Prime Car Wash vs Tommy's Express
Prime Car Wash vs Tommy's Express: Prime Car Wash costs $210K to $2.5M to open; Tommy's Express costs $4.1M to $5.7M. Prime Car Wash has 9 units, Tommy's Express has 52. SBA loan history: Prime Car Wash = 13 loans (0.0% 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.
Prime 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
Prime Car Wash requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($210K vs $4.1M for Tommy's Express), a 95% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $50K for Prime Car Wash versus $50K for Tommy's Express. Ongoing royalty load is 4% for Prime Car Wash and 4% for Tommy's Express, equal royalty drag.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Tommy's Express operates 52 units to Prime Car Wash's 9, roughly 6× the system size. Tommy's Express has been operating 57 years (founded 1969) versus 14 for Prime Car Wash (founded 2012), a 43-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 13 for Prime Car Wash. Prime Car Wash's peak SBA year was 2025 (5 loans); Tommy's Express's peak was 2019 (11 loans). Prime Car Wash's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Prime Car Wash has the most SBA funded units in IA, with 3. 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 Prime Car Wash deals is $1.4M vs $2.7M for Tommy's Express, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Prime Car Wash and 0.0% for Tommy's Express. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 62 (Moderate) for Prime 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 | 62/100 | 65/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 13 | 58 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $210K to $2.5M | $4.1M to $5.7M |
Franchise Fee | $50K | $50K |
Royalty Rate | 4% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 3.5% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $1.0M |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $2.0M |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 9 | 52 |
Franchised Units | 9 | 52 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 20 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2012 | 1969 |
Franchising Since | 1956 | 2016 |
Years Franchising | 70 yrs | 10 yrs |
Headquarters | Jacksonville, FL | Holland, MI |
Category | Car Washes | Car Washes |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Prime Car Wash or Tommy's Express?
Lower upfront capital required
Prime Car Wash
Prime Car Wash: $210K starting · Tommy's Express: $4.1M starting
More SBA lender confidence
Tommy's Express
Prime Car Wash: 13 SBA loans · Tommy's Express: 58 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Tie
Prime Car Wash: 0.0% · Tommy's Express: 0.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Tommy's Express
Prime Car Wash: 9 units · Tommy's Express: 52 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Tie
Prime Car Wash: 4% · Tommy's Express: 4%
More lender financing options
Tommy's Express
Prime Car Wash: 9 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
Prime Car Wash vs Tommy's Express: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Prime 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 $210K to $5.7M.
Prime Car Wash has 13 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.
Prime Car Wash vs Tommy's Express, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Prime Car Wash or Tommy's Express?
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Which has a lower SBA default rate, Prime 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
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