CARSTAR vs Superior Wash

Compare franchise fees, investment range, royalties, SBA lending performance, unit growth, and Item 19 transparency with a permanent shareable URL.

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CARSTAR
Automotive
Investment
$24K to $804K
Franchise fee
$10,000
Item 19 status
Cost Data Only
Units
455
Superior Wash
Automotive
Investment
$37K to $45K
Franchise fee
$15,500
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
45
Lower entry cost
Leans left
Based on minimum initial investment.
Better disclosed economics
Even
Uses Item 19 availability and transparency status.
Lower SBA default risk
Even
Treat low-loan brands carefully, sample size matters.
MetricCARSTARSuperior Wash
Franchise Fee
$10,000$15,500
Min Investment
$24K$37K
Max Investment
$804K$45K
Royalty Rate
5.5%10.0%
Ad Fund Rate
1.0%3.0%
Total Ongoing Burden
Royalty plus ad fund when available.
6.5%13.0%
Median Revenue (Item 19)
$2.6M$694K
Cash-on-Cash Return
Estimated when revenue and margin assumptions are available.
52.4%33.7%
Payback Period
1.9 yrs3.0 yrs
Revenue per Dollar Invested
6.17x16.85x
Franchised Units
45545
1-Year Net Unit Change
16-4
Net Unit Growth Rate
3.6%-8.2%
Net Closure Rate
Net closure proxy based on disclosed unit change.
N/A8.2%
SBA Default Rate
0.0%0.0%
SBA Loan Count
Use this to judge whether SBA default data is statistically meaningful.
441
Average SBA Loan Size
$1.1M$320K
Item 19 Status
Cost Data OnlyRevenue Only
Has Item 19
✓ Yes✓ Yes
Data Quality Score
100100

What stands out

  • CARSTAR opens at $24K to $804K, while Superior Wash ranges from $37K to $45K.
  • CARSTAR shows an Item 19 disclosure; Superior Wash shows an Item 19 disclosure.
  • CARSTAR has 455 franchised units versus 45 for Superior Wash.

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Last updated: April 2026