Inter-State Studio
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Inter-State Studio franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Inter-State Studio provides school portraits, sports and event photography, yearbooks and student planners. Franchise operators serve schools and families using the company's photography, marketing and production systems.
Headline figures
Inter-State Studio quick facts
- Is Inter-State Studio a franchise?
- Yes. Inter-State Studio offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 19 franchised and 24 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 38).
- How much does it cost to open an Inter-State Studio franchise?
- The Inter-State Studio Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $23,100–$48,950 for total — standard franchisee: $23,100 to $51,450 (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 16); $13,100–$48,950 for conversion only (total — conversion franchisee: $13,100 to $48,950) (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 16). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Inter-State Studio initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $15,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 11). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- Does Inter-State Studio disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Inter-State Studio FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 36). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Inter-State Studio locations are there?
- The FDD reports 43 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 38). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Inter-State Studio a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $25,600 – $48,950 (Standard: Standard initial investment low); $53,950 (Standard: Standard initial investment high); $13,100 – $48,950 (Conversion: Conversion initial investment low); $48,950 (Conversion: Conversion initial investment high); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 reports other measures and revenue for 19 Franchised locations.
- 3Outlets declined by 1 in 2025, to 43 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Inter-State Studio head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Range across 4 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (4)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Conversion: Conversion initial investment lowPDF p. 17$13,100 – $48,950
- Standard: Standard initial investment lowPDF p. 17$25,600 – $48,950
- Conversion: Conversion initial investment highPDF p. 17$48,950
- Standard: Standard initial investment highPDF p. 17$53,950
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
40 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
One reported population. Revenue is not owner income.
19 locations
Revenue and other measures · 19 locations
- Who is counted
- 19 franchised Inter-State Studio businesses open and operating as of Dec. 31, 2025 with at least one full fall/winter school-picture season; two opened in 2025
- Excluded
- One additional business open more than 12 months excluded because it ceased operations in 2025; two of the 19 included businesses had been operating less than 12 months
- Method
- Unaudited historical 2025 calendar-year gross revenue and lab fees reported by each franchise
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of 2025 of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 38
Net +4 outlets, 2022–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($13,100 – $53,950) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?
Reported units decreased from 44 to 43 in 2025. What drove the change?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2026 FDD)
- [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 11
- [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 36
- [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 38
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
19 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | accounts receivable due from related party | $146,734 |
| 2024 | net incomeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $226,182 |
| 2024 | contract liabilities, beginning of year | $193,597 |
| 2024 | contract liabilities, end of year | $148,836 |
| 2024 | total assets | $342,401 |
| 2024 | sales from one customer, approximately | $14 |
| 2024 | accrued liability | $103,024 |
| 2024 | total current liabilities | $166,603 |
| 2024 | deferred revenue, other liabilities | $85,257 |
| 2024 | total liabilities | $251,860 |
| 2024 | members’ equityMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $90,541 |
| 2024 | deferred revenue, current | $63,579 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
What changed from 2025 to 2026
- Franchise fee: $0 → $17,500
- System size: 88 → 43 units
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
Loading…
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
PackageHub Business Centers
Minuteman Press
Signarama
Fully Promoted
RSVP Alliance Franchise Brands
Lifestyle Publications LLCHead-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Reader notes on wording
Our automated check found that these summaries may not match the FDD's exact wording. Read the FDD excerpt itself; it is the authoritative text. Core cost, fee, Item 19 and outlet figures are not affected.
Item 12 · PDF p. 29 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Territory minimum annual attendance quota: 5% increase in third and later full school years
“During your first full School Year and each School Year thereafter, you must attain the following increase in the Annual Attendance from the prior partial or full School Year (the “Minimum Annual Attendance Quota”): Calendar Year Minimum Annual Attendance Quota First Full School Year 1 5% increase Second Full School Year 10% increase Third Full School Year and each Full School Year after that 5% increase”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Item 12 · PDF p. 29 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Territory minimum annual attendance quota: 5% increase in first full school year
“During your first full School Year and each School Year thereafter, you must attain the following increase in the Annual Attendance from the prior partial or full School Year (the “Minimum Annual Attendance Quota”): Calendar Year Minimum Annual Attendance Quota First Full School Year 1 5% increase Second Full School Year 10% increase Third Full School Year and each Full School Year after that 5% increase”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Item 12 · PDF p. 29 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Territory minimum annual attendance quota: 10% increase in second full school year
“During your first full School Year and each School Year thereafter, you must attain the following increase in the Annual Attendance from the prior partial or full School Year (the “Minimum Annual Attendance Quota”): Calendar Year Minimum Annual Attendance Quota First Full School Year 1 5% increase Second Full School Year 10% increase Third Full School Year and each Full School Year after that 5% increase”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Item 21 · PDF p. 65 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Related-party administrative, marketing and professional fees — 2022
“Related party fees incurred for administrative services, marketing and professional fees which are classified as operating expenses on the statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, totaled $619,560 and $486,184.”
Note: The cited PDF page did not confirm the exact quoted figure.
Item 21 · PDF p. 65 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Related-party costs of goods sold — 2022
“Costs of goods sold amounts incurred with the related party for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $91,611 and $48,575, respectively.”
Note: The cited PDF page did not confirm the exact quoted figure.
Item 21 · PDF p. 65 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Related-party administrative, marketing and professional fees — 2023
“Related party fees incurred for administrative services, marketing and professional fees which are classified as operating expenses on the statements of operations for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, totaled $619,560 and $486,184.”
Note: The cited PDF page did not confirm the exact quoted figure.
Item 21 · PDF p. 65 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Related-party costs of goods sold — 2023
“Costs of goods sold amounts incurred with the related party for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $91,611 and $48,575, respectively.”
Note: The cited PDF page did not confirm the exact quoted figure.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
Compare Inter-State Studio with…
VSCompare Inter-State Studio with…
VS