What it costs to open a franchise, from the filings
Franchise ads show a fee. The filing shows the whole range, and the ranges are wide. Here are the total investment figures from seven 2026 FDDs, from the lowest to the highest.
Every Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) prints one sentence on its cover: the total investment necessary to begin operation. It is a range. Item 7 breaks that range into lines, such as build-out, equipment, fees and the cash you need to keep on hand while the business starts up.
Total investment, lowest to highest
| Franchise | Total investment to open one outlet | Of which paid to the franchisor or affiliates | FDD page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquito Joe | $150,155 to $191,575 | $82,446 to $83,096 | Cover page |
| Koala Insulation | $194,885 to $241,736 | $109,335 to $128,386 | Cover page |
| The Joint Chiropractic | $245,250 to $543,000 | $20,950 to $40,900 | Cover page |
| Scenthound | $322,999 to $553,269 | $86,049 to $96,169 | Cover page |
| Dogtopia | $664,355 to $1,478,820 | $77,975 to $130,210 | Cover page |
| Crumbl | $848,566 to $1,472,533 | $81,000 to $89,000 | Cover page |
| Goldfish Swim School | $1,663,263 to $3,746,733 | $50,000 to $52,500 | Cover page |
Club Pilates is not in the table because we did not find the same cover-page line in its text.
What the table tells you
The lowest figure in this set is $150,155. None of these seven starts below $100,000. If you see a "franchise under $100K" ad, read its FDD cover to see what is counted and what is not.
The high end can be double the low end. The Joint's range runs from $245,250 to $543,000. Dogtopia's top is more than twice its bottom. Ask which end owners in your area really paid.
The franchisor gets a small share of the cost in some brands and a large share in others. At Goldfish Swim School, $50,000 to $52,500 of a $1.66 million minimum goes to the franchisor, so most of your money goes to the building and its fit-out. At Koala Insulation, $109,335 to $128,386 of a $194,885 minimum goes to the franchisor, which is more than half. Ask for each brand: where does my money go?
What to check in Item 7
- Does the range include money to live on? Item 7 usually lists "additional funds" for the first months. Check how many months it covers.
- Is real estate or a lease deposit counted? Some brands leave out the cost to buy land or a building. Read the notes under the table.
- What is refundable? Ask which fees come back if the deal falls through. Item 5 and Item 7 say.
- How does the estimate compare with what owners paid? Call owners from the list in the FDD. Ask what they spent beyond the estimate.
- Will I need a second outlet to make it work? Some systems expect multi-unit owners. Check the development schedule.
Next, look at how you would pay for it. Our guide on financing a franchise shows what seven filings say about lenders.
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