Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash vs Tommy's Express
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash vs Tommy's Express: Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash costs $555K to $2.6M to open; Tommy's Express costs $4.1M to $5.7M. Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash has 10 units, Tommy's Express has 52. SBA loan history: Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash = 8 loans (37.5% default); Tommy's Express = 58 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.
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash vs Tommy's Express: 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
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($555K vs $4.1M for Tommy's Express), a 86% spread.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Tommy's Express operates 52 units to Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash's 10, roughly 5× the system size. Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash has been operating 81 years (founded 1945) versus 57 for Tommy's Express (founded 1969), a 24-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Tommy's Express has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 58 7(a) approvals compared with 8 for Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash. Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash's peak SBA year was 2008 (4 loans); Tommy's Express's peak was 2019 (11 loans). Tommy's Express's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash has the most SBA funded units in OH, with 5. Tommy's Express leads in FL, with 9. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash deals is $1.2M vs $2.7M for Tommy's Express, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 37.5% for Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash and 0.0% for Tommy's Express, Tommy's Express has the cleaner SBA loss record by 37.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 17 (Fair) for Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash and 65 (Strong) for Tommy's Express, giving Tommy's Express the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 17/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Limited | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 8 | 58 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 37.5% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | emerging | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $555K to $2.6M | $4.1M to $5.7M |
Franchise Fee | N/A | $50K |
Royalty Rate | N/A | 4% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $1.0M |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $2.0M |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 10 | 52 |
Franchised Units | 10 | 52 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | N/A | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1945 | 1969 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2016 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 10 yrs |
Headquarters | Columbus, OH | Holland, MI |
Category | Car Washes | Car Washes |
Website | ||
FDD Year | N/A | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash or Tommy's Express?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash: $555K starting · Tommy's Express: $4.1M starting
More SBA lender confidence
Tommy's Express
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash: 8 SBA loans · Tommy's Express: 58 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tommy's Express
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash: 37.5% · Tommy's Express: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash: 10 units · Tommy's Express: 52 units
More lender financing options
Tommy's Express
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash: 5 unique lenders · Tommy's Express: 26 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
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash vs Tommy's Express: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash and Tommy's Express is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $555K to $5.7M.
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash has 8 SBA loans on record and Tommy's Express has 58. 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.
Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash vs Tommy's Express, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash or Tommy's Express?
How much does a Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash franchise cost compared to Tommy's Express?
Can I finance Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash or Tommy's Express with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Goo Goo 3 Minute Car Wash or Tommy's Express?
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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