Cottman Transmission Systems vs Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Cottman Transmission Systems vs Valvoline Instant 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
Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
Investment $192,000 - $230,000 $181,000 - $3,158,500
Franchise Fee $37,500 $30,000
Royalty Fee 7.5% 4-6%
Advertising Fee $765 Weekly 3%
Year Founded 1962 1986
Year Franchised 1964 1988
Term Of Agreement 15 years 15 years
Term Of Agreement 15 years 15 years
Renewal Fee - -


Business Experience Requirements

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

  • Financing Options

     
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
      In-House/3rd Party In-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes No/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/Yes No/Yes
    Equipment No/Yes Yes/No
    Inventory No/Yes No/Yes
    Receivables No/No No/No
    Payroll No/Yes No/Yes

    Training & Support

     
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    Training Training class room at Corporate Office - Horsham, PA (2 weeks) -Security/safety procedures -
    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 cooperatives Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing *Ad slicks *National media *Regional advertising Ad slicks
    Operations

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

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

    40% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (97% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

     
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    US Expansion Yes -
    Canada Expansion No No
    International Expansion No No

    Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile

    Investment
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    $192,000 - $230,000
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    $181,000 - $3,158,500
    Franchise Fee
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    $37,500
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    $30,000
    Royalty Fee
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    7.5%
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    4-6%
    Advertising Fee
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    $765 Weekly
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    3%
    Year Founded
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    1962
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    1986
    Year Franchised
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    1964
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    1988
    Term Of Agreement
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    15 years
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    15 years
    Renewal Fee
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    -
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    -


    Business Experience Requirements

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

  • General business experience

  • Financing Options

      In-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No/Yes
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    No/Yes
    Start-up Costs
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No/Yes
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    No/Yes
    Equipment
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No/Yes
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    Yes/No
    Inventory
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No/Yes
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    No/Yes
    Receivables
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No/No
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    No/No
    Payroll
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No/Yes
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    No/Yes

    Training & Support

    Training
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    Training class room at Corporate Office - Horsham, PA (2 weeks) -Security/safety procedures
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    -
    Support
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    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 cooperatives
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations
    Marketing
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    *Ad slicks *National media *Regional advertising
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    Ad slicks
    Operations
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3

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

    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    40% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 4

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (97% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


    Expansion Plans

    US Expansion
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    Yes
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    -
    Canada Expansion
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    No
    International Expansion
    Cottman Transmission Systems Franchise
    No
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise
    No

    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 Valvoline Instant Oil Change

    We’re passionate about cars, as you might expect. But we’re really in the business of taking care of people. At Valvoline Instant Oil Change (VIOC) people are our greatest asset. We bring the quality of the Valvoline brand to the do-it-for-me quick lube customer. Today we have 900+ VIOC locations coast to coast, and we serve
    9 million customers a year. We don’t just change oil; we protect one of our customers’ most valuable investments. Because they rely on their vehicles, they rely on Valvoline Instant Oil Change.
    Valvoline Instant Oil Change is a division of The Valvoline Co. and was created in 1986 with the purchase of quick-lube centers throughout New York, Minneapolis and Michigan. The public company began franchising in 1988 and is based in Lexington, Kentucky.

    "Entrepreneur

    #57 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #20 in Franchise 500 for 2021.