2026 FDD Issued Apr 24, 2026, amended Aug 21, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
Painter1 Franchise Cost (2026)
A Painter1 franchise costs an estimated $80,270 – $168,380 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $54,500 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Single Franchise. Item 6 lists royalty fee: 7% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below. This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally before independent verification was complete.
Read the source-review hold before using these figures.
- Total investment
- $80.3K – $168KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $54.5KItem 5 source and terms
- Royalty
- 7% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Painter1
The franchisor flags its own finances. The special-risks page says its financial condition, as shown in its audited statements, calls into question its ability to provide services and support. Item 20 shows 6 openings and 4 exits in 2025, and that year's franchised row does not add up as printed; a footnote says the terminated franchisee never opened.
Training runs through another franchisee. Item 5 says a franchisee mentor leads the initial training and field orientation, and you reimburse the mentor's travel. Item 6 notes that the franchisor passes part of your first year's royalty to that mentor. The royalty is 7% of Gross Sales, with a monthly minimum.
Several outside vendors are mandatory. You must use the designated bookkeeper and digital marketing supplier, each billed monthly, and an approved administrative and lead-management service for at least the first year. Item 7 assumes contractors do the painting, so the franchise fee of $54,500 makes up most of the low estimate of $80,270.
Sales differ sharply by territory. Item 19 lists every territory's monthly sales, and the $430,490 average sits well above the median because a few territories sold far more than the rest. A separate group of inactive territories reported little or nothing for the year.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Painter1?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $54,500 for Painter1. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 8-10): $54,500 for a territory of about 100,000 to 225,000 households, paid at signing and not refundable. Existing franchisees can add a territory of 225,000 or fewer households for $30,000. You also reimburse the franchisee mentor's travel for training in your territory, estimated at $500 to $3,000. You must open within 180 days of signing or 30 days after completing training, whichever is earlier.
Source: Painter1 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 8.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Painter1, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open a Painter1 franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Painter1 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17.
Item 7 of Painter1’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one single franchise at $80,270 – $168,380. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $54,500 | $54,500 |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Advertising (over first 3 months) | $9,000 | $10,000 |
| Computer Equipment | $800 | $1,800 |
| Travel and Living Expenses to Attend Training and Payment/Reimbursement | $1,000 | $7,500 |
| Contractor License | $300 | $500 |
| Licenses and Bonds | $0 | $1,500 |
| Accounting Software | $360 | $360 |
| Cell Phone | $600 | $720 |
| Insurance | $360 | $1,500 |
| Clothing and Uniforms | $0 | $250 |
| Supplies and Equipment and Inventory | $0 | $7,500 |
| Lease and Utilities Deposits and Payments | $0 | $1,500 |
| Franchise Premises Rent | $0 | $3,000 |
| Office Set-up | $0 | $500 |
| Car Signs/Decals | $100 | $3,500 |
| Vehicle | $0 | $50,000 |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $250 | $750 |
| Additional Funds - 6 months | $10,000 | $20,000 |
| Total | $80,270 | $168,380 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 12 home services records without a source-review hold is $283,275.
Item 7 (PDF pages 16-18) prints $80,270 to $168,380; its 19 lines add to that total. The vehicle line ($0 to $50,000) is the largest variable; note 2 recommends using a vehicle for estimates and relying on contractors for painting and hauling. The additional-funds line covers about 6 months. Each extra territory requires its own initial expenditures.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Painter1 charge? (Item 6)
Source: Painter1 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 10.
Item 6 of Painter1’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 7% of Gross Sales | Every period | 7% of monthly Gross Sales, with a $700 monthly minimum starting the first month after initial training, due by the 7th. The franchisor pays part of the first year's royalty to your franchisee mentor (note 3). (Item 6, PDF p. 10) |
| Bookkeeping Services Fee | $250 per month | Every period | Currently $250 a month to the designated bookkeeper or vendor, which you must use; may rise up to 25% a year. (Item 6, PDF p. 10) |
| Website and Digital Advertising | $250 – $650 per month | Every period | Currently $250 to $650 a month, paid to the designated digital marketing vendor, which you must use (Item 8); the vendor may raise it. (Item 6, PDF p. 10) |
| Grand Opening Advertising Recommendation | $3,000 | When it applies | Recommended $3,000 spent from two weeks before to two weeks after opening. (Item 6, PDF p. 11) |
| Local Advertising Recommendation | 8% of Gross Sales | When it applies | Recommended spending of at least 8% of annual Gross Sales on local advertising; not a fee to the franchisor. (Item 6, PDF p. 11) |
| Regional Advertising Fund Contribution | 2% of Gross Sales | When it applies | Up to 2% of Gross Sales, only if 65% of franchisees in an advertising region vote to establish a regional fund. (Item 6, PDF p. 11) |
| Additional Training | Varies | When it applies | Currently $500 per day plus out-of-pocket costs; may rise up to 25% a year. (Item 6, PDF p. 11) |
| Refresher Training Programs and Seminars | Varies | When it applies | Currently $500 per day or then-current rates, plus your travel and living costs; may rise up to 25% a year. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Annual Convention Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently up to $500; attendance is required and the fee may be charged even if you do not attend. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Cost to Attend Annual Convention | Varies | When it applies | Estimated $1,000 to $5,000 per person for travel, food and lodging, which may be charged even if you do not attend. (Item 6, PDF p. 12) |
| Step-In Rights Fee | Varies | When it applies | 15% of Gross Sales plus administrative, personnel and travel costs, only if the franchisor exercises step-in rights. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Transfer Fee and Transition Holdback | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement of transfer costs up to $5,000, plus a $25,000 Transition Holdback from the sale price, released when the transition is complete or kept if it is not finished within 90 days. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Renewal | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement of renewal costs up to $5,000. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Late Charge | Varies | When it applies | 1.5% of the unpaid balance per month. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| NSF Fee | $50 | When it applies | $50 per returned transaction. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Unsatisfied Payment Fee | $100 | When it applies | Currently $100 for each failed electronic collection attempt; may rise up to 25% a year. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Relocation | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement of relocation costs. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Software Upgrade Fee | Varies | When it applies | Up to $500 per calendar year when required software is added or improved. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Administrative Assistant Service Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $1,667 to $4,500 a month to the designated vendor, depending on monthly leads; Item 8 requires the service for at least the first 12 months, with an opt-out after 6 months if you pass a proficiency test. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Software Technical Support Fee | Varies | When it applies | Reasonable rates, after 45 days' notice, if the franchisor decides to charge for further support. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Product Testing Costs | Varies | When it applies | Costs of testing products or suppliers you ask to have approved. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Audit | Varies | When it applies | Audit costs if you understate revenue by more than 2% or miss required reports. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
This fee schedule cannot be reduced to the calculator’s simple sales-based formula. Enter your own assumptions and check them against the Item 6 terms.
Painter1 startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
A source check placed this record on review hold. Automatic fee estimates are withheld until the outstanding issues are resolved. Item 6 charges the greater of 7% of monthly Gross Sales or $700 a month. Because of the monthly minimum, this record does not produce an annual fee estimate or payback preset. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Painter1 franchised outlet history
Source: Painter1 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 55.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 45 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 0 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 36 | 10 | 8 | 38 | — |
| 2024 | 38 | 7 | 3 | 42 | — |
| 2025 | 42 | 6 | 4 | 45 | — |
Calculated outlet totals, net growth and exit rates are withheld because this record has not cleared the current Item 20 source checks. The table retains the outlet counts printed in Item 20. Read the unresolved source issues.
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
3 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 Table 3 (PDF page 55) prints 2025 as start 42, opened 6, terminated 1, ceased 3, end 45, which does not add up (it yields 44); a footnote says the terminated franchisee never opened. 2023 and 2024 add up. In 2023 the franchisor reacquired the Nashville outlet and sold it to a new owner (Table 4). Table 2 (PDF page 53) reports 1, 4 and 3 transfers. Table 5 lists 1 franchise agreement signed but not opened and 3 projected openings.
How much do Painter1 franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Painter1 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 49.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Annual Gross Sales of $430,490 (January through December 2025, 40 franchised outlets that operated more than 6 months in 2025; 17 (43%) attained or surpassed the average). Painter1’s Item 19 reports sales but no profit, costs or owner pay. Rent, payroll, supplies, loan payments and Item 6 fees come out of sales before an owner is paid, so these figures cannot show what an owner earns.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every Painter1 Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Painter1’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Painter1 franchise agreement term?
Source: Painter1 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 40.
The standard Painter1 franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 5 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 40): a 10-year term; if you are in good standing you may renew for 5-year periods under the then-current agreement, which may differ materially. Renewal requires reimbursing costs up to $5,000.
How long does it take to open a Painter1 franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Painter1 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 26.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement or first payment to opening: about 30 to 90 days.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Painter1’s $80,270 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Home Services. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Weed Man $81.2K – $109K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- Ace Hardware Painting Services $89.3K – $153K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- ShelfGenie $95.3K – $148K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- The Junkluggers $96K – $359K Home Services
- Payroll Vault $77K – $114K Business Services
- Paramount Tax & Accounting $71.2K – $166K Business Services
Compare other home services franchises
Sources
Stratify, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 24, 2026, as amended August 21, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 8
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 10
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 17
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 49
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 55
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 40
Page references for Painter1 use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- November 3, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.
- November 3, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued April 24, 2026).
- November 3, 2026: Rechecked against the April 24, 2026 Minnesota FDD as amended August 21, 2026: Items 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 17, 19 and 20. Item 6 now lists all 22 rows (the draft had 7), with the royalty minimum in a model note. Corrected transfers to 1, 4 and 3 from Table 2. Recorded the amendment date, franchisor details and opening time, and rewrote the analysis. The Item 20 2025 conflict remains and is disclosed.
- November 2, 2026: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner directed on November 2, 2026 that every remaining batch 6 brand go live, including brands whose FDDs print conflicting figures. Each record was rechecked against its FDD on November 3, 2026; the unresolved source conflicts remain disclosed and the record is not marked verified.
- August 21, 2026: Amendment date recorded for the source FDD.