Cottman Transmission Systems vs Express Oil Change Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Cottman Transmission Systems vs Express Oil Change including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
Express Oil Change Franchise
Investment $192,000 - $230,000$1,863,000 - $2,716,000
Franchise Fee $37,500$35,000
Royalty Fee 7.5%5%
Advertising Fee $765 Weekly3%Local
Year Founded 19621979
Year Franchised 19641983
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years10 years
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
Express Oil Change Franchise
Experience *Total net worth requirement: $100,000+ *Cash Liquidity requirement: $50,000 - $75,000 *Industry experience *General Business experience *Marketing Skills

No previous auto mechanical experience or knowledge is necessary. We look for general business accumen, strong communication and people skills for motivating your staff and working with customers, a high level of energy, a positive attitude, a drive to succeed at your own business, and future goal orientation.


Financing Options

 
Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
Express Oil Change Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/YesNo/Yes
Start-up Costs No/YesNo/Yes
Equipment No/YesNo/Yes
Inventory No/YesNo/Yes
Receivables No/NoNo/No
Payroll No/YesNo/No

Training & Support

 
Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
Express Oil Change Franchise
Training Training class room at Corporate Office - Horsham, PA (2 weeks) -Security/safety procedures On-The-Job Training: 296 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours Additional Training: At training centers
Support Opening Support: - Training class room at Corporate Office - Horsham, PA (2 weeks) - In-field training - Real Estate - Assistance finding a suitable location (if needed) - Operations Team assigned to assist in the transition - Grand Opening - Sales Development Plan - Marketing Plan Ongoing Training and Support: - Technical Hotline available - Cottman Business Management System - POS - Financial Assistance provided - Franchisee intranet portal - National PR Firm - Technical Training (in house and on site) - Localized commercial accounts - Advertising Program o Traditional and Internet Advertising o Franchisee Website o Pay Per Click o Award-winning Cottman Man Blog o Cottman Webinar Series Award winning National website (Cottman.com) o Award-winning Cottman Man Educational Video Series o Social Media -Security/safety procedures -Field operations/evaluations -Purchasing cooperativesPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing *Ad slicks *National media *Regional advertisingCo-op Advertising Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

85% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 6 - 8

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. There must be a partner running the operations.


Expansion Plans

 
Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
Express Oil Change Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion NoNo

Company Overviews

About Cottman Transmission Systems

With areas over the U.S., Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care is a transmission and auto repair mark that administrations any make or model vehicle, remote or local. Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care focuses have some expertise in entire transmission benefit, brakes, suspension, cooling administration and a great deal more. Cottman's base camp is situated in Horsham, Pennsylvania.

Cottman Transmission Systems, LLC gives a markdown on starting establishment charges to veterans of U.S. Military who generally meet the prerequisites of the Cottman Vet Program. For qualified veterans partaking in this program, Cottman Transmission Systems, LLC will diminish the measure of the Initial License charge by $8,000. In this manner the Initial License under the Cottman Vet Program is decreased to $29,500 (for franchisees outside of New Jersey). To Qualify, veterans must give us satisfactory documentation of respectable release, and the franchisee for the Center to be worked must be no less than 51% possessed by the veteran taking an interest in the Cottman Vet Program. Veterans taking an interest in the Cottman Vet Program who wish to exchange the establishment before opening the Center must pay us the bit of the Initial License Fee that is postponed under the program ($8,000) as a condition to the exchange.

There are as of now more than 53 Cottman Transmission Centers in 21 states and Canada.


About Express Oil Change

Former gas station manager Jim Lunceford founded Express Oil Change in 1979 after hearing about a West Coast business that offered quick oil changes. Lunceford brought the concept to Alabama, opened four centers and began franchising in 1984. In 1996, franchisees Joe Watson and Ricky Brooks purchased Express Oil Change from Lunceford and began expanding the company into Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. Two years later, the company purchased Tune-Up Clinics, a 28-store chain based in Atlanta. Twenty-five Tune-Up Clinic locations became Express Oil Change centers after the purchase.

Seeking new franchise units in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Midwest, North Carolina, South, South Carolina, Southeast, Southwest,
Tennessee and Texas