SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · CALIFORNIA
Econo Lub N Tune franchise in California: what the public record shows
Franchisees of Econo Lub N Tune in California have taken 40 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $175,569). Those approved through FY2020 defaulted at a rate not clearly different from franchise loans made in the same years nationally: 9 charge-offs among 34 resolved loans, where about 6.4 would be expected (1.4×). Econo Lub N Tune's national ratio is 1.8×.
Loans in CA
40
Charged off (all years)
9 of 34
Loss ratio in CA (not clear)
1.4×
Loss ratio nationally
1.8×
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = CA. Loss ratio = charge-offs among loans approved through FY2020 ÷ the charge-offs expected if each had defaulted at the national rate for franchise loans approved the same year; 1.0× is the same. Only charged-off and paid-in-full loans count. A ratio is shown at 30+ such loans; “not clear” marks a ratio chance alone could produce. The all-years count mixes every era and is evidence, not a rate to compare. Borrowers are matched to the brand by name and SBA franchise code; some matches may be wrong or missing.
Businesses in this industry
12,022
statewide, all operators
Per 100k residents
30.5
national 30.2
Versus the country
+1%
denser
Every business in Econo Lub N Tune's industry operating in California — franchised and independent — from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns (2023), against 2024 population estimates. Counter-intuitively, density is not a warning: across the brand-state cells in the loan data, denser markets have historically charged off less often than the thinnest (see the research page). A crowded market is usually proven demand; an empty one is often empty for a reason.
Avg weekly wage, this industry
$1,024
California, BLS QCEW 2025
National average
$1,002
same industry, all states
Versus the country
+2%
costlier to staff
What Econo Lub N Tune's industry actually pays workers in California, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2025), employment-weighted across counties. This cost signal is independent of the FDD: a market can look demand-rich above and still carry a margin headwind here if local wages run hot for the sector.
| System | Loans in CA | Charged off (all years) | Loss ratio in CA | Units in CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevron (Gas Station) | 234 | 5 of 172 | 0.2× | — |
| Arco (Gas Station) | 213 | 3 of 153 | 0.1× | — |
| Shell Service Station | 146 | 6 of 93 | 0.4× | — |
| BIG O TIRES | 137 | 19 of 106 | 1.1×NOT CLEAR | 90 |
| CIRCLE K | 119 | 3 of 47 | 0.5×NOT CLEAR | 7 |
| Maaco | 90 | 13 of 71 | 1.0×NOT CLEAR | — |
| Chevron - Retail Supply Contract | 81 | 0 of 25 | — | — |
| Ampm Mini Market- Arco | 74 | 0 of 51 | 0× | — |
| Valero | 72 | 2 of 49 | 0.3×NOT CLEAR | — |
| Aamco Transmissions | 65 | 16 of 54 | 1.3×NOT CLEAR | — |
| JIFFY LUBE | 62 | 1 of 42 | 0.2× | 265 |
| Speedee Oil Change & Tune-Up | 57 | 9 of 48 | 1.2×NOT CLEAR | — |
Other systems in Econo Lub N Tune's sector whose franchisees borrowed in California. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.
A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing Econo Lub N Tune’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.