Circle K vs Tommy's Express Car Wash: franchise cost side by side

Circle K is the cheaper of the two to open, from $1,472,500; Tommy's Express Car Wash starts at $3,482,389.

Every figure comes from the brand's FDD, the disclosure file it must hand you before you sign.

Which brand are you looking at?

Which brand do you want to set it against?

Add a third brand (optional)

Circle K is the cheaper to open, from $1,472,500.

Tommy's Express Car Wash starts at $3,482,389, the lowest cost to open given in each FDD.

From each FDD	Circle K	Tommy's Express Car Wash
Total cost to open	$1,472,500 to $2,874,650	$3,482,389 to $11,846,697
Upfront fee	$25,000	$50,000
Royalty (ongoing fee)	3.5% to 6% of gross sales, depending on the funding package (at least $1,000 a month)	4% of gross sales
Marketing fund	0.25% of gross sales, plus local and national promotion fees	1% of gross sales
Published sales	None published	$2,083,929 a year (average of 25 locations, 2025)
Outlets	515 franchised, 5,556 company	244 franchised, 16 company
Year filed	2026	2026

More comparisons with Circle K and Tommy's Express Car Wash

Every brand's fee, royalty and Item 7 range is also in one table you can download: the franchise fee comparison.

A franchise consultant can talk you through the trade-offs for your budget and area. Send your details and one will contact you.

State where you plan to open

Cash you could put in

Your name

Phone, for a call-back (optional)

Add the brands you like or a note (optional)

Brands you're looking at

Anything else

Sending this form is free.
We pass it to one franchise consultant, not a list of brokers.
Consultants are usually paid by the brand you buy, so ask which brands pay them.
The consultant may pay us for the referral; no brand pays to be listed here.