2026 FDD Issued Dec 26, 2025 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Previous source check Oct 16, 2026
Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchise Cost (2026)
A Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchise costs an estimated $192,375 – $3,483,550 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $30,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Standard location. Item 6 lists royalties: 2% – 6% of Adjusted Gross Revenue, subject to the conditions below. This record has unresolved source-review issues.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $192K – $3.48MItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $30KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalties
- 2% – 6% of Adjusted Gross RevenueItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- VariesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Valvoline Instant Oil Change
Item 19 separates company-operated centers from franchised centers. The selected $1,844,172 average is Net Sales for comparable franchised centers in 2025. Company-operated figures retained in the table are from 2023 and are labeled with that period. Gross Sales before deductions and Net Sales after deductions are distinct measures in this FDD.
The outlet tables do not agree on the year-end franchised count. Item 20 gives different totals in its system summary and detailed franchised-outlet table, and the next opening balance does not match the preceding detailed closing balance. The detailed table is reproduced without inventing a balancing adjustment, so its counts remain subject to source clarification.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Valvoline Instant Oil Change?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $30,000 for Valvoline Instant Oil Change. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Valvoline Instant Oil Change, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing, and check the cited Item 5 for payment timing.
How much does it cost to open a Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Valvoline Instant Oil Change 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 24.
Item 7 of Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one standard location at $192,375 – $3,483,550. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| License Fee | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Land and Improvements | $12,500 | $2,750,000 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $7,500 | $10,000 |
| Training | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Security Deposits | $500 | $11,500 |
| Insurance | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| Start-up Supplies | $22,000 | $30,000 |
| Initial Inventory of Valvoline Products | $28,750 | $62,050 |
| Equipment and Service Systems | $10,000 | $350,000 |
| Signage | $1,125 | $120,000 |
| Point-of-Sale System | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 Months) | $50,000 | $65,000 |
| Total | $192,375 | $3,483,550 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| Real Property & Signage Leased (3 Months) | $192,375 – $639,550 |
| Real Property & Signage Purchased | $1,773,750 – $3,483,550 |
| Area Development (3 Centers) | $207,375 – $3,498,550 |
What ongoing royalties and fees does Valvoline Instant Oil Change charge? (Item 6)
Source: Valvoline Instant Oil Change 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 17.
Item 6 of Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalties | 2% – 6% of Adjusted Gross Revenue | Every period | New centers: 2% in first twelve months, 3% in second twelve months, then 6%. Specified existing agreements may use graduated 4%-6%; see page 22. Monthly on twentieth. (Item 6, PDF p. 17) |
| General System Fund | Varies | Every period | Up to 2% of AGR until annual cap: 2026 opening-center cap estimated $7,344 and never above $7,500. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Local Advertising Spend or Contribution | 3% of Adjusted Gross Revenue | Every period | At least 3% annually; franchisor may require payment to fund/cooperative. Cooperative contributions apply toward obligation. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| National Advertising Fund | Varies | When it applies | Not yet established at original issuance. May be introduced from fiscal 2027; contribution undetermined and additional to GSF/local spending. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Regional Advertising Cooperatives | Varies | When it applies | Not established at original issuance; future contribution undetermined and credited toward local advertising. (Item 6, PDF p. 18) |
| Transfer | Varies | When it applies | First center to new franchisee $30,000 or existing franchisee $5,000; $2,500 each additional center in same transaction. Specified ownership/family waivers apply. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Renewal | $2,500 – $5,000 | When it applies | $2,500 for five-year renewal; $5,000 for ten- or fifteen-year renewal. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Specialized Computer Services | Varies | When it applies | $50-$300 per hour as needed. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Computer Hardware Upgrade | Varies | When it applies | Costs may range $150-$15,000 depending on equipment and configuration. (Item 6, PDF p. 19) |
| Product Testing and Product Suppliers | Varies | When it applies | Actual testing/inspection costs for proposed products or suppliers. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Audit | Varies | When it applies | Inspection/audit cost if reports/records missing or required royalty/support/GSF payments understated by more than 2%. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Interest | Varies | When it applies | Lesser of 1.5% monthly or highest lawful commercial contract rate. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | Costs if franchisor obtains missing required insurance. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Insufficient Funds Processing Fee | Varies | When it applies | Actual franchisor/affiliate cost of insufficient funds or returned check. (Item 6, PDF p. 20) |
| Costs and Attorneys’ Fees | Varies | When it applies | Qualifying costs of enforcing license agreement. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Center Update and Remodel Costs | Varies | When it applies | Table states greater of 2% of AGR in previous five years or $50,000. Note 7 on page 23 describes this as a spending limit with exceptions for law, new products/methods and renewal; read both statements. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Fleet Program | Varies | When it applies | Recapture of third-party program administration costs; required program. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Warranty and Guarantee Costs | Varies | When it applies | Customer claim remedy costs under the stated timing and satisfaction guarantee conditions; see note 9. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Additional Mandatory and/or Optional Training Costs | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement of all franchisor training costs as incurred. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Ongoing Purchases of VALVOLINE Products | Varies | Every period | Variable required product purchases from designated suppliers; sufficient inventory required. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Signage Lease | Varies | Every period | Estimated $375-$650 monthly for a 120-month lease, varying with sign package and term; ownership retained until paid. (Item 6, PDF p. 21) |
| Indemnification of VIOCF and Affiliates | Varies | When it applies | Covered losses and expenses from center ownership and operation. (Item 6, PDF p. 22) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
Valvoline Instant Oil Change startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. The earlier source-check date does not clear this hold. Item 6 uses Adjusted Gross Revenue, staged new-center royalties and a capped General System Fund. Item 19 franchise Net Sales is not an established substitute for that contractual base. Local spending, lease payments and product purchases have separate terms, so a combined annual fee total is withheld. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchised outlet history
Source: Valvoline Instant Oil Change 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 73.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 1,071 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 976 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 827 | 54 | 2 | 879 | — |
| 2024 | 879 | 90 | 6 | 963 | — |
| 2025 | 962 | 117 | 8 | 1,071 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
11 units changed owners in 2025.
Unresolved source conflict: Item 20 Table 1 on PDF page 68 reports franchised year-end totals of 962 for 2024 and 1,063 for 2025. Table 3 on PDF page 73 prints 963 and 1,071, respectively, while the 2025 opening balance is 962. This page retains the Table 3 totals as required for the outlet table. No balancing figure or corrected end count has been inferred; an authoritative correction is needed.
How much do Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Valvoline Instant Oil Change 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 65.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Net Sales for comparable franchisee-operated centers of $1,844,172 (2025, 891 comparable franchisee-operated centers for fiscal year ended September 30, 2025; 172 excluded because they were not franchise-operated for the required full period). Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every Valvoline Instant Oil Change Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchise agreement term?
Source: Valvoline Instant Oil Change 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 54.
The standard Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchise agreement runs 15 years, with renewal terms of 15 years.
15 years under the standard License Agreement. Renewal options include two consecutive 5-year terms, one 10-year term, or one 15-year term subject to site modernization, timely notice, general release, execution of the then-current agreement, and payment of the renewal fee.
How long does it take to open a Valvoline Instant Oil Change franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Valvoline Instant Oil Change 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 38.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the license agreement to opening: 180 to 650 days.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Valvoline Instant Oil Change’s $192,375 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Automotive. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
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Frequently Asked Questions about Valvoline Instant Oil Change
This record has unresolved source-review issues. Read the specific issues before using these answers.
- Can the ongoing fees for Valvoline Instant Oil Change be modeled as one flat percentage?
- Item 6 uses Adjusted Gross Revenue, staged new-center royalties and a capped General System Fund. Item 19 franchise Net Sales is not an established substitute for that contractual base. Local spending, lease payments and product purchases have separate terms, so a combined annual fee total is withheld.
Sources
Valvoline Instant Oil Change Franchising, Inc. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued December 26, 2025, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 16
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 17
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 24
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 59
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 73
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 54
Page references for Valvoline Instant Oil Change use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- October 29, 2026: Record updated.
- October 23, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- October 19, 2026: Source review hold recorded: Item 20 Table 1 (PDF page 68) reports franchised year-end counts 962 for 2024 and 1,063 for 2025; Table 3 (PDF page 73) prints 963 and 1,071, while its 2025 opening balance is 962. Table 3 is retained without balancing figures. October 19 corrections replace the Item 6 transcription and distinguish franchise FY2025 sales from the company FY2023 metrics. A source correction and complete brand recheck remain outstanding.
- October 16, 2026: Previous source check recorded. The later source review hold below supersedes its clearance.
- October 16, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued December 26, 2025).