Cottman Transmission vs Grease Monkey
Cottman Transmission vs Grease Monkey: Cottman Transmission costs $51K–$190K to open; Grease Monkey costs $187K–$688K. Cottman Transmission has 177 units, Grease Monkey has 154. SBA loan history: Cottman Transmission = 281 loans (32.0% default); Grease Monkey = 211 loans (8.1% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Cottman Transmission vs Grease Monkey — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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
Cottman Transmission requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($51K vs $187K for Grease Monkey), a 73% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $70K for Cottman Transmission versus $40K for Grease Monkey — Grease Monkey has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 7.5% for Cottman Transmission and 6% for Grease Monkey, giving Grease Monkey the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Cottman Transmission operates 177 units to Grease Monkey's 154. Cottman Transmission has been operating 64 years (founded 1962) versus 48 for Grease Monkey (founded 1978) — a 16-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Cottman Transmission has the deeper SBA lending track record with 281 historical 7(a) approvals versus 211 for Grease Monkey. Cottman Transmission's peak SBA year was 2002 (42 loans); Grease Monkey's peak was 2019 (19 loans). Grease Monkey's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Cottman Transmission concentrates in TX (44 SBA-funded units) while Grease Monkey leads in CO (40) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Cottman Transmission deals is $154K vs $723K for Grease Monkey — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 32.0% for Cottman Transmission and 8.1% for Grease Monkey — Grease Monkey has the cleaner historical loss profile by 23.9 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 24 (Fair) for Cottman Transmission and 69 (Strong) for Grease Monkey, giving Grease Monkey the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 24/100 | 69/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 281 | 211 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 32.0% | 8.1% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $51K – $190K | $187K – $688K |
Franchise Fee | $70K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 7.5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $150K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $450K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 177 | 154 |
Franchised Units | 177 | 154 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | N/A | 15 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1962 | 1978 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 1960 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | HOUSTON, TX | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO |
Category | Automotive Oil Change | Automotive Oil Change |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2026 |
Which Is Better — Cottman Transmission or Grease Monkey?
Lower upfront capital required
Cottman Transmission
Cottman Transmission: $51K starting · Grease Monkey: $187K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Cottman Transmission
Cottman Transmission: 281 SBA loans · Grease Monkey: 211 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Grease Monkey
Cottman Transmission: 32.0% · Grease Monkey: 8.1%
Larger system & brand presence
Cottman Transmission
Cottman Transmission: 177 units · Grease Monkey: 154 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Grease Monkey
Cottman Transmission: 7.5% · Grease Monkey: 6%
More lender financing options
Cottman Transmission
Cottman Transmission: 88 unique lenders · Grease Monkey: 65 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
Cottman Transmission vs Grease Monkey: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Cottman Transmission and Grease Monkey is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $51K to $688K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Cottman Transmission with 281 SBA loans and Grease Monkey with 211. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.