2026 FDD Issued May 7, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
Proforma Franchise Cost (2026)
A Proforma franchise costs an estimated $7,030 – $27,695 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Item 5 lists no initial franchise fee. The estimate covers this format: Home-Based / Office-Based Business. Item 6 lists service fee: 5% – 8% of Gross Volume of Business, 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
- $7,030 – $27.7KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $0Item 5 source and terms
- Service Fee
- 5% – 8% of Gross Volume of BusinessItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 0.25% – 1% of Gross Volume of BusinessItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about Proforma
No initial franchise fee appears in Item 5. Item 7 instead places the estimated startup investment between $7,030 and $27,695, with computer equipment, initial business supplies and operating funds making up the main costs. The offer is limited to candidates with relevant sales or distribution experience; a former Safeguard employee may separately owe for a purchased customer base after opening.
The franchisor invoices customers and pays suppliers from amounts it collects. Item 6 then applies graduated Service and Marketing Fund rates to monthly Gross Volume of Business, which the FDD defines by billings rather than cash collections. That distinction matters when a customer has not yet paid. The fixed software support charge is separate, and the table also lists conditional charges for extra e-mail, training and direct vendor payment.
The franchise agreement has no fixed expiration date: Item 17 says it continues until either party terminates it under the contract. Item 20 reports 461 franchised outlets at the end of 2025, but its earlier movement totals do not reconcile to the printed year-end counts. Item 19 contains no financial performance representation, so the FDD gives no average sales figure for an earnings estimate.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Proforma?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $0 for Proforma. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5, PDF p. 13, states that no initial fee is charged to experienced candidates. Former Safeguard employees may separately purchase a customer base under a four-year note after starting operations; that is not an initial franchise fee.
Source: Proforma 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 13.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Proforma, 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 Proforma franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Proforma 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 19.
Item 7 of Proforma’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one home-based / office-based business at $7,030 – $27,695. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Computer Hardware | $0 | $4,000 |
| Internet Service Provider And Anti-Virus Software | $30 | $200 |
| Equipment, Fixtures, Fixed Assets and Stationery | $700 | $3,000 |
| Lease, Rent & Security Deposit | $0 | $2,000 |
| Utility Deposits, Insurance, Licenses, Business Entity Registration | $300 | $4,000 |
| Travel, room and board for Initial Training | $0 | $2,000 |
| Supplemental Training Fee | $0 | $495 |
| Additional Funds (3-6 months) | $6,000 | $12,000 |
| Total | $7,030 | $27,695 |
Item 7, PDF pp. 19-20, lists the standard startup costs and totals $7,030 to $27,695. The Supplemental Training Fee is an estimated startup expense, while Item 6 describes its conditional ongoing form. The FDD excludes a former Safeguard employee's later customer-base purchase from this initial estimate.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Proforma charge? (Item 6)
Source: Proforma 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 14.
Item 6 of Proforma’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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Fee | 5% – 8% of Gross Volume of Business | Every period | Graduated monthly billings tiers: 8% on the first $50,000; 7% on the next $50,000; 6% from $100,001 through $416,666; 5% above $416,666. The monthly weighted average depends on billings. Qualifying conversions initially pay 4%; former Safeguard owners or employees pay 6%. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Marketing Fund | 0.25% – 1% of Gross Volume of Business | Every period | Graduated monthly billings tiers: 1% on the first $50,000; 0.75% on the next $50,000; 0.5% from $100,001 through $416,666; 0.25% above $416,666. Qualifying conversions initially pay 0.5%; former Safeguard owners or employees pay 0.25%. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Proprietary Business Management Software License Fee and Communication and Technology Support Fee | $100 per month | Every period | Currently $100 monthly for management software and communication support; may change with 30 days notice. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Monthly E-Mail Fee | $100 per month | When it applies | Optional extra blocks of three e-mail addresses beyond the number included with the support fee; $100 per block per month. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Supplier Rebates, Commissions & Consideration | 100% of Supplier allowances, payments and other consideration received by the owner | When it applies | Owner remits all qualifying supplier consideration to the Marketing Fund. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Interest on Late Payments | 15% of Overdue amount | When it applies | 15% annually or the highest rate permitted by law, if lower. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Payments to Third Parties | Varies | When it applies | Cost of products ordered. Franchisor invoices customers, pays suppliers from collections and remits the balance; owner remains liable for vendor invoices. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Supplemental Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | Additional training materials, meals and applicable travel and lodging for trainers or attendees. Item 7 estimates $0-$495 during startup. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Direct Vendor Payment Charge | Varies | When it applies | 10% of vendor invoice or $100 minimum when the owner pays more than $500 directly to a vendor without prior approval. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Payment Conversion Fee | Varies | When it applies | Three times the amount collected directly from a customer without promptly notifying and forwarding payment to the franchisor. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Account Acquisition Fee | Varies | When it applies | If an owner continues to serve non-exempt former customers after termination, 24 times the average monthly Service and Marketing Fees owed during the prior 24 months, with specific exceptions in Item 6 Note 5. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Business Charter Default Fee | $1,000 per year | When it applies | Payable in any year the franchisee entity charter is not effective. (Item 6, PDF p. 15) |
| Loan Repayment Fee | Varies | When it applies | Only for former Safeguard employees who purchase a customer base under a term note. One third of Net Proceeds is withheld until the annual 25% of note principal is paid; see Item 6 Note 6. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
| Owners Advisory Council (OAC) Dues | Varies | When it applies | Currently none; the Owners Advisory Council may set dues later. (Item 6, PDF p. 16) |
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.
Proforma 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. Service and marketing rates use graduated monthly billings tiers. The FDD does not disclose an Item 19 sales average, so a single percentage or annual revenue input cannot support a reliable fee illustration. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: Proforma franchised outlet history
Source: Proforma 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 58.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 461 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 | 513 | 5 | 21 | 496 | — |
| 2024 | 496 | 10 | 24 | 483 | — |
| 2025 | 483 | 1 | 23 | 461 | — |
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.
How much do Proforma franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Proforma 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 54.
Proforma’s 2026 FDD has no Item 19 financial performance representation, so it gives no official sales, profit or owner-pay figures. Treat any earnings claim you hear from a salesperson with caution, and ask current owners (their contacts are listed in Item 20).
Item 19 (PDF page 54) states that the franchisor does not make any financial performance representations about past or potential future earnings.
Payback calculator (enter your own assumptions) Check any inputs against this record’s Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How long is the Proforma franchise agreement term?
Source: Proforma 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 48.
Indefinite / at-will (continues until terminated by either party)
The franchise agreement becomes effective upon signing and extends continuously until terminated by either party as provided in contract provisions. No fixed expiration or renewal fee applies.
How long does it take to open a Proforma franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Proforma 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 29.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement to opening: typically within 10 to 45 days. The agreement requires you to open The agreement requires commencement within 45 days of its effective date..
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Proforma’s $7,030 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Business Services. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- H&R Block $35.8K – $161K Source review pending Provisional publication Business Services
- Paramount Tax & Accounting $71.2K – $166K Business Services
- Payroll Vault $77K – $114K Business Services
- The Seals $101K – $147K Business Services
- Spherion $133K – $301K Business Services
- The UPS Store $222K – $606K Source review pending Provisional publication Business Services
Frequently Asked Questions about Proforma
This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally. Read the specific issues before using these answers.
- How much does it cost to start a Proforma franchise?
- Item 7 of the 2026 FDD lists an initial investment of $7,030 – $27,695 for the main format shown on this page. Item 5 lists the initial franchise fee as $0.
- What is the initial franchise fee for Proforma?
- Item 5 of the 2026 FDD lists the initial franchise fee for the main format as $0. See the linked filing for any discounts or additional upfront payments.
- What ongoing fees does Proforma charge?
- Item 6 of the 2026 FDD sets a graduated Service Fee of 5% to 8% and Marketing Fund rate of 0.25% to 1% of monthly Gross Volume of Business, subject to the FDD's conversion and former-Safeguard exceptions. It also lists a $100 monthly software and communication fee and conditional charges. These percentages are applied to billings, even when customer payment comes later.
- Does Proforma disclose average earnings in Item 19?
- No. Proforma chooses not to make financial performance representations in Item 19 of its 2026 FDD. Prospective owners are encouraged to review Item 20 contact rosters to speak directly with operating franchisees.
Sources
PFG Ventures, L.P. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued May 7, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 13
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 14
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 19
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 54
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 58
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 48
Page references for Proforma 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: Provisional publication approved per owner directive: Owner authorized provisional publication on November 3, 2026. Item 20 movements do not reconcile to the FDD's year-end totals; sourceReview retains the conflict and this record is not independently verified.
- November 3, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued May 7, 2026).
- October 22, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.