Signal
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Signal franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Headquarters
- Omaha, NE Source: teamsignal.com
Signal is a security services franchise offering patrol, dedicated, and custom security solutions. Its customers include residential, manufacturing, industrial, distribution, and commercial clients.
Headline figures
Signal quick facts
- Is Signal a franchise?
- Yes. Signal offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 1,883 franchised and 0 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 55).
- How much does it cost to open a Signal franchise?
- The Signal Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $160,200–$10,189,650 for total estimated initial investment (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 18); $10,189,650 for total estimated initial investment — high bound (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 18). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What ongoing fees does Signal charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is 4% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 15). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Signal disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The Signal FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 52). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many Signal locations are there?
- The FDD reports 1,883 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 55). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Signal 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 lists every recurring fee beyond 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: $160,200 – $10,189,650 (Total Estimated Initial Investment); $10,189,650 (Total Estimated Initial Investment — high bound); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 reports revenue and other measures and profit for 120 Franchisee business units locations.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Signal 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 2 single-unit formats
2026 FDD · Item 7
Formats disclosed in Item 7 (2)
Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.
- Total Estimated Initial InvestmentPDF p. 18$160,200 – $10,189,650
- high boundPDF p. 18$10,189,650
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty FeeMain ongoing fee
17 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.
120 locations
Revenue, profit and other measures · 120 locations
- Who is counted
- Franchised Business Units open and operating with revenue at least 12 months by end of 2025
- Excluded
- Excluded units not operating with revenue for 12 months; gross-profit dataset further limited to units with accessible payroll information.
- Method
- 2025 quartile table ALL row; unaudited historical results.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of December 31 of each year as labeled of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 55
Net +824 outlets, 2023–2025
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 ($160,200 – $10,189,650) 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?
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]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 52
- [2]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 55
"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.
71 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
No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.
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, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. 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.