Auto-Lab Express Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Auto-Lab Express is an automotive franchise providing oil changes, diagnostics, and preventive maintenance. Franchisees run the service centers, managing technicians, service, and customer flow.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Auto-Lab Express franchise requires a total initial investment of $160K – $345K, including a $28K franchise fee and an ongoing 6.0% royalty[2]. The 2023 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: C (Average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2023 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $160K – $345K
- 22nd pct Automotive
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- 1 outlet
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- 13th pct Automotive
- Units
- 1
- 1st pct Automotive
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Automotive · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Automotive avg · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $160K – $345K including a $28K franchise fee, 6.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSTotal revenue of $892,110 referenced in Item 8 for fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
- RISKVerdict C (Average), verdict score 46/100 (higher is better).
- DATANo Item 19 financial performance representation. Without franchisor-disclosed revenue data, you'll need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Auto-Lab Franchising, LLC
- Parent company
- Wilson Holdings, L.L.C.
- Predecessor
- Franchise Acquisition Corporation (dba Auto-Lab Franchise Management Corporation)
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer
- Stephen R. Wilson
- Incorporated in
- MI
- HQ
- 6001 N. Adams Road, Suite 255, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
- Auditor
- Schlaupitz Madhavan, P.C.
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $892K
- vs $892K prior year
- Management churn noted
- Frequent turnover
- Item 2 disclosed frequent executive changes
Overview
About
- CEO
- Stephen R. Wilson
- Headquarters
- MI
- Founded
- 2011
- FDD year
- 2023
- States available
- 1
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 73% below the typical automotive franchise.
Source: FDD 2023 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown13 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $14K | $28K | |
| Equipment and Fixturesnot refundable | $50K | $100K | |
| Inventory | $10K | $15K | |
| Leasehold Improvements | $15K | $50K | |
| Training Expenses | $3K | $5K | |
| Pre-Opening Expenses | $10K | $20K | |
| Professional Services Costs | $3K | $5K | |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $4K | $4K | |
| Signage | $20K | $80K | |
| Business Licenses and Permitsnot refundable | $500 | $500 | |
| Real Estate Costs | $0 | $15K | |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $15K | $20K | |
| Insurance (3 months) | $3K | $3K | |
| Total initial investment | $146K | $345K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $160K – $345K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $15K – $20K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $28K – $28K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 6.0%
- percentage · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 0.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 9.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 6.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 0.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $250 |
| Training fee | $600 |
| Transfer fee | $0 |
| Renewal fee | $0 |
| Inventory (initial) | $10K – $15K |
| Total fee load | 9.0% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Auto-Lab Express did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Auto-Lab Express unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
53%
Within the 30–60% "attractive franchise" band
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2023 FDD
Financial Performance
Total revenue of $892,110 referenced in Item 8 for fiscal year ended December 31, 2022
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 9.0% (near the Automotive average).
Disclosure
Franchisor chose not to disclose financial performance representations. You will need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Multi-unit rate
Only 1% of franchisees own multiple units. Could indicate challenging economics or a young system where operators haven't had time to expand.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Automotive averages
How Auto-Lab Express Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2023 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 1
- Opened
- 1
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Multi-unit owners
- 1.0%
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 1
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Projected new
- 1
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 1 state reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
1
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
- Total loans
- 10
- Loan volume
- $2.8M
- Median loan
- $277K
- average
- Charge-off rate
- N/A
- no resolved loans yet — rate needs a terminal outcome
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- N/A
- 5-yr charge-off
- N/A
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 7
- Defaults
- 2
Vintage analysis
Auto-Lab Express charge-off rate by loan vintage
Top lenders financing Auto-Lab Express franchisees
Showing 3 of 7 lenders. The full breakdown — every lender, state distribution, interest rates & risk ratings — is in the SBA Lending Report below.
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
Premium insight
SBA Lending Report
Deep-dive into Auto-Lab Express's SBA lending history: lender network, geographic footprint, interest rates, and more.
SBA Lending Report
- Principal loss rate and NAICS industry benchmark
- 7 lenders with concentration factor
- Per-state charge-off rates across 2 states
- Startup risk premium and job creation velocity
Instant access. No subscription.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
This is a critically underdeveloped franchise with a single unit, hidden financials, and potential franchisor going-concern issues—indicating either a failed rollout or deliberate opacity around performance metrics.
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation required to be disclosed
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Schlaupitz Madhavan, P.C.
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 46 / 100 verdict
- 01MINOROnly 1 unit in entire system indicates either brand-new franchise or severe underperformance/collapse
- 02MINORNo Item 19 financial disclosures (average revenue/net income) prevents ROI validation and suggests franchisor cannot/will not disclose performance
- 03HIGHGoing Concern = False indicates potential financial distress at franchisor level, threatening support infrastructure
- 04MINOR6% royalty on weekly gross sales is burdensome when profitability data is hidden
- 05MINOR15-year term is lengthy given system has only 1 operating unit and no growth trajectory
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 9.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2023 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 15 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | protected |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory radius | 3 mi |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Optional |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 30 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Oakland County, Michigan |
| Jury trial waiver | No |
| Governing law | MI |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation required to be disclosed
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 42 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 72 hrs
- Training location
- Home Office (Bloomfield Hills, MI) and franchisee's location
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 3 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee with franchisor approval
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- ALBMS (Auto-Lab Business Management System)
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: ALBMS (Auto-Lab Business Management System)
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
23 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Auto-Lab Express · FDD (2023) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Auto-Lab Express franchise?
The total investment to open a Auto-Lab Express franchise ranges from $160K – $345K, with an initial franchise fee of $28K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Auto-Lab Express franchise owners earn?
Auto-Lab Express does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Auto-Lab Express FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Auto-Lab Express FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Auto-Lab Express's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Auto-Lab Express (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Auto-Lab Express franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Auto-Lab Express has 1 total units in the United States, including 1 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 1 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Auto-Lab Express a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Auto-Lab Express as a C-grade franchise with a verdict score of 46 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.