Grease Monkey Franchise vs. Milex: How They Compare

Thinking about investing in an auto repair shop? It's a smart move! This industry has a lot of money-making potential. Learn how the Grease Monkey franchise compares to Milex Complete Auto Care, so you can choose the best investment opportunity for you.

	Grease Monkey	Milex Complete Auto Care
Initial Investment	$245,816 - $761,952	$207,425 - $264,685
Initial franchise fee	$39,900	$50,000
Net worth	$450,000	$250,000+
Cash requirement	$250,000	$65,000 - $90,000
Ongoing fees	6% royalty fee 0.5% advertising contribution 4% local advertising fee	7% royalty fee 1% creative fund contribution Variable local advertising fee

Source: Each brand’s FDD and franchising website

Oil Change Specialist

Grease Monkey was founded in Denver in 1978 and has more than 475 locations in the United States, Mexico, China, Colombia, and Saudi Arabia. Grease Monkey is part of FullSpeed Automotive, a quick-lube automotive company. FullSpeed franchises a variety of brands, including SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, Kwik Kar Auto Repair & Car Care Center, and Super Lube Plus.

Grease Monkey serves more than two million customers annually, specializing in fast oil changes and courtesy checks. The company focuses on providing superior customer service. They offer a “We Can Top That” free refill program where customers can come in between visits to top off motor oil, and fluids, and check and set tire pressure.

Startup costs for a Grease Monkey franchise range from $245,816 to $761,952, which includes a franchise fee of $39,000. The company offers flexible development plans to give franchise owners a comprehensive array of real estate options and make adding new locations easier.

As software-enabled vehicles become the norm and the sale of electric cars continues to rise, having a full-service auto repair franchise providing both maintenance services and high-quality auto repair is important to the future success of your business. If you want to partner with a brand offering complete automotive repair and co-branding opportunities, Milex Complete Auto Care might be a great alternative to Grease Monkey.

Quick-lube shops were built on the model of 3,000-mile oil changes. Modern cars and oil technology are moving the needle significantly, and 7,500-mile oil changes are now the norm. Quick-lube shops are adding services to improve the drop in car counts, but their existing labor force needs extensive training to make that transition.

“Our Milex franchisees have the workforce, the business systems, and decades of performance to serve the driving public in a much more thorough manner,” said Peter Baldine, president of Moran Family of Brands, the franchisor of Milex and five other brands in the aftermarket auto and window tinting industry.

Milex: One-Stop-Shop

If you are looking for a one-stop-shop auto repair solution, Milex offers a turnkey business. The aftermarket auto repair industry is forecast to reach $400 billion over the next two years, and there are more than 290.8 million vehicles on the road. As the average age of cars continues to climb, auto repair is in high demand.

For an initial investment ranging from $207,425 to $264,685, we provide entrepreneurs with the training and tools they need to build a future in automotive repair. We help our franchise owners gain a competitive edge by focusing on co-branding. Our co-branded locations generate higher average ticket prices and provide customers with a full complement of services. Having two brands under one roof enables also provides a lower franchise fee to increase the value of your investment.

Moran stays abreast of current automotive trends and service bulletins to ensure its franchisees have the tools they need to run a full-service automotive shop and compete with dealer service stations. They also focus on recruitment to help franchisees find employees with high-caliber skills to service new vehicle models.