SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service® Franchisee Ken Giusti Celebrates Three Decades of Franchise Success

Ken Giusti, a California-based franchise professional, has owned a SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service® franchise for more than 25 years and has developed an essential business that encapsulates his entrepreneurial spirit. “The SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service model is absolutely the best in the industry,” he said.

Giusti purchased his first franchise in Fremont, California in 1992 and then upon the sale of this location, he acquired the franchise in Vallejo, California in December 1999. But even before starting his career with SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service, he boasted an impressive resume.

Giusti got his start in business at the age of 17, working for Bank of America’s credit card division (BankAmericard) as an accounting department manager. He worked his way up to a director of technology position for the residential real estate division, but after multiple years in the same organization, he and a business associate set off to explore their own entrepreneurial experience.

“One of our decisions was based on finding a recession-proof business,” Giusti said. “My buddy and I got involved, took our Bank of America buyouts and thought that was a good opportunity to run our own business. Two years of a monthly salary from my previous employer provided the working capital to make sure I was able to get the business up and running,” he added. “We owned and operated several SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service franchises together, including the very successful Modesto, California location.”

Giusti would later become involved with SpeeDee’s National Franchisee Advisory Council (NFAC) to provide assistance to franchisees and further his own insights. He was even President and Chairperson of the Council for several years, and has recently returned to the same position. As the franchise landscape has evolved, Giusti has established himself as an industry leader with real-time awareness of any changes taking place.

“Our brand is steered by input from the franchisees,” Giusti said, “and our corporate office is truly committed to marketing and brand development.” He highlighted how all of those priorities are good for both the corporate office as well as franchisees.

“That’s why our brand has been able to establish a good relationship with franchisees,” he said, showcasing how SpeeDee has been able to introduce entrepreneurial franchisees to an essential industry.

Giusti sees the current size of the SpeeDee brand as an advantage, too. He says that SpeeDee Oil Change & Auto Service has the ability to try new marketing and operational approaches when compared to a larger organization where it can be tough to pivot an existing strategy. “Within the SpeeDee family, we can get pretty innovative with our marketing campaigns, and we get it done,” he said.

Those adjustments proved vital at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Giusti was able to establish his business as an essential brand, thanks to his determination and assistance from his corporate team. To stay successful during a period of uncertainty, Giusti discussed how both he and the SpeeDee corporate team communicated closely. “We came through. We all had to work together to try and get through this pandemic,” he said.

“??I've been in conversation with several business brokers over the last six or seven months, and you won't believe how many people have come to them looking for investment opportunities into automotive maintenance,” he said. “It was almost foolproof during the pandemic.” 

With nearly 30 years of proven experience, Giusti has developed a model that has not only stood for his market in California, but for the franchising industry at large. His investment strategy from the beginning set him in motion in a vital field, and his ongoing strategy through years of experience has proven his work as both essential and impactful.

“We’re privileged to have Ken on board as a franchisee, and he’s been able to succeed for years through whatever the industry has thrown his way,” said Wes Stephenson, President & COO for SpeeDee Worldwide, LLC. “We target the same kind of franchisees for a successful investment, and we’re looking forward to continuing to expand our business model through dedicated franchisees like Ken.”