Econo Lub N Tune vs Strickland Brothers
Econo Lub N Tune vs Strickland Brothers: Econo Lub N Tune costs $26K to $371K to open; Strickland Brothers costs $221K to $364K. Econo Lub N Tune has 58 units, Strickland Brothers has 35. SBA loan history: Econo Lub N Tune = 80 loans (31.3% default); Strickland Brothers = 42 loans (0.0% 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.
Econo Lub N Tune vs Strickland Brothers: 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
Econo Lub N Tune requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($26K vs $221K for Strickland Brothers), a 88% spread. Ongoing royalty load is 5% for Econo Lub N Tune and 5% for Strickland Brothers, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Econo Lub N Tune operates 58 units to Strickland Brothers's 35. Econo Lub N Tune has been operating 53 years (founded 1973) versus 10 for Strickland Brothers (founded 2016), a 43-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Econo Lub N Tune has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 80 7(a) approvals compared with 42 for Strickland Brothers.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 31.3% for Econo Lub N Tune and 0.0% for Strickland Brothers, Strickland Brothers has the cleaner SBA loss record by 31.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 21 (Fair) for Econo Lub N Tune and 65 (Strong) for Strickland Brothers, giving Strickland Brothers the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 21/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 80 | 42 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 31.3% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | established | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $26K to $371K | $221K to $364K |
Franchise Fee | $30K | N/A |
Royalty Rate | 5% | 5% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 5% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | N/A |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 58 | 35 |
Franchised Units | 58 | 35 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1973 | 2016 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2019 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 7 yrs |
Headquarters | ANTIOCH, CA | N/A |
Category | Automotive Oil Change | Automotive Oil Change |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | N/A |
Which Is Better, Econo Lub N Tune or Strickland Brothers?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Econo Lub N Tune: $26K starting · Strickland Brothers: $221K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Econo Lub N Tune
Econo Lub N Tune: 80 SBA loans · Strickland Brothers: 42 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Strickland Brothers
Econo Lub N Tune: 31.3% · Strickland Brothers: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Econo Lub N Tune: 58 units · Strickland Brothers: 35 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Econo Lub N Tune: 5% · Strickland Brothers: 5%
More lender financing options
Econo Lub N Tune
Econo Lub N Tune: 38 unique lenders · Strickland Brothers: 8 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
Econo Lub N Tune vs Strickland Brothers: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Econo Lub N Tune and Strickland Brothers is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $26K to $371K.
Econo Lub N Tune has 80 SBA loans on record and Strickland Brothers has 42. 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.
Econo Lub N Tune vs Strickland Brothers, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Econo Lub N Tune or Strickland Brothers?
How much does a Econo Lub N Tune franchise cost compared to Strickland Brothers?
Can I finance Econo Lub N Tune or Strickland Brothers with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Econo Lub N Tune or Strickland Brothers?
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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; 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