $64,000 to $282,000

We are summarizing below the main costs associated with opening a DPF Business Start-Up Business franchise.

For more information on the various types of franchises and its costs, refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document (Item 7).

DPF Business Start-Up Business

Type of Expenditure Amount
Initial Franchise Fee $2,500 to $50,000
Construction and Leasehold Improvements $0 to $7,500
Lease Deposit – Three Months $0 to $8,500
Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment $30,000 to $100,000
Initial Inventory $43,000 to $80,000
Signage $250 to $3,000
Computer, Software, and POS System $0 to $3,500
Grand Opening Marketing $250 to $1,000
Insurance Deposits – Three Months $500 to $2,000
Travel for Initial Training $2,000 to $3,500
Professional Fees $1,500 to $3,000
Service Vehicle $0 to $10,000
Licenses and Permits $1,000 to $2,000
Additional Funds – Three Months $5,000 to $15,000
Total Initial Estimate $86,000 to $289,000

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training 

DPF Alternatives provides comprehensive training designed to equip franchisees with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully operate their DPF cleaning business. The training program is extensive and includes both hands-on and theoretical components to ensure franchisees are fully prepared.

  1. Initial Training: Franchisees undergo a thorough initial training program at DPF Alternatives' headquarters. This training covers the proprietary ultrasonic cleaning technology, which is central to the franchise's operations. Franchisees learn about the technical aspects of DPF, EGR, and SCR cleaning processes, as well as how to operate the specialized equipment used in these services.
  2. Business Management Training: In addition to technical training, franchisees receive instruction on the business side of operations. This includes training on customer service, sales, marketing strategies, and day-to-day business management. The goal is to ensure franchisees can not only perform the services but also run their businesses effectively and profitably.
  3. Ongoing Support and Training: DPF Alternatives also provides ongoing training and support. As the company continues to innovate and refine its processes, franchisees receive updates and additional training to stay current with the latest techniques and technologies. This ongoing support includes access to a network of other franchisees and corporate resources that help troubleshoot challenges and optimize business performance.

Territory Protection

DPF Alternatives offers territory protection to its franchisees, ensuring that each franchisee has an exclusive area where no other DPF Alternatives franchise can operate. 

This territorial exclusivity is designed to help franchisees maximize their market potential without competition from within the same brand. 

The size and boundaries of the protected territory are typically defined based on factors such as population density and market demand, providing franchisees with a secure and profitable operating environment.

This territorial protection is crucial for maintaining the integrity and profitability of the franchisee’s business, allowing them to focus on growing their customer base without concerns about overlapping services from other franchisees. 

Competitors

Below are some of

DPF Alternatives

key competitors in the

Other Automotive

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

68

New
+
62%
62%

$2,500 to $50,000

$64,000

$289,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

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?

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10%
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Investment

?

$879,000 - $15,874,000

Budget Rent A Car

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-8%
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?

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-1%
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?

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?

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0%
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?

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?

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?

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TravelCenters of America

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Franchisees

?

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+
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17%
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?

$7,423,000 - $49,717,000