AAMCO Transmissions, vs Meineke Car Care Centers
AAMCO Transmissions, vs Meineke Car Care Centers: AAMCO Transmissions, costs $475K to $868K to open; Meineke Car Care Centers costs $250K to $550K. AAMCO Transmissions, has 462 units, Meineke Car Care Centers has 531. SBA loan history: AAMCO Transmissions, = 584 loans (19.9% default); Meineke Car Care Centers = 632 loans (18.8% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
AAMCO Transmissions, vs Meineke Car Care Centers: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Meineke Car Care Centers requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($250K vs $475K for AAMCO Transmissions,), a 90% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for AAMCO Transmissions, versus $35K for Meineke Car Care Centers, Meineke Car Care Centers has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for AAMCO Transmissions, and 5% for Meineke Car Care Centers, giving Meineke Car Care Centers the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Meineke Car Care Centers operates 531 units to AAMCO Transmissions,'s 462. AAMCO Transmissions, has been operating 63 years (founded 1963) versus 54 for Meineke Car Care Centers (founded 1972), a 9-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Meineke Car Care Centers has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 632 7(a) approvals compared with 584 for AAMCO Transmissions,.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 19.9% for AAMCO Transmissions, and 18.8% for Meineke Car Care Centers, Meineke Car Care Centers has the cleaner SBA loss record by 1.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 48 (Fair) for AAMCO Transmissions, and 57 (Moderate) for Meineke Car Care Centers, giving Meineke Car Care Centers the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 48/100 | 57/100 |
Health Tier | Fair | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 584 | 632 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 19.9% | 18.8% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $475K to $868K | $250K to $550K |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 0.7% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $100K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $500K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 462 | 531 |
Franchised Units | 462 | 531 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1963 | 1972 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | N/A |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | N/A |
Headquarters | N/A | N/A |
Category | General Automotive Repair | General Automotive Repair |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2024 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, AAMCO Transmissions, or Meineke Car Care Centers?
Lower upfront capital required
Meineke Car Care Centers
AAMCO Transmissions,: $475K starting · Meineke Car Care Centers: $250K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Meineke Car Care Centers
AAMCO Transmissions,: 584 SBA loans · Meineke Car Care Centers: 632 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Meineke Car Care Centers
AAMCO Transmissions,: 19.9% · Meineke Car Care Centers: 18.8%
Larger system & brand presence
Meineke Car Care Centers
AAMCO Transmissions,: 462 units · Meineke Car Care Centers: 531 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Meineke Car Care Centers
AAMCO Transmissions,: 6% · Meineke Car Care Centers: 5%
More lender financing options
AAMCO Transmissions,
AAMCO Transmissions,: 194 unique lenders · Meineke Car Care Centers: 193 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
AAMCO Transmissions, vs Meineke Car Care Centers: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing AAMCO Transmissions, and Meineke Car Care Centers is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $250K to $868K.
AAMCO Transmissions, has 584 SBA loans on record and Meineke Car Care Centers has 632. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
AAMCO Transmissions, vs Meineke Car Care Centers, Frequently Asked Questions
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman