Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine vs CARSTAR Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine vs CARSTAR including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine Franchise
CARSTAR Franchise
Investment $55,000 - $761,135$298,200 - $804,300
Franchise Fee $35,000$20,000 - $30,000
Royalty Fee 5%1.5%
Advertising Fee 0.5%1%
Year Founded 19781989
Year Franchised 19791989
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Term Of Agreement 15 years-
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements
 
Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine Franchise
CARSTAR Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills
    		• -

    Financing Options
     
    Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine Franchise
    CARSTAR Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/Yes-/-
    Start-up Costs No/Yes-/-
    Equipment No/Yes-/-
    Inventory No/Yes-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support
     
    Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine Franchise
    CARSTAR Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 40 hours Classroom Training: 35 hours Additional Training: Annual regional meetings On-The-Job Training: 12 hours Classroom Training: 20 hours Additional Training: Regional training, 1-2 days; Ongoing training at franchisee's location as needed
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing 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 Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing
    Operations 30% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 8

    Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		Absentee Ownership Allowed

    Number of Employees Required to Run: 8 - 9

    Expansion Plans
     
    Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine Franchise
    CARSTAR Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoYes
    International Expansion Yes-

    Company Overviews

    About Grease Monkey and Grease Monkey Shine

    Founded in 1978, Grease Monkey centers provide preventive maintenance that meets manufacturers' recommendations for most makes and models of cars, with no appointment necessary. Grease Monkey International is the nation's largest independent franchisor of automotive oil change centers serving more than 2 million customers each year with 75% of them being return customers. Our "less hassle, more hustle!" customer experience is part of every signature Grease Monkey® service.

    Headquartered in Denver Colorado, the Grease Monkey® brand currently has more than 300 centers operating in the United States, Latin America, and China.
    GMI is not owned by a major oil company. Being independent means GMI's focus remains on helping customers properly maintain their car or truck, instead of selling a particular brand of oil. Since 1998, the company has offered a Monkey Shine program--a car wash adjacent to and in conjunction with the Grease Monkey Center.

    The estimated total investment necessary to begin operation of a Grease Monkey franchise ranges from $156,695 to $347,850, including between $5,000 and $50,000 which must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.
    If you elect to include a Monkey Shine Facility providing car wash services in conjunction with the Grease Monkey Center, the total investment increases between $151,650 and $761,135 depending on the configuration and size of your Monkey Shine Facility, none of which added costs is paid to the franchisor or its affiliates. Grease Monkey franchisees have the option to choose to operate a Monkey Shine Facility.
    Grease Monkey area developers acquire the right to develop multiple franchises, with a minimum of three Grease Monkey Centers in a designated development area. The total investment necessary to begin operation as an area developer to open three Grease Monkey Centers ranges from $55,000 to $65,000, all of which must be paid to the franchisor or its affiliates.
    Veteran Incentives  $10,000 off franchise fee

    "franchiserankingscom"   "Entrepreneur
    #84 on Franchise Rankings.com
    #161 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #167 in Franchise 500 for 2021.




    About CARSTAR

    CARSTAR is a champion of the independent collision repair operators, consequently, CARSTAR is the largest automotive collision repair franchise in North America. The well publicized industry dynamitics: declining repair opportunities, acceleration in shops being de-selected from Insurance referral programs, excess repair capacity, increased competition from Multi-Shop Operators and Consolidators, and scarcity of skilled labor, has changed how the Independent Collision Repair Operator needs to conduct business. The CARSTAR Franchise program offers many solutions to these and other issues in which you and your business may be facing. We believe we are the champion for quality Independent shops, providing effective training solutions, staying involved in National and Local Industry Associations and developing sale and marketing programs to help our Franchisees compete in this turbulent market.

    CARSTAR leverages the purchasing power of Driven Brands to provide tremendous benefits for our CARSTAR store owners. Nearly 50 corporately managed purchasing programs provide our CARSTAR partners on average $25,000 or more in cost savings and rebates. With larger volume stores easily surpassing that amount in rebates. Store owners also benefit from a national fleet program, top vendor partnerships and support from national service providers.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a conversion CARSTAR franchise is $23,500 to $165,300. This includes $10,000 to $20,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate. The total investment necessary to begin operation of a new (ground-up) CARSTAR franchise is $298,200 to $804,300. This includes $10,000 to $20,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate.

    "Top""  "Entrepreneur
    #17 in Canada's Top franchises.
    #120 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
    #164 in Franchise 500 for 2021.