2026 FDD Issued Apr 1, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS)
ShelfGenie Franchise Cost (2026)
A ShelfGenie franchise costs an estimated $95,300 – $148,350 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $35,000 – $69,500 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Executive Franchise (Two Territories). Item 6 lists license fee: Varies, 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
- $95.3K – $148KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $35K – $69.5KItem 5 source and terms
- License Fee
- VariesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- 2% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
What stands out about ShelfGenie
The Executive format begins with two adjacent territory agreements and a combined initial fee. Item 7 estimates $95,300 – $148,350 before any approved charge for extra households, with home-show displays and marketing among its opening costs. The Owner/Operator format and a multi-business Development Agreement have different budgets and fee structures.
The License Fee changes with current-year sales and has a monthly minimum per Executive Territory after the opening grace period. Separate MAP payments, minimum local marketing spending, software subscriptions and a call center base plus per-booking charge add obligations that cannot be represented by a single revenue percentage. Approved local marketing group contributions count toward, rather than automatically add to, the local spending minimum.
Item 19 reports a grand-total per-territory sales quotient for operators with different numbers of territories; some territories were not open for the whole year. It also reports gross margin before many operating expenses. Item 20 has a conflicting company-owned 2023 count across its own tables. The outlet movement and system total should be checked in the linked FDD until the franchisor clarifies that discrepancy.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for ShelfGenie?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $35,000 – $69,500 for ShelfGenie. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 PDF pp. 24-26 lists $69,500 for an Executive business under two simultaneous territory agreements and $35,000 for an Owner/Operator business. Additional Executive territories and approved extra households have separate fees. Qualified veterans receive a 20% first-business discount, except under a Development Agreement. Fees are generally nonrefundable. The Development Agreement has a separate development fee and $2,500 initial fee per territory.
Source: ShelfGenie 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 24.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for ShelfGenie, 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 ShelfGenie franchise? (Item 7)
Source: ShelfGenie 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 36.
Item 7 of ShelfGenie’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one executive franchise (two territories) at $95,300 – $148,350. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $69,500 | $69,500 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $0 | $1,000 |
| Vehicles | $0 | $1,500 |
| Furniture, Home Show Display, and Fixtures | $10,000 | $30,000 |
| Technology and Office Equipment; Supplies | $2,500 | $5,250 |
| Insurance | $4,000 | $7,000 |
| Advertising & Promotional and Local Marketing Spending for first three months | $3,200 | $9,600 |
| Training, Travel, Lodging & Food | $1,000 | $3,500 |
| Business Licenses and Permits | $100 | $1,000 |
| Professional Fees | $0 | $5,000 |
| Additional Funds - 3 Mo. | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Total | $95,300 | $148,350 |
Other formats
| Format | Total investment |
|---|---|
| Owner/Operator Franchise (Single Territory) | $55,550 – $100,550 |
| Area Development (Two Executive Businesses) | $171,100 – $278,350 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 12 home services records without a source-review hold is $283,275.
Item 7 PDF pp. 36-37 prints $95,300-$148,350 plus any additional franchise fee for a two-territory Executive business. The high initial-fee line can rise for approved households above 250,000; the base numeric lines sum to the printed base total. Owner/Operator and Development Agreement formats have different totals. The separately filed Minnesota marked amendment replaces the Development Agreement high total of $357,200 in the clean PDF with $278,350; its low total is $171,100.
What ongoing royalties and fees does ShelfGenie charge? (Item 6)
Source: ShelfGenie 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 27.
Item 6 of ShelfGenie’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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| License Fee | Varies | Every period | 5%-7% of Gross Sales under current-year graduated tiers; at least $400 monthly per Executive Territory or $200 monthly for Owner/Operator after six months, with quarterly reconciliation. TAFS license rate adds five percentage points. (Item 6, PDF p. 27) |
| MAP Fee | 2% of Gross Sales | Every period | 2% of Gross Sales, separate from required local marketing spending. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Local Marketing Groups | Varies | When it applies | If an LMG is designated, contribution up to 3% of Gross Sales. These payments credit required minimum local marketing spending; up to 2% currently may fund Neighborly initiatives. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Minimum Local Marketing Spending | Varies | Every period | $20,000 in year one, $30,000 in year two; thereafter greater of $40,000 or 8% of preceding-year Gross Sales. First three months waived. Qualifying LMG contributions count toward this minimum. (Item 6, PDF p. 28) |
| Business Management Software Monthly Fees | $300 per month | Every period | Currently $300 per business for required WishPortal software; vendor price increases may change it. (Item 6, PDF p. 29) |
| Software System Technology Package | Varies | Every period | Required current monthly components: $125 online presence/customer experience platform, $20 franchise portal, $11 for two Exchange emails. Additional emails and optional QuickBooks tiers cost more. (Item 6, PDF p. 29) |
| Late Fees for Software and Technology Package | $25 per month | When it applies | Lesser of $25 monthly or legal maximum when payment is at least 30 days late. (Item 6, PDF p. 30) |
| Call Center Program Fees | Varies | Every period | Required $349.99-$449.99 monthly base plus $30 per booked appointment. Base depends on provider and can change on notice. (Item 6, PDF p. 30) |
| Annual Convention (Reunion) Fees | Varies | When it applies | Currently up to $1,000 per attendee; annual attendance required. Failure to attend can cost $2,000 prorated for days missed. (Item 6, PDF p. 30) |
| Transfer Fee | Varies | When it applies | Greater of $7,500 or 5% of gross business sale price per Business; Development Agreement transfer is $20,000 plus each transferred franchise-agreement fee. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Late Fees (Franchise Agreement) | $10 | When it applies | $10 per day on overdue fees. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Dishonored Check or ACH Draft | $50 | When it applies | $50 per refused payment. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Interest | Varies | When it applies | 12% annual rate on unpaid balances. (Item 6, PDF p. 31) |
| Audit | Varies | When it applies | Audit cost and expenses plus amounts owed, interest and late fees if sales understated by at least 2% or requested records are not supplied within 30 days. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Audit Noncompliance Fee | Varies | When it applies | $500 per missing document, up to $2,500 per audit; rescheduled audit cost can also be charged for noncooperation. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Renewal Fee | Varies | When it applies | Executive: greater of $5,000 or $1,750 per Territory. Owner/Operator: $5,000. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Amendment Fee | $300 | When it applies | Processing fee for owner-requested franchise-agreement amendments. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Indemnification and Attorneys Fees and Costs | Varies | When it applies | Loss and enforcement costs under the stated indemnity and prevailing-party conditions. (Item 6, PDF p. 32) |
| Tax Reimbursement | Varies | When it applies | Applicable sales, use, gross-receipts or similar non-income taxes associated with required payments. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Specialized Training | Varies | When it applies | Current installer training $650 per installer; certified designer training $350 per designer, plus out-of-pocket expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Additional Training Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently up to $5,000 for owner-requested training, plus related expenses. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
| Key Accounts/Management Fee | Varies | When it applies | If participating in Key Accounts program, up to 5% of related Gross Sales; fee description continues on PDF p. 34. (Item 6, PDF p. 33) |
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.
ShelfGenie 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. The License Fee is tiered by annual sales and subject to monthly territory minimums. Required local marketing rises by year and credits LMG contributions, while the call center has both a monthly base and per-booking charge. Item 19 reports a per-territory quotient from markets with different territory counts, rather than a single-business sales baseline. A flat sales-based fee model would misstate these obligations. See the fee amounts and definitions in Item 6 above. Open the calculator with your own assumptions.
Item 20: ShelfGenie franchised outlet history
Source: ShelfGenie 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 92.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 262 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 12 outlets.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 227 | 44 | 16 | 255 | — |
| 2024 | 255 | 28 | 22 | 261 | — |
| 2025 | 261 | 13 | 12 | 262 | — |
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, and some reported events may reflect mergers or reopenings. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables.
14 units changed owners in 2025.
Source conflict: Item 20 Table 1 on PDF p. 87 prints 16 company-owned outlets at 2023 year end and 16 at 2024 start. Table 4 on PDF p. 93 prints 17 at 2023 year end and 17 at 2024 start; Table 4 movement arithmetic gives 13 + 11 - 7 = 17. The structured companyEnd for 2023 retains Table 4’s 17 while this contradiction awaits authoritative clarification. Franchised Table 3 totals on PDF p. 92 reconcile for all three years. Its ceased-operations definition includes some territories transferred into another franchise outlet, so those exits do not all mean business shutdowns.
How much do ShelfGenie franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: ShelfGenie 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 85.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports grand Total Gross Sales Per Territory of $123,919 (2025, 48 reporting franchisees operating 234 territories during 2025; some territories were not open for the full period). Besides sales, ShelfGenie’s Item 19 reports “Grand Total Gross Margin” as a percentage. A margin is the share of sales left after the costs the franchisor counts in it, not what an owner takes home. The figure follows the franchisor’s own definition in Item 19, which decides which costs are deducted and whether an owner’s salary is one of them.
Read the source-review hold before using this figure.
See every ShelfGenie 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 ShelfGenie’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the ShelfGenie franchise agreement term?
Source: ShelfGenie 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 71.
The standard ShelfGenie franchise agreement runs 5 years, with renewal terms of 5 years.
Initial term is 5 years with an option to renew for one additional 5-year term upon executing then-current franchise agreement and satisfying renewal conditions.
How long does it take to open a ShelfGenie franchise? (Item 11)
Source: ShelfGenie 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 58.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from signing the Franchise Agreement to opening: within 6 months.
This is the FDD's required operating deadline, subject to completed training and other pre-opening obligations; it is not a typical-opening estimate.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to ShelfGenie’s $95,300 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Home Services. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- The Junkluggers $96K – $359K Home Services
- Budget Blinds $101K – $211K Home Services
- Ace Hardware Painting Services $89.3K – $153K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- Pillar To Post $103K – $134K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- Weed Man $81.2K – $109K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
- Painter1 $80.3K – $168K Source review pending Provisional publication Home Services
Compare other home services franchises
Frequently Asked Questions about ShelfGenie
This record has unresolved source-review issues and was published provisionally. Read the specific issues before using these answers.
- What does a ShelfGenie Executive franchise cost?
- Item 7 of the 2026 FDD lists $95,300-$148,350 plus any additional franchise fee for a two-territory Executive business. The Owner/Operator range is $55,550-$100,550; the filed Minnesota amendment corrects the Development Agreement range to $171,100-$278,350.
- How does the ShelfGenie license fee work?
- Item 6 uses graduated current-year Gross Sales tiers from 7% down to 5%, with a monthly minimum after six months: $400 per Executive Territory or $200 for an Owner/Operator business. Other marketing, software and call center charges have separate terms.
- Does Item 19 provide annual sales per new franchise?
- No. Item 19 prints a $123,918.94 grand-total sales-per-territory quotient for 234 territories operated by 48 reporting franchisees in 2025. Some territories were not open all year. It is not a projection for a new business or owner profit.
- Are the outlet totals reconciled in Item 20?
- The franchised Table 3 movements reconcile, but Table 1 prints 16 company-owned outlets at 2023 year end while Table 4 prints 17. The difference remains unresolved in this draft.
Sources
ShelfGenie SPV LLC Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 1, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 24
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 27
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 36
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 78
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 92
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 71
Page references for ShelfGenie 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. The FDD's Item 20 tables disagree on company-owned counts; 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 April 1, 2026).
- October 22, 2026: Source review hold recorded. Unresolved corrections are listed in this source section.