The directory
Compare franchises by what you'd keep
Every brand's verdict and real numbers in one table. Click a column to sort. “Pocket” is estimated owner cash flow for one unit before your own salary; n/d = the brand gives no Item 19 unit revenue figure — a signal in itself.
| Brand | Verdict | Investment | You'd pocket* | Royalty | Item 19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chick-fil-A | A JOB | n/a | $100K–$300K/yr | 15% of sales + 50% of profit | $9.37M |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill | NOT A FRANCHISE | not sold | — | Not franchised — 100% company-owned | n/d |
| Cruise Planners | A JOB | $2K–$21K | $0–$25K/yr | 3% declining to 0% | n/d |
| Dream Vacations | A JOB | $2K–$21K | $0–$30K/yr | 3% declining to 1.5% of commissionable sales (+3% on travel insurance) | n/d |
| Stratus Building Solutions | A TRAP | $4K–$80K | $5K–$40K/yr | 5% royalty + 10% administration fee (~15% of billings) | n/d |
| Jan-Pro | A TRAP | $5K–$78K | $8K–$35K/yr | ~10% (stacked fees ~13% of billings) | n/d |
| Coverall | A TRAP | $18K–$64K | $8K–$40K/yr | 5% royalty + 10% management fee (~15% of billings) | n/d |
| Jani-King | A TRAP | $21K–$101K | $8K–$45K/yr | 10% (stacked fees ~17% of gross revenue) | n/d |
| Coldwell Banker | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $33K–$515K | $35K–$110K/yr | 5.5% of gross commission revenue, declining as annual volume grows | n/d |
| Century 21 | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $36K–$473K | $30K–$100K/yr | 6% of gross commission revenue, before agent splits ($500/mo minimum) | n/d |
| RE/MAX | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $37K–$336K | $40K–$90K/yr | 1% of agents' GCI + per-agent desk fees (~$143–$170/agent/mo to RE/MAX) | n/d |
| Kumon | A JOB | $74K–$166K | $20K–$90K/yr | ~$36/student/subject/mo | n/d |
| Home Instead | AN ASSET | $91K–$270K | $120K–$400K/yr | 5% of gross sales | $2.61M |
| Right at Home | AN ASSET | $92K–$165K | $70K–$250K/yr | 5% of net billings | $1.74M |
| Budget Blinds | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $100K–$211K | $40K–$170K/yr | Greater of 3.5% or $1,250-$2,500/mo | $854K |
| Sylvan Learning | A JOB | $108K–$239K | $10K–$90K/yr | 11% (16% with marketing) | $386K |
| Kona Ice | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $115K–$229K | $25K–$70K/yr | Flat $3,000-$5,000 per truck per year (rises with tenure) | n/d |
| The Maids | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $118K–$141K | $15K–$90K/yr | 3.9-6.9% sliding (6.9% at entry level) | $1.18M |
| Mr. Rooter Plumbing | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $122K–$264K | $40K–$300K/yr | 6% (minimums apply) | $2.01M |
| Visiting Angels | AN ASSET | $125K–$171K | $70K–$250K/yr | 3.5%, stepping down to 3.0% at high volume | n/d |
| Merry Maids | A JOB | $127K–$166K | $15K–$85K/yr | 7% (5-6% at higher sales tiers) | $487K |
| Mathnasium | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $127K–$166K | $30K–$130K/yr | 10% + $650/mo base (floor $1,500/mo from month 24) | $385K |
| Molly Maid | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $140K–$197K | $20K–$120K/yr | 3-6.5% tiered (6.5% at entry level) | n/d |
| 7-Eleven | A TRAP | $142K–$1.60M | $35K–$110K/yr | ~45–56%+ of gross profit (7-Eleven Charge) | n/d |
| Two Men and a Truck | AN ASSET | $147K–$506K | $60K–$400K/yr | 6% (+1% technology fee) | $2.86M |
| Expedia Cruises | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $150K–$259K | $20K–$100K/yr | 9% of commission revenue paid by suppliers | n/d |
| Dutch Bros Coffee | A TRAP | $150K–$600K | $120K–$260K/yr | ~5% (last-known FDD; franchising closed) | n/d |
| Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard | A JOB | $150K–$500K | $25K–$75K/yr | 6.5% (+ 3% ad = ~9.5%) | $348K |
| Mosquito Joe | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $150K–$192K | $15K–$90K/yr | 10% to $500K, 7% above | $339K |
| Huntington Learning Center | A JOB | $164K–$302K | $25K–$120K/yr | 9.5% | $561K |
| Code Ninjas | A JOB | $174K–$266K | $0–$70K/yr | 8.25% (one source shows up to 12.25%) | $237K |
| Keller Williams | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $182K–$336K | $50K–$120K/yr | 6% of GCI — capped at $3,000/year per market center (effectively nominal at scale) | n/d |
| College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $203K–$356K | $20K–$200K/yr | 7% | $1.55M |
| The UPS Store | A JOB | $209K–$496K | $45K–$110K/yr | 5% | $721K |
| FASTSIGNS | AN ASSET | $231K–$386K | $35K–$270K/yr | 6% (3% in year one) | $1.09M |
| Subway | A TRAP | $239K–$537K | $20K–$70K/yr | 8% | n/d |
| Servpro | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $241K–$302K | $0–$60K/yr | 3–10% tiered (~7% typical) | n/d |
| Wingstop | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $298K–$1.01M | $200K–$400K/yr | 6% | $2.13M |
| Paul Davis Restoration | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $299K–$805K | $50K–$500K/yr | 4% of gross sales + guarantee and indemnity fund fees | $6.01M |
| Jimmy John's | A JOB | $361K–$674K | $50K–$130K/yr | 6% | $978K |
| Anytime Fitness | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $398K–$973K | $30K–$130K/yr | $799/mo flat | $442K |
| Krispy Kreme | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $440K–$4.33M | $0–$250K/yr | 4.5% | n/d |
| Dunkin' | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $527K–$1.83M | $130K–$220K/yr | 5.9% | $1.50M |
| Snap Fitness | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $555K–$828K | $0–$70K/yr | $725/mo flat | $234K |
| Dogtopia | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $664K–$1.48M | $30K–$260K/yr | 7% | $928K |
| McDonald's | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $1.47M–$2.64M | $120K–$250K/yr | 4% + percentage rent | $3.96M |
| Planet Fitness | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $1.50M–$5.16M | $150K–$450K/yr | 7% of EFT membership fees | $1.83M |
| Taco Bell | ASSET — IF YOU SCALE | $1.58M–$3.98M | $70K–$180K/yr | 5.5% | n/d |
*Estimated owner cash flow, one unit, before a salary for your own work. Not a projection of your results. See each file for sources and caveats.