Grease Monkey Franchise Review 2025: Costs, Fees, News, Average Revenues and/or Profits

Grease Monkey provides a range of car maintenance services. Oil changes are a large part of their business, featuring not only in the company’s name but front and center on their webpage. But like many oil change companies, they also provide a wide range of other services. In this case, that runs from relatively straightforward work on batteries through to full servicing of engines.

The company has been going for four decades, so plenty of experience has gone into designing the systems, products, and brand. It’s now going through a period of expansion, with over five hundred units in place, and is keen to keep expanding, both domestically and internationally.

Existing oil change businesses can convert to the Grease Monkey brand, making it an entry point into franchising and expansion for somebody already working in the sector. But it’s also possible to set up a Grease Monkey business from scratch. The franchisor doesn’t even require owners to have experience in the auto sector. What’s important is passion for customer service and a willingness to engage with the business.

Given the popularity of cars in America – every year sees more on the road – and the increasing average age of those cars, demand for oil change and broader auto services is likely to remain high for the foreseeable future, making this an industry with potential.

In this exclusive Franchise Chatter FDD Talk post, you’ll learn the following:

Section I – Estimated initial investment (franchise costs) for a Grease Monkey franchise, based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD

Section II – Initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee for a Grease Monkey franchise, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD

Section III – Number of franchised and company-owned Grease Monkey outlets at the start of the year and the end of the year for 2022, 2023, and 2024, based on Item 20 of the company’s 2025 FDD

Section IV – News updates on the Grease Monkey franchise opportunity

Section V – Presentation and analysis of Grease Monkey’s financial performance representations (average revenues and/or profits), based on Item 19 of the company’s 2025 FDD, including information on the:

• 2024 average, median, highest, and lowest daily vehicle count and ticket range for the 149 franchisee-owned Grease Monkey centers that operated for the entire calendar year 2024 and provided complete profit and loss statements to the franchisor, grouped by net sales ranges

• 2024 average net sales, cost of goods sold, gross profit, salaries, wages and benefits, retail operating expenses, office and G&A expenses, and EBITDAR for the 149 franchisee-owned Grease Monkey centers that operated for the entire calendar year 2024 and provided complete profit and loss statements to the franchisor, grouped by net sales ranges

• 2024 average net sales, gross profit, and EBITDAR, by quartile, for the 149 franchisee-owned Grease Monkey centers that operated for the entire calendar year 2024 and provided complete profit and loss statements to the franchisor

Section VI – Key ratios, comparables, computations, and analyses for the Grease Monkey franchise opportunity (exclusive content for Platinum subscribers)

Section I – Grease Monkey Franchise Costs

• Grease Monkey franchise costs (single Brownfield/conversion location), based on Item 7 of the company’s 2025 FDD:

• Initial Franchise Fee:  $20,000 to $39,900
• Real Estate:  $16,000 to $40,000
• Building Work:  $60,000 to $350,000
• General Site Work:  $0 to $75,000
• Due Diligence, Permits, Design, and Plans:  $500 to $25,000
• FF&E Package & Installation:  $80,450 to $186,650
• Grand Opening Costs:  $10,000
• Initial Inventory:  $25,000 to $35,000
• Signs:  $20,000 to $40,000
• Supplies:  $3,000 to $5,000
• Initial Training – Travel & Lodging Expenses:  $3,300 to $6,000
• Computer Hardware and Software:  $14,000 to $20,500
• Point of Sale Maintenance Fee:  $2,070 to $4,000
• Prepaid Expenses:  $2,000 to $5,000
• Additional Funds (3 months):  $35,000 to $75,000
• Total Estimated Grease Monkey Franchise Costs:  $291,320 to $917,050

• These estimated initial expenses are Grease Monkey’s best estimate of the costs you may incur in establishing and operating your Grease Monkey Franchise if you are able to find an existing or former automotive repair center to lease that currently has a basement or existing service pits (“Brownfield” or “Conversion” locations).

Section II – Grease Monkey’s Initial Franchise Fee, Royalty Fee, and Marketing Fee

• Grease Monkey’s initial franchise fee, royalty fee, and marketing fee, based on Items 5 and 6 of the company’s 2025 FDD:

• Initial Franchise Fee:  $39,900
• Royalty:  6.0% of Gross Revenues
• Advertising Contribution:  0.5% of Gross Revenues
• Local Advertising Commitment:  4.0% of Gross Revenues
• Local and Regional Advertising Cooperatives:  established by cooperative members

Section III – Number of Franchised and Company-Owned Grease Monkey Outlets

Franchised

2022

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  185
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  187
• Net Change:  +2

2023

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  187
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  201
• Net Change:  +14

2024

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  201
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  209
• Net Change:  +8

Company-Owned

2022

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  116
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  150
• Net Change:  +34

2023

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  150
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  150
• Net Change:  0

2024

• Outlets at the Start of the Year:  150
• Outlets at the End of the Year:  162
• Net Change:  +12

Section IV – News Updates on the Grease Monkey Franchise

• Grease Monkey Outlines Three-Year Plan to Expand Across Western U.S.

• Largest Grease Monkey Franchisee Follows Father’s Legacy

• Grease Monkey Transfers Ownership of Seven Stores to Largest Franchisee Group

• Grease Monkey Continues Partnership with Oilex Operating, LLC; Secures Seven-Unit Agreement

• Grease Monkey and SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service Land on Entrepreneur’s 2024 Veterans List

• Grease Monkey Achieves Its First-Ever Ranking on the 2024 Inc. 5000

• Grease Monkey Did Not Rank on Entrepreneur’s 2025 Franchise 500 List

Section V – Financial Performance Representations (Average Revenues and/or Profits) for the Grease Monkey Franchise (Item 19, 2025 FDD)

• The charts include a historic financial performance representation for the calendar year 2024 from franchisee-owned Centers located in the United States that, in each case, were in operation for more than one year as of December 31, 2024, operated the entire calendar year 2024, and who provided complete Profit and Loss Statements to Grease Monkey (“Subset”). Only those Centers that fall within the Subset are included in the Part 1 and Part 2 charts.

• The charts include a historic financial performance representation from 149 franchisee-owned Centers. The total number of franchisee-owned Centers located in the United States as of December 31, 2024 was 209. Centers that are not shown in the charts include Centers that commenced operations during calendar year 2024 or otherwise did not operate for the entire calendar year 2024, Centers that were involved in transfers during calendar year 2024 and thus the current owners did not operate for the entire calendar year 2024, and Centers for which complete Profit and Loss Statements were not provided to Grease Monkey. Five franchisee-owned Centers closed during the year 2024, none of which was open for less than 12 months.

• The charts do not show any financial information from any of Grease Monkey’s affiliate-owned outlets. The affiliate-owned Centers are those Centers owned and operated by Grease Monkey’s affiliate GMI.

Part 1 – Operational Results of Grease Monkey Centers Based on Net Sales Ranges – Franchisee-Owned Centers

• The Centers included in Part 1 were classified into five separate categories based on Net Sales during calendar year 2024 with Category A being Centers with annual Net Sales of up to $400,000, Category B being Centers with annual Net Sales between $400,001 and $600,000; Category C being Centers with annual Net Sales between $600,001 and $800,000; Category D being Centers with annual Net Sales between $800,001 and $1,000,000; and Category E being Centers with annual Net Sales in excess of $1,000,000.

• The statistical and financial averages and median ranges shown in Part 1 were then compiled within each category for each chart.

Category A:  Less Than $400,000 in Sales

• Number of Centers:  6
• Daily Vehicle Count Range:  7 – 35
• Ticket Range:  $33.24 – $154.30
• Average Daily Vehicle Count:  13
• Average Ticket:  $102.38
• Median Daily Vehicle Count:  8.99
• Median Ticket:  $108.48

• Average Net Sales:  $323,437 (100.0%)
• Average Cost of Goods Sold:  $92,316 (28.5%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $231,122 (71.5%)
• Average Salaries, Wages, and Benefits:  $153,194 (47.4%)
• Average Retail Operating Expenses:  $100,239 (31.0%)
• Average Office and G&A Expenses:  $14,753 (4.6%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $(37,064) (-11.5%)

• Net Sales Range:  $271,889 – $373,410
• Median Net Sales:  $314,556
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Net Sales:  2/33.3%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Gross Profits:  3/50.0%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average EBITDAR:  3/50.0%

Category B:  $400,001 to $600,000 in Sales

• Number of Centers:  16
• Daily Vehicle Count Range:  10 – 36
• Ticket Range:  $48.02 – $186.89
• Average Daily Vehicle Count:  15
• Average Ticket:  $118.12
• Median Daily Vehicle Count:  13.55
• Median Ticket:  $114.89

• Average Net Sales:  $504,063 (100.0%)
• Average Cost of Goods Sold:  $136,155 (27.0%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $367,908 (73.0%)
• Average Salaries, Wages, and Benefits:  $194,433 (38.6%)
• Average Retail Operating Expenses:  $129,925 (25.8%)
• Average Office and G&A Expenses:  $16,957 (3.4%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $26,594 (5.3%)

• Net Sales Range:  $407,736 – $599,600
• Median Net Sales:  $512,093
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Net Sales:  8/50.00%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Gross Profits:  8/50.00%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average EBITDAR:  10/62.50%

Category C:  $600,001 to $800,000 in Sales

• Number of Centers:  16
• Daily Vehicle Count Range:  7 – 25
• Ticket Range:  $82.48 – $337.08
• Average Daily Vehicle Count:  16
• Average Ticket:  $139.59
• Median Daily Vehicle Count:  16.66
• Median Ticket:  $129.63

• Average Net Sales:  $706,395 (100.0%)
• Average Cost of Goods Sold:  $187,258 (26.5%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $519,136 (73.5%)
• Average Salaries, Wages, and Benefits:  $217,366 (30.8%)
• Average Retail Operating Expenses:  $151,812 (21.5%)
• Average Office and G&A Expenses:  $21,211 (3.0%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $128,748 (18.2%)

• Net Sales Range:  $617,121 – $779,412
• Median Net Sales:  $712,169
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Net Sales:  9/56.25%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Gross Profits:  9/56.25%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average EBITDAR:  7/43.75%

Category D:  $800,001 to $1,000,000 in Sales

• Number of Centers:  34
• Daily Vehicle Count Range:  17 – 38
• Ticket Range:  $69.16 – $161.76
• Average Daily Vehicle Count:  23
• Average Ticket:  $126.11
• Median Daily Vehicle Count:  21.73
• Median Ticket:  $128.90

• Average Net Sales:  $896,005 (100.0%)
• Average Cost of Goods Sold:  $233,219 (26.0%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $662,785 (74.0%)
• Average Salaries, Wages, and Benefits:  $288,448 (32.2%)
• Average Retail Operating Expenses:  $189,346 (21.1%)
• Average Office and G&A Expenses:  $18,109 (2.0%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $166,882 (18.6%)

• Net Sales Range:  $801,481 – $992,567
• Median Net Sales:  $890,079
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Net Sales:  17/50.00%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Gross Profits:  19/55.88%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average EBITDAR:  16/47.06%

Category E:  Greater Than $1,000,000 in Sales

• Number of Centers:  77
• Daily Vehicle Count Range:  19 – 103
• Ticket Range:  $64.53 – $341.87
• Average Daily Vehicle Count:  35
• Average Ticket:  $134.41
• Median Daily Vehicle Count:  31.41
• Median Ticket:  $133.12

• Average Net Sales:  $1,487,347 (100.0%)
• Average Cost of Goods Sold:  $368,273 (24.8%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $1,119,074 (75.2%)
• Average Salaries, Wages, and Benefits:  $443,852 (29.8%)
• Average Retail Operating Expenses:  $305,716 (20.6%)
• Average Office and G&A Expenses:  $33,326 (2.2%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $336,179 (22.6%)

• Net Sales Range:  $1,003,621 – $3,156,002
• Median Net Sales:  $1,282,159
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Net Sales:  29/37.66%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average Gross Profits:  32/41.56%
• Number and Percentage of Centers Exceeding Average EBITDAR:  36/46.75%

Part 2 – Operational Results Based on Quartiles of Average Sales – Franchisee-Owned Grease Monkey Centers (149 Centers)

• The Centers in Part 2 are the same Centers shown in Part 1, but classified into quartiles based on Net Sales. There are 38 Centers shown in the bottom quartile, with 37 Centers shown in each other quartile.

Top Quartile of Sales Revenue Averages (37 Centers)

• Average Net Sales:  $1,863,739 (100.0%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $1,398,678 (75.0%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $411,438 (22.1%)

Third Quartile of Sales Revenue Averages (37 Centers)

• Average Net Sales:  $1,150,069 (100.0%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $867,721 (75.4%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $254,367 (22.1%)

Second Quartile of Sales Revenue Averages (37 Centers)

• Average Net Sales:  $904,838 (100.0%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $671,531 (74.2%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $169,831 (18.8%)

Bottom Quartile of Sales Revenue Averages (38 Centers)

• Average Net Sales:  $560,735 (100.0%)
• Average Gross Profit:  $409,985 (73.1%)
• Average EBITDAR:  $59,555 (10.6%)

• Net Sales mean the aggregate amount received from all sales of services, products, or merchandise of every kind or nature, performed or sold from, at, or in connection with the operation of the Center or arising out of the operation or conduct of the Center, whether for cash or credit, but excluding (i) the amount of the discount given off the regular retail price of such services or products in connection with the use of coupons or other discount promotions; and (ii) federal, state, or municipal sales or services taxes collected from customers and paid to the appropriate taxing authority.

• Cost of Goods Sold includes only inventory items (oil, filters, greases, fluids, etc.). Franchisee-owned Centers are able to purchase products at national account prices available to you and may purchase in sufficient quantities (approximately one month’s supply) to earn volume discounts.

• Gross Profit is Net Sales minus Cost of Goods Sold.

• Salaries, Wages, and Benefits includes the salaries, wages (including overtime), benefits, payroll taxes, worker’s compensation, training, and payroll processing fees for all employees, including managers.

• Retail Operating Expenses include the following items: advertising, sales promotions, Advertising Contributions, Royalty Fees, customer satisfaction, customer warranties, mystery shopper program, equipment rental, equipment maintenance and repair, computer maintenance and support, laundry and uniforms, building maintenance and repairs, security service, operating supplies, small tools, over and short cash drawer, utilities including water, gas and sewer, trash disposal, bank charges, late charges, merchant card fees, and other miscellaneous operating expenses.

• Office and G&A Expenses include the following items: office supplies and expenses, bad debt expense, charitable contributions, licenses and fees, postage and freight, property taxes, telephone, accounting, legal and professional fees, beverage service, dues and subscriptions, general insurance, and other miscellaneous overhead expenses.

• EBITDAR means Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization, Occupancy Costs, and Non-Operating Income/Expense. This figure is not an actual amount earned.

• Your occupancy costs will vary based on the location of your Center, whether you secure a build-to-suit lease, purchase the property and construct a building, or select another rental or ownership arrangement, as well as other factors relating to your occupancy.

• Your interest expense will depend on your borrowing requirements.

• Non-Operating Income/Expenses include: travel and entertainment expenses, interest income, owners’ compensation, draws and life insurance expenses, overhead expense allocations by multi-unit operators, and other non-operating income/expense items.

• The compiled statistical and financial information in Part 1 and Part 2 (collectively referred to as the “Statement”) are based on the Profit and Loss Statements provided to Grease Monkey by the franchisee-owned Centers and have not been audited or reviewed by an independent certified public accountant.

• The Statement does not include any estimate of the federal income tax that would be payable or the state or local income tax that may be applicable to the particular jurisdiction in which a Center is located. In addition, the Statement does not include any information or estimate regarding the occupancy expenses which will be incurred at a particular location.

• Some outlets have sold this amount. Your individual results may differ. There is no assurance you will sell as much.

Section VI – Grease Monkey Franchise Ratios, Comparables, Computations, and Analyses (Exclusive Content for Platinum Subscribers) ⬇️