Jiffy Lube vs Take 5 Oil Change
Both in Automotive
| Metric | Jiffy Lube | Take 5 Oil Change |
|---|---|---|
| Investment (Low) Minimum estimated initial investment from the FDD, including franchise fee and build-out. Lower is better. | $236K | $912K |
| Investment (High) Maximum estimated initial investment. Lower is better for the buyer. | $453K | $2.1M |
| Franchise Fee One-time upfront fee paid to the franchisor. Lower is better. | — | $45K |
| Royalty Ongoing percentage of gross revenue paid to the franchisor, typically weekly or monthly. | 4% | 7% |
| Total Units Total franchised and company-owned locations. More units generally means a more proven system. | 2,075 | 1,142 |
| Growth Rate Net change in total units over the last year. Negative growth may signal franchisee closures. | 0.29% | 15.24% |
| Health Score Composite score (1-100) based on growth, fees, scale, and data quality. Higher is better. | 84 | 89 |
Green = better on that metric. Based on official FDD data.
The old guard vs the $1B bet on staying in your car
Take 5's median 4-Wall EBITDA of $340,178 (25.6% of gross sales) on $1.33M median revenue is one of the most attractive unit-level economic profiles in automotive franchising. Jiffy Lube's comparable data is harder to calculate — they disclose average net adjusted sales of $1.05M but provide no margin data. The revenue gap alone tells part of the story: Take 5's median is $388K above Jiffy Lube's median of $939K, a 41% advantage in top-line revenue per location.
Take 5's stay-in-your-car model isn't just a gimmick — it removes the customer waiting room entirely and replaces it with a service theater that happens to be faster. Customers who never get out of the car get back on the road in under 10 minutes. That speed drives transaction capacity: a well-run Take 5 can complete 15-20 oil changes per bay per day vs 8-12 for a traditional drive-in format. At $75-$90 per average ticket, that throughput difference adds up fast.
The investment gap creates a real barrier. Take 5's investment range starts at $912K — more than double Jiffy Lube's $236K floor. That gap reflects Take 5's newer builds (most Jiffy Lube locations are conversions of existing spaces), and it means you're financing a substantially larger capital commitment. At 7% royalty vs Jiffy Lube's 4%, Take 5 also costs more per revenue dollar. You need Take 5's higher volume to offset both the debt service and the royalty load.
Take 5's 15.24% net growth rate vs Jiffy Lube's 0.29% creates a territory-selection dynamic that matters. Take 5 is expanding aggressively (owned by Driven Brands, which is systematically building Take 5 into every major market), which means prime territories are filling fast. Jiffy Lube's near-flat growth means existing territories are available but the brand isn't investing in new market expansion at the same pace — which can mean weaker franchisor support in developing markets.
Take 5 is the stronger investment for operators who can finance the higher capital requirement and want best-in-class unit economics; Jiffy Lube is the lower-risk entry point for operators who want an established brand with a smaller upfront check.
Not sure which to choose?
A franchise consultant can introduce you to franchisees from both brands, verify the Item 19 numbers on the ground, and help you avoid a territory that's already saturated. Their fee comes from the franchisor — your consultation costs nothing.