Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops Revenue Benchmarks
The average automotive oil change and lubrication shops business in the United States generates $1.3M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 4,352 automotive oil change and lubrication shops businesses in the U.S., employing 67,580 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $39K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops Business Actually Do?
Quick-lube shops focused on oil changes and basic fluid services — typically 15–30 minute service. Franchise-heavy category (Jiffy Lube, Valvoline, Take 5).
Who buys: Vehicle owners on 3,000–10,000 mile service intervals.
Average Revenue
$1.3M
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$82K
per year
Total Businesses
4,352
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$101K
small business avg
Labor Cost
38.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$39K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
1.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops Charge?
Quick-lube shops price per service with tiered oil grades and upsells.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Conventional oil change | $45–70 |
Synthetic blend | $65–90 |
Full synthetic | $85–130 |
Cabin/air filter | $30–60 add-on |
Transmission fluid flush | $150–300 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete automotive oil change and lubrication shops business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a automotive oil change and lubrication shops business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Supplies & materials | $16 | $205K | Direct consumables — parts for repair shops, chemicals for laundries, etc. |
Wages & benefits | $38 | $482K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $11 | $137K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $5 | $68K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $22 | $274K | Insurance, licensing, tools, uniforms, small equipment. |
Net profit | $8 | $101K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
10.42%
openings/year
Closure Rate
9.1%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+3.4%
annual
Businesses Closed
12,052
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops Business?
Startup Cost
$30K – $150K
Break-Even
11 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a automotive oil change and lubrication shops business do?
- Quick-lube shops focused on oil changes and basic fluid services — typically 15–30 minute service. Franchise-heavy category (Jiffy Lube, Valvoline, Take 5). Vehicle owners on 3,000–10,000 mile service intervals.
- How much do automotive oil change and lubrication shops charge?
- Quick-lube shops price per service with tiered oil grades and upsells. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average automotive oil change and lubrication shops make per year?
- The average automotive oil change and lubrication shops business generates $1.3M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $101K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many automotive oil change and lubrication shops businesses are there in the US?
- There are 4,352 automotive oil change and lubrication shops businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 67,580 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a automotive oil change and lubrication shops business?
- Startup costs for a automotive oil change and lubrication shops business typically range from $30K to $150K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry?
- The average employee in the automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry earns $39K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 3.4% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (10.4% entry vs 9.1% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 62% of automotive oil change and lubrication shops businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 12,052 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry earns $39,465/year. This is below the national average of ~$65K — typical for this sector. With 7,824 establishments employing 71,493 people, the typical business has about 9 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The automotive oil change and lubrication shops industry has declined 2% since 2000 (from 138,176 to 135,684 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Automotive Oil Change and Lubrication Shops revenue with other industries: