Brush holder for a DC motor is disclosed as having at least one brush box for housing a brush biased radially toward an opening through the brush holder. A brush retainer is provided for preventing the brush from entering the opening of the brush holder until the rotor of the DC motor is assembled to the stator, where the brush retainer is releasably attached to an annular wall defining the brush holder opening. The brush holder also includes means for capturing the brush retainer once it is displaced axially during assembly of the rotor to the stator, as well as means for retaining a printed circuit board in position between the brush holder and the stator end cap.