Scout Guide
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Scout Guide franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Scout Guide franchise connects local families with vetted businesses and services through beautifully designed city guidebooks and digital platforms.
Headline figures
Quick facts
- How much does it cost to open a Scout Guide franchise?
- The Scout Guide Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $132,100–$316,600 (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 20). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Scout Guide initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $50,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 10). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Scout Guide charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $10 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 11). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $100 (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Scout Guide disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Scout Guide FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Scout Guide locations are there?
- The FDD reports 94 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 41). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $132,100 – $316,600 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
- 3Outlets declined by 1 in 2025, to 94 (United States, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Total estimated initial investment
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10
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.
- Royalty rateMain ongoing fee
56 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?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2026 FDD for Scout Guide has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
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. 41
Net +5 outlets, 2023–2025
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; 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 ($132,100 – $316,600) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Scout Guide reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
Reported units decreased from 95 to 94 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?
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]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 20
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 10
- [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 41
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD
Territory & operations
No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.
109 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | cashandcashequivalentsatendofyear | $639,906 |
| 2025 | contract liabilities | $1,361,320 |
| 2025 | deferred revenue - refundable deposits | $232,992 |
| 2025 | printing fee rebates | $421,000 |
| 2025 | technology fees | $189,319 |
| 2025 | other income | $23,501 |
| 2025 | less: discounts and credits | -$177,860 |
| 2025 | generalandadministrativeexpenses | $4,014,586 |
| 2025 | write-offs | $134,518 |
| 2025 | provision for credit losses | $56,000 |
| 2025 | net cash provided by operating activities | $991,456 |
| 2025 | distributions to members | -$928,000 |
| 2025 | net cash used in financing activities | -$928,000 |
| 2025 | netincrease(decrease) incashandcashequivalents | $63,456 |
| 2025 | cashandcashequivalentsatbeginningofyear | $576,450 |
| 2025 | receivables 90 days past due | $143,962 |
| 2025 | allowance for credit losses | -$144,000 |
| 2025 | deferred revenue - franchise feesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $355,862 |
| 2025 | cash and cash equivalents | $639,906 |
| 2025 | total liabilities | $1,361,320 |
| 2025 | members’ equity(deficit) | -$186,905 |
| 2025 | accounts receivable - tradeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $534,509 |
| 2025 | total liabilities and members’ equity | $1,174,415 |
| 2025 | accounts receivable - tradeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $678,509 |
| 2025 | total current liabilities | $588,854 |
| 2025 | total current assets | $1,174,415 |
| 2025 | total assets | $1,174,415 |
| 2025 | deferred revenue - franchise feesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $772,466 |
| 2025 | total long-term liabilities | $772,466 |
| 2025 | franchise fees | $378,993 |
| 2025 | royalties | $1,797,830 |
| 2025 | allowance credit losses | $144,000 |
| 2025 | production and printing fees | $1,958,620 |
| 2025 | total revenue | $4,611,120 |
| 2025 | members’ distributions | -$928,000 |
| 2025 | finance charges | $19,717 |
| 2025 | net income | $596,534 |
| 2025 | grossprofit | $4,611,120 |
| 2025 | netincome | $596,534 |
| 2025 | members’ equity, beginningofyear | $144,561 |
| 2025 | franchise fees received not recognized | $1,128,328 |
| 2025 | payments tsg ip trademark | $5,000 |
| 2025 | members’ equity(deficit), endofyear | -$186,905 |
| 2025 | allowance provision | $56,000 |
| 2025 | accounts payable | -$4,001 |
| 2025 | refundable production/printing deposits | $232,992 |
| 2025 | allowance beginning balance | $88,000 |
| 2025 | bad debt expense | $78,518 |
| 2025 | accounts receivable | $134,786 |
| 2025 | deferred revenue | $51,007 |
| 2025 | refundable deposits | $78,612 |
| 2025 | allowance ending balance | $144,000 |
| 2025 | payments tsg media | $3,780,000 |
| 2024 | netincrease(decrease) incashandcashequivalents | -$74,765 |
| 2024 | receivables 90 days past due | $195,480 |
| 2024 | accounts receivable - tradeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $891,813 |
| 2024 | accounts receivable - tradeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $803,813 |
| 2024 | deferred revenue - franchise feesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $331,798 |
| 2024 | deferred revenue - franchise feesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $745,523 |
| 2024 | royalties | $1,816,235 |
| 2024 | allowance credit losses | $88,000 |
| 2024 | content services | $46,600 |
| 2024 | finance charges | $38,612 |
| 2024 | less: discounts and credits | -$410,242 |
| 2024 | bad debt expense | $28,506 |
| 2024 | refundable deposits | -$221,804 |
| 2024 | allowance ending balance | $88,000 |
| 2024 | refundable production/printing deposits | $154,380 |
| 2024 | payments tsg media | $3,360,000 |
| 2024 | cashandcashequivalentsatbeginningofyear | $651,215 |
| 2024 | contract liabilities | $1,231,701 |
| 2024 | cashandcashequivalentsatendofyear | $576,450 |
| 2024 | allowance for credit losses | -$88,000 |
| 2024 | total current assets | $1,380,263 |
| 2024 | accounts payableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $4,001 |
| 2024 | deferred revenue - refundable deposits | $154,380 |
| 2024 | allowance beginning balance | $116,000 |
| 2024 | cash and cash equivalents | $576,450 |
| 2024 | total current liabilities | $490,179 |
| 2024 | total long-term liabilities | $745,523 |
| 2024 | total assets | $1,380,263 |
| 2024 | members’ equity(deficit) | $144,561 |
| 2024 | total liabilities | $1,235,702 |
| 2024 | total liabilities and members’ equity | $1,380,263 |
| 2024 | franchise fees | $493,103 |
| 2024 | grossprofit | $4,098,689 |
| 2024 | netincome | $672,110 |
| 2024 | write-offs | $28,506 |
| 2024 | shipping fee revenue | $100,891 |
| 2024 | production and printing fees | $5,034,723 |
| 2024 | technology fees | $172,026 |
| 2024 | other income | $7,250 |
| 2024 | total revenue | $7,299,198 |
| 2024 | net income | $672,110 |
| 2024 | deferred revenue | $191,897 |
| 2024 | production and printing | $3,200,509 |
| 2024 | generalandadministrativeexpenses | $3,426,579 |
| 2024 | members’ distributions | -$661,000 |
| 2024 | distributions to members | -$661,000 |
| 2024 | members’ equity, beginningofyear | $133,451 |
| 2024 | allowance provision | -$28,000 |
| 2024 | provision for credit losses | -$28,000 |
| 2024 | accounts payableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | -$24,653 |
| 2024 | members’ equity(deficit), endofyear | $144,561 |
| 2024 | net cash provided by operating activities | $586,235 |
| 2024 | accounts receivable | -$31,821 |
| 2024 | franchise fees received not recognized | $1,077,321 |
| 2024 | payments tsg ip trademark | $5,000 |
| 2024 | net cash used in financing activities | -$661,000 |
| 2023 | cash and cash equivalents | $651,215 |
| 2023 | accounts receivable - tradeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $888,498 |
| 2023 | allowance for credit losses | -$116,000 |
| 2023 | total current assets | $1,423,713 |
| 2023 | total assets | $1,423,713 |
| 2023 | deferred revenue - refundable deposits | $376,184 |
| 2023 | production and printing fees | $4,689,990 |
| 2023 | finance charges | $20,173 |
| 2023 | less: discounts and credits | -$346,865 |
| 2023 | total revenue | $6,590,403 |
| 2023 | production and printing | $3,008,214 |
| 2023 | allowance credit losses | $116,000 |
| 2023 | deferred revenue | $459,244 |
| 2023 | allowance ending balance | $116,000 |
| 2023 | refundable production/printing deposits | $376,184 |
| 2023 | payments tsg ip trademark | $5,000 |
| 2023 | cashandcashequivalentsatbeginningofyear | $270,248 |
| 2023 | netincrease(decrease) incashandcashequivalents | $380,967 |
| 2023 | contract liabilities | $1,261,608 |
| 2023 | cashandcashequivalentsatendofyear | $651,215 |
| 2023 | total long-term liabilities | $649,938 |
| 2023 | total liabilities | $1,290,262 |
| 2023 | other income | $13,436 |
| 2023 | accounts receivable - tradeMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $772,498 |
| 2023 | accounts payableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $28,654 |
| 2023 | deferred revenue - franchise feesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $235,486 |
| 2023 | total current liabilities | $640,324 |
| 2023 | deferred revenue - franchise feesMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $649,938 |
| 2023 | members’ equity(deficit) | $133,451 |
| 2023 | total liabilities and members’ equity | $1,423,713 |
| 2023 | receivables 90 days past due | $170,482 |
| 2023 | franchise fees | $285,756 |
| 2023 | royalties | $1,672,290 |
| 2023 | grossprofit | $3,582,189 |
| 2023 | members’ equity, beginningofyear | $325,354 |
| 2023 | shipping fee revenue | $107,624 |
| 2023 | technology fees | $147,999 |
| 2023 | generalandadministrativeexpenses | $3,201,092 |
| 2023 | franchise fees received not recognized | $885,424 |
| 2023 | net income | $381,097 |
| 2023 | refundable deposits | $184,084 |
| 2023 | netincome | $381,097 |
| 2023 | accounts payableMore than one value recorded for this year — open the FDD source before comparing | $28,338 |
| 2023 | net cash provided by operating activities | $953,967 |
| 2023 | net cash used in financing activities | -$573,000 |
| 2023 | members’ distributions | -$573,000 |
| 2023 | allowance beginning balance | $70,000 |
| 2023 | accounts receivable | -$144,796 |
| 2023 | write-offs | $0 |
| 2023 | members’ equity(deficit), endofyear | $133,451 |
| 2023 | allowance provision | $46,000 |
| 2023 | provision for credit losses | $46,000 |
| 2023 | distributions to members | -$573,000 |
| 2023 | payments tsg media | $3,000,000 |
| 2022 | contract liabilities | $618,280 |
| 2022 | accounts receivable december 31 2022 | $113,606 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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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 and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Not reviewed
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.