Grease Monkey vs Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up
Grease Monkey vs Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: Grease Monkey costs $187K to $688K to open; Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up costs $46K to $746K. Grease Monkey has 154 units, Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up has 67. SBA loan history: Grease Monkey = 211 loans (8.1% default); Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up = 86 loans (17.4% 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.
Grease Monkey vs Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: 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
Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($46K vs $187K for Grease Monkey), a 307% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Grease Monkey versus $35K for Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up, Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up has the lower entry fee.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Grease Monkey operates 154 units to Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up's 67, roughly 2× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
Grease Monkey has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 211 7(a) approvals compared with 86 for Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up. Grease Monkey's peak SBA year was 2019 (19 loans); Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up's peak was 1992 (12 loans). Grease Monkey's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Grease Monkey has the most SBA funded units in CO, with 40. Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up leads in CA, with 51. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Grease Monkey deals is $723K vs $336K for Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.1% for Grease Monkey and 17.4% for Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up, Grease Monkey has the cleaner SBA loss record by 9.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 69 (Strong) for Grease Monkey and 25 (Fair) for Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up, giving Grease Monkey the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 69/100 | 25/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Limited |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 211 | 86 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 8.1% | 17.4% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $187K to $688K | $46K to $746K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | N/A |
Ad Fund | 2% | N/A |
Liquid Capital | $150K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $450K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 154 | 67 |
Franchised Units | 154 | 67 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 15 yrs | N/A |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1978 | N/A |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 1960 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 66 yrs |
Headquarters | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | REDWOOD CITY, CA |
Category | Automotive Oil Change | Automotive Oil Change |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | N/A |
Which Is Better, Grease Monkey or Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up?
Lower upfront capital required
Tie
Grease Monkey: $187K starting · Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: $46K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Grease Monkey
Grease Monkey: 211 SBA loans · Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: 86 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Grease Monkey
Grease Monkey: 8.1% · Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: 17.4%
Larger system & brand presence
Tie
Grease Monkey: 154 units · Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: 67 units
More lender financing options
Grease Monkey
Grease Monkey: 65 unique lenders · Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: 37 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
Grease Monkey vs Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Grease Monkey and Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $46K to $746K.
Grease Monkey has 211 SBA loans on record and Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up has 86. 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.
Grease Monkey vs Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Grease Monkey or Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up?
How much does a Grease Monkey franchise cost compared to Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up?
Can I finance Grease Monkey or Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Grease Monkey or Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up?
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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