Auto-Lab Express franchise
2023 filing · April 25, 2023Growing
Auto-Lab Express at a glance
A quick-service auto shop offering oil changes, maintenance and light repairs. At the end of 2022 there were 1 Auto-Lab Express locations in the US, all franchised.
The business
- Franchisor
- Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC
- The company that sells the franchises
- Franchisor based in
- Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
- Typical size
- 2,500–4,000 sq ft
What you pay
- Cost to open
- $146K–$345K
- A new single-unit shop
- Franchise fee
- $27,500
- Paid once, when you sign
- Royalty
- 6%
- 6% of weekly gross sales, paid weekly, plus up to 3% for regional or national advertising
- Renewal fee
- See terms
- 50% of the initial Franchise Fee for new franchisees
- Agreement length
- 15 years
- Franchisor financing
- None offered
Where it is
- US locations, 2022
- 1
- Franchised and company-owned
- Franchised
- 1
- Company-owned
- 0
- Change in 3 years
- +1
- Franchised locations, 2020–2022
From Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC’s 2023 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
Where it ranks
Auto-Lab Express among all franchises with the same figure.
| Figure | Auto-Lab Express | Among all franchises |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, midpointHalfway between the low and high estimate | $245,125 | Costs less than 63% of franchises |
| Franchise feePaid once, when you sign | $27,500 | Lower than 82% of franchises |
| RoyaltyShare of sales paid to the franchisor | 6% | Higher than 35% of brands with a set rate |
| US locationsFranchised and company-owned | 1 | Fewer than 88% of franchises |
How much a Auto-Lab Express franchise costs
Opening a new single-unit shop costs an estimated $145,750 to $344,500. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
The biggest costs are equipment and fixtures ($50,000 to $100,000) and signage ($20,000 to $80,000). Here is every line of the estimate as filed:
| What it pays for | Range | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $13,750 | $27,500 | |
| Equipment and Fixtures | $50,000 | $100,000 | |
| Inventory | $10,000 | $15,000 | |
| Leasehold Improvements | $15,000 | $50,000 | |
| Training Expenses | $3,000 | $5,000 | |
| Pre-Opening Expenses | $10,000 | $20,000 | |
| Professional Services Costs | $2,500 | $5,000 | |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $3,500 | ||
| Signage | $20,000 | $80,000 | |
| Business Licenses and Permits | $500 | ||
| Real Estate Costs | $0 | $15,000 | |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $15,000 | $20,000 | |
| Insurance (3 months) | $2,500 | $3,000 | |
| Total | $145,750 | $344,500 | |
Source: Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC, 2023 filing, page 16
Auto-Lab Express franchise fee
The franchise fee is $27,500. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC, 2023 filing, page 12
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of weekly gross sales, paid weekly, plus up to 3% for regional or national advertising. |
|---|---|
| Software Licenses | $250 per month |
| Transfer | 50% of the then initial franchise fee charged to new franchisees |
| Renewal | 50% of the initial Franchise Fee for new franchisees |
| Additional Training/Assistance | $600 per day per trainer, plus expenses |
| Local Advertising | 6% of Gross Sales |
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC, 2023 filing, page 12
Other fees as filed, from pages 12–13. The filing lists every fee, including late fees and audit costs.
Sales and earnings
No figures Auto-Lab Express does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC, 2023 filing, page 34
How Auto-Lab Express compares
Of the 12 oil change franchises on this site, Auto-Lab Express is the cheapest to open and the smallest by number of locations.
| Figure | Auto-Lab Express | Typical oil change brand | Typical franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $146K | $242K | $222K |
| Cost to open, high end | $345K | $648K | $477K |
| Franchise fee | $28K | $40K | $40K |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% | 6% |
| US locations | 1 | 57 | 21 |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 10 of 12 | 2,147 of 3,352 |
Typical is the median across the 12 brands in oil change franchises; typical franchise, across every brand here.
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 (+1) | 0 | +1 | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
More in the guides: auto repair franchise costs and franchise failure rates.
Source: Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC, 2023 filing, page 35
Who owns Auto-Lab Express?
Auto-Lab Express franchises are sold by Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC.
From Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC’s 2023 filing.
Lawsuits and bankruptcy
| Lawsuits and regulatory actions | None. The filing says no litigation has to be disclosed. |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcy | None. The filing says no bankruptcy has to be disclosed. |
Franchisors must disclose lawsuits and bankruptcies involving the company, its parents and affiliates, and its executives. Many cases are routine disputes with franchisees over fees or contracts; read the descriptions in the filing and ask current owners about anything that worries you.
Source: Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC, 2023 filing, litigation on page 12, bankruptcy on page 12
Auto-Lab Express filings
The figures on this page come from Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC’s 2023 filing, issued April 25, 2023, on record with the NASAA Electronic Filing Depository.
| Filing | Issued | Registry | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 filing | April 25, 2023 | NASAA depository | Costs, fees and locations, 2020–2022 |
Each link opens the filing as a PDF. See the newest filings across all brands.
Other oil change franchises
All oil change franchises
Auto-Lab Express is also on these lists: auto repair franchises.