Tommy's Express Car Wash vs Valvoline Instant Oil Change: franchise cost side by side

Valvoline Instant Oil Change is the cheaper of the two to open, from $192,375; 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)

Valvoline Instant Oil Change is the cheaper to open, from $192,375.

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

From each FDD	Tommy's Express Car Wash	Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Total cost to open	$3,482,389 to $11,846,697	$192,375 to $639,550
Upfront fee	$50,000	$30,000
Royalty (ongoing fee)	4% of gross sales	2% in year one, 3% in year two, then 6% of adjusted gross revenue
Marketing fund	1% of gross sales	up to 2% of adjusted gross revenue (capped yearly)
Published sales	$2,083,929 a year (average of 25 locations, 2025)	$1,844,172 a year (average of 891 locations, 2024 to 2025)
Outlets	244 franchised, 16 company	1,063 franchised, 976 company
Year filed	2026	2026

More comparisons with Tommy's Express Car Wash and Valvoline Instant Oil Change

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.