1851

Kris Kramer opened Christian Brothers Automotive in March&nbsp;in Liberty Lake, to accomplish his goal of becoming a small business owner in the region in which he was born and raised. He spent most of his time growing up just over the border in Idaho but has always considered the area his home. He went to high school in Hayden Lake and followed his high school sweetheart to Oregon and then Northeast Texas where he eventually graduated from college. Once they were married, the couple moved to Everett, Washington, and Kramer spent the next two decades&nbsp;working for Farmers Insurance. He transferred a little closer to home in Spokane and just recently decided it was time to go into business for himself, as a member of the <a href="http://christianbrothersfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-spotlight-kris-kramer-of-christian-brothers-automotive-11802" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christian Brothers Automotive</a> franchise system.&nbsp;

Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

I was born in Boise, and was adopted by my parents at six-weeks old. They were in Coeur d&rsquo;Alene, so I grew up in North Idaho. Pretty much grew up in Idaho right near where my shop is, Liberty Lake, just across the border of Idaho and Washington. It was right along the river in Post Falls, but I never would have thought of opening a business nearby.

My wife and I met while studying at private school in Hayden Lake as high school juniors. We&#39;ve been together for 31 years now. We moved to Oregon out of high school, I followed her around and kept up my college studies. We eventually moved to Longview, Texas, where her family is originally from. She and I got married and I went there to finish up college but I always wanted us to find our way back to the Northwest. Soon after our first son was born, we moved back. I found a job working for Farmers Insurance and went on to spend the next 23 years there, in Everett, Washington, and eventually Spokane.&nbsp;

Along the way, I had always considered opening my own business. My grandfather had owned a car dealership in&nbsp;Couer d&#39;Alene, and my dad had that same entrepreneurial spirit when he started his own janitorial business and operated in the area for 40 years. I got comfortable in the insurance life, though, especially since I was virtually living in the region I called home.&nbsp;

What about your skillset has prepared you to become a franchisee with <a href="https://christianbrothers.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisee-spotlight-kris-kramer-of-christian-brothers-automotive-11802" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christian Brothers Automotive</a>?

I initially wanted to retire from the insurance business at 50 so I could begin taking the steps to go into business for myself. That decision was starting to be made for when they began to reduce my department -- but by that time I was already searching for a business of my own and had a couple of ventures in mind. For the last three years, I spent my time working in a collision repair shop for a franchise, locally owned, and that further prepared me for Christian Brothers and the automotive industry. It was a wonderful experience.&nbsp;

I always understood the benefits for franchising. I had been successful in my career but I was without a specific skillset. That&rsquo;s the value of becoming a franchise owner -- it didn&#39;t matter. I didn&#39;t have to be an expert in the auto industry to open a Christian Brothers Auto shop.&nbsp;

So, I left my previous position in November and decided to finalize my decision to open Christian Brothers near my home currently and wound up settling on Liberty Lake. The shop is only 17 miles away from my house.

How did you hear about the franchise?

Within life in the insurance world, I had always been involved in automobile claims. I have always had a passion and an interest in cars, so becoming the owner and operator of an auto repair shop made sense. When I left Farmers about four years ago, I used the money I had been saving and checked with a financial advisor about the best way to go about all of this and he called me up one day and told me about Christian Brothers. He knew some people who had joined the franchise team and it sounded like something I could be a part of.&nbsp;

Franchisee Spotlight: Kris Kramer of Christian Brothers Automotive

1851 Franchise

Originally from North Idaho, Kris Kramer spent his life working in Eastern Washington within the insurance industry before returning to his roots to open Christian Brothers Automotive near his hometown.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

franchisee-spotlight-kris-kramer-of-christian-brothers-automotive

United Water Restoration Group

image of water restoration group Air Force veteran Nathan Sherman

Is United Water Restoration Group the Right Franchise Opportunity for First-Time Business Owners?

united-water-restoration-group-first-time-business-owners

Paris Baguette

image of Paris baguette franchise owner success

The Recipe for Success: A Step-By-Step Guide to Opening a Paris Baguette Franchise

paris-baguette-franchise-process

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Image of Onigilly restaurant franchise Reports Record 2025 Growth in Fast Casual

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen Closes 2025 With Record Sales Growth and Expanding Franchise Pipeline

onigilly-franchise-2025-growth-fast-casual

Pool Scouts

Pool Scouts Franchise - 2025 Annual Convention - Dallas TX - 1851 Franchise

Pool Scouts' 2025 Conference Sets the Stage for the Brand's Next Phase of Growth

pool-scouts-2025-conference-recap

Home Halo

image of a home halo franchisee elder care business owner franchisee

Why Home Halo Franchise Owners Don’t Just Run a Senior Home Care Business — They Lead a Local Care Company

why-home-halo-franchise-owners-become-local-care-leaders

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Domino's Franchise - North Pole - Dec 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Domino’s Pizza Brings Delivery Cheer to North Pole, Alaska

dominos-pizza-franchise-north-pole-alaska

California Pizza Kitchen’s Sale Is the Latest in the Era of PE-Backed Turnarounds in Franchising

california-pizza-kitchens-sale-is-the-latest-in-the-era-of-pe-backed-turnarounds-in-franchising

Buying a fitness franchise, people exercising

Boutique vs. Big Box Gym Franchises: Which Offers Best ROI in the $7 Billion Fitness Market?

buy-fitness-franchise-boutique-big-box-comparison

Pieology Pizza Enters Chapter 11 Following Costly Bid To Save Struggling Stores

pieology-pizza-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

Meet the Supplier - The Franchising Company - 1851 Franchise

The Franchising Company: Helping Aspiring Business Owners Take the Guesswork out of Franchising

the-franchising-company-franchise-consulting-firm

How Top-Tier Franchises Build Systems for Employee Retention

how-top-tier-franchises-build-systems-for-employee-retention

Scaling by Slowing Down: A Founder’s Playbook for Sustainable Franchise Growth

founder-to-franchisor-when-pause

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

Do You Qualify? A Look at the Chick-fil-A Franchise Requirements

do-you-qualify-a-look-at-the-chick-fil-a-franchise-requirements

The Top 15 Pet Supplies and Retail Franchises for 2025

the-top-15-pet-supplies-and-retail-franchises

The Top 15 Pet Wellness and Vet Care Franchises for 2025

top-pet-wellness-franchise-opportunities

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

Franchisee Spotlight: Kris Kramer of Christian Brothers Automotive

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS