‘Fast and friendly service’ drives Take 5’s successful quicklube business model
Take 5 Oil Change refuses to rest on its laurels as the chain continues to recruit new franchisees and acquire existing quicklube operations.
The business began in Metairie, La. on the south shores of Lake Pontchartrain in 1984, established by Monty Montgomery, who “took inspiration from the hospitality industry to transform the mundane task of getting an oil change into an enjoyable customer-focused experience.”
“Take 5 has developed a culture that really values the customer and focuses on making the best possible experience -- and that creates return customers,” says Peter Frey, owner of the new outlet.
“Customers can see that we respect their time and we respect them,” he notes. “The car owner can sit in their vehicle and return phone calls, emails and texts while their vehicle is serviced. They are in and out quickly and efficiently without disrupting their day.”
Frey has front-seat knowledge of which he speaks, having spent nearly 20 years as the company’s general manager, president and CEO until retiring from his senior executive positions in 2018.
“I wanted to stay active with Take 5, so it only took me about 15 seconds to say ‘yes’ when I was asked if I was interested in signing a franchise agreement,” he recounts. “I want to make our store a model example of what a Take 5 should be and show future franchisees why Take 5 is a strong investment opportunity.”
Frey points out that “as the franchisor, Take 5 does the heavy lifting, so all franchisees have to do is focus on the customer experience, the playbook, our employee culture and profitability.”
Along with changing a car’s oil in 10 minutes or less, plus transmission and radiator fluid refills, air filter and wiper blade replacements are also provided in a low-pressure sales atmosphere.
“Take 5 continues to be an attractive investment for franchisees seeking a turn-key franchise business.” Offering “a streamlined business model with flexible real estate and labor requirements,” the company employs “a mix of data-driven tools and real-life expertise” to determine a viable market and appropriate site for each location, says Frey.
The Midwest and Mountain-states regions currently top the desired expansion list, and entrepreneurial-minded multi-unit franchise owners are especially being sought, according to Ted Rippey, vice president of franchising.
Now on the move in 18 states under the ownership of Driven Brands with financial backing from Roark Capital, special savings on royalty fees are being offered through March 31 of 2020 as a further incentive to attract new franchisees.
Annual new-development agreement signings are proceeding at a 97 percent clip, including the addition of 58 franchises during the first half of 2019. Advance Kwik Lube, a 25-unit quicklube and service chain in Texas, has also been purchased by the company, part of a hundred locations debuting over the past year.
“We look forward to continuing this growth as we expand our footprint across the nation,” says Chief Development Officer Jon Gaiman, characterizing the investments as “a testament to the continued demand for fast, convenient oil change services nationwide.”
Building a legacy
“There are a lot of parts of the country where there’s room for expansion,” says satisfied franchisee William Mills. “But even within existing markets, there’s a lot of room for more stores, which is promising for business owners. The opportunity to work with cars every day, work with a great team within our stores and have the operational support of Driven Brands and Take 5, really sets us up for success.”
He further contends that “Take 5 is a very compelling franchise opportunity because it’s a very proven business model. There’s a very strong operational team behind the business; there’s great advertising and marketing support -- it became a great investment opportunity for my partner and I. Being able to perform services that really satisfy our customers has been a great experience. Learning that business model and growing with Take 5 has been a great experience for me.”
Wes Taubel, also a pleased franchise owner, observes that “what drew me to Take 5 was the simple business model and the fact that I could open multiple locations everywhere I wanted. It was simply a great investment and I had to capitalize on the market availability.”
Take 5 has recently purchased the Houston area’s Express Automotive Group, which had grown to 28 quicklube and service locations over the past two decades.
“From humble beginnings, we grew by providing fast and friendly service to customers throughout the Greater Houston area,” says owner Greg Cole.
“We were very impressed with the Take 5 team, from acquisitions to operations, and are extremely confident we are leaving both our customers and our people in the best possible hands,” he reports. “We look forward to watching the future success of the stores as they transition to the Take 5 model.”
Another recent Take 5 purchase is Bolton Oil Change with six Texas branches.
The company’s Wisconsin presence has recently risen from 13 to 40 stores with the acquisition of Fast Track Oil Change Centers, covering the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets with 27 locations.
“We are proud of the brand that we built and proud to have served customers across the state of Wisconsin,” says owner Mike Palmisano, who will remain involved with the enterprise. “We’re excited to work alongside Take 5 to build upon this legacy by pursuing their mission of being fast and customer-centric.”
Seeking fleet accounts is additionally part of the marketing mix, delivering “Fleet Power Hours” outside of the 9-5 workday to better serve commercial drivers without disrupting their daily routines.
Designed for getting new franchisees ready to hit the ground running, Take 5 provides a comprehensive array of preparatory services, including site-selection assistance. Requiring a pad measuring a modest 1,500 square feet, structures with 2- or 3-bay configurations can be constructed on less land than other franchising concepts while allowing more choices regarding real estate options.
Other cited benefits include analytical programs to discern key profit indicators and other business details, plus comprehensive cross-training for managers and staff conducted at the Driven Brands training center in Charlotte, N.C. Take 5 teachers are also dispatched to your location for a two-week period of pre-opening education.
