The Franchise Investment: A Guide to Ownership

Learn more about the franchise investment and explore what you need to know if you're thinking about becoming a franchise owner.

If you want to diversify your portfolio and create a legacy for your family, franchising offers a proven path forward. For an initial investment and ongoing royalty fees, franchisees get a turnkey business with proprietary systems, training, and support. Franchises are designed to scale and enable owners to build a business that serves people in their community. There are more than 4,000 franchise brands in the U.S., spanning various industries.

Kitchen Tune-Up has created a comprehensive guide to franchise ownership, designed to help you determine if franchising is the right investment for achieving your financial and lifestyle goals. We have more than 284 locations in the U.S. and Canada and have more than 36 years of experience helping entrepreneurs build successful businesses. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of a franchise investment.

Advantages of Franchising

Some of the top benefits to joining a franchise include:

• Less risk: Unlike an independent startup, a franchise is an established brand with a track record of success. For many new entrepreneurs, debuting a business with a demonstrated history of profitability provides the security and confidence they need to start a new venture. The average sales for 85 single territory Kitchen Tune-Up locations were $503,133 in 2023.*
• Short startup timeline: Franchises have step-by-step procedures to follow, decreasing the lead time to your grand opening. If your business is mobile, or a work-from-home model, many franchisees can hit the ground running as soon as they complete their training. About 70% of Kitchen Tune-Up owners are home-based and 30% have a brick-and-mortar store. Some franchise owners have full retail locations while others operate selection centers, which provide a smaller footprint.
• Training and support: A bonus of the franchise business model is access to initial training and ongoing guidance. Kitchen Tune-Up franchisees don’t need experience in home remodeling to be successful. Our owners receive four weeks of online pre-training and virtual and in-person training at our Dallas training center. Each owner participates in a 12-week action plan after training. Post-opening support and guidance are also part of your investment.
• Bulk purchasing power: Having a network of peers allows you to take advantage of economies of scale. Franchisors form partnerships with vendors to secure lower supply costs. Because of Kitchen Tune-Up’s expansive size, our franchisees enjoy some of the lowest supply costs in the home improvement industry.

Disadvantages of Franchising

However, there are a few drawbacks potential franchisees need to consider:

• Upfront costs: The initial cost to open a franchise business varies widely, depending on the industry and type of business. A business that operates primarily from a mobile van is one of the most affordable franchises to start. It costs less than a franchise requiring high-profile real estate. Kitchen Tune-Up’s potential as a work-from-home business helps keep overhead costs low. The initial investment to launch a Kitchen Tune-Up ranges from $129,930 to $188,850. We offer $48,000 of in-house financing to qualified candidates to help trim startup costs.
• Lack of creative license: Entrepreneurship provides autonomy and flexibility with the potential for unlimited earnings. Franchisees own their business, but they follow a system to be successful. The simplicity of Kitchen Tune-Up’s business model is one of the keys to the brand's enduring success. We rely on curated designs to decrease decision-making for homeowners. Using these designs also helps us keep remodeling costs down.
• Reputation dependent on franchise system: Brand consistency gives franchisees a built-in set of loyal customers. But if one location falls behind in customer service, it can damage the reputation of the entire brand. Our robust support system provides our franchisees with customer service training to help drive referrals and maintain the integrity of the brand.

Once you understand the benefits of the franchise business model, it’s time to take the next step to write your own success story. Outline your business ownership goals, and take stock your transferrable skills to find an industry that has growth potential in your market. Research franchise opportunities carefully to ensure they’re the right fit.

Take the Next Step with Kitchen Tune-Up

Kitchen Tune-Up is a lucrative opportunity in the home remodeling industry. The average household spent $9,542 on home improvement in 2023, completing 2.8 projects, according to Angi. We’ve been recognized as a Hall of Fame brand for consistently ranking on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500® list, and our operating system is customized specifically for our franchise business.

Inquire now to learn the details about partnering with Kitchen Tune-Up to launch a franchise.

*See FDD for details.