Surface Experts
Surface Experts Franchising LLC · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching Surface Experts franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Surface Experts franchise specializes in bathtub, tile, and countertop refinishing services, offering customers an affordable alternative to full bathroom and k
Headline figures
What the disclosures show
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $155,893 – $273,200 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 4 separate groups: revenue for 16 franchised locations; revenue for 17 franchised locations; revenue for 75 franchised locations; other measures and costs for 67 franchised locations. They are not combined.
- 3Outlets grew by 16 in 2025, to 103 (Systemwide, 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. 17
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.
- RoyaltyMain ongoing fee
19 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?
4 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
Franchised locations
Revenue · 16 locations
- Who is counted
- Franchised Locations operating in a single territory; Reporting Group locations open and operating for at least 12 months and operated for the entire reporting year
- Period
- 2025 calendar year
- Excluded
- Excludes 18 Franchised Locations that opened in 2025 and 3 Franchised Locations that closed in 2025
- Method
- Information was prepared from internal accounting records and reports; based on monthly reports provided by franchisees
Franchised locations
Revenue · 17 locations
- Who is counted
- Franchised Locations operating in a single territory; Reporting Group locations open and operating for at least 12 months and operated for the entire reporting year
- Period
- 2025 calendar year
- Excluded
- Excludes 18 Franchised Locations that opened in 2025 and 3 Franchised Locations that closed in 2025
- Method
- Information was prepared from internal accounting records and reports; based on monthly reports provided by franchisees
Franchised locations
Revenue · 75 locations
- Who is counted
- 75 Franchised Locations
- Period
- 2025 Reporting Period
- Excluded
- Does not reflect costs of sales, operating expenses, or other costs or expenses; expenses not shown include royalties, support center fees, technology fees, accounting expenses, bank fees, uniforms, marketing expenses, tools, compliance costs, interest expense, meals and entertainment, advertising, cell phone, automobile, insurance, repair and maintenance, federal taxes, depreciation and amortization
- Method
- Based on information generated from monthly reports provided by franchisees
Franchised locations
Costs and other measures · 67 locations
- Who is counted
- 67 Franchise Locations that reported Rent and COGS information
- Period
- 2025 Reporting Period
- Excluded
- Some franchises have a home office while others have a commercial office space
- Method
- 67 franchisees reported Rent and COGS information; responses were averaged
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of end of the year of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 45
Net +27 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. Create a free account to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($155,893 – $273,200) 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 went from 87 to 103 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?
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]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 17
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 11
- [3]Item 19 — Franchised (16 locations) — revenue · PDF p. 42
- [4]Item 19 — Franchised (17 locations) — revenue · PDF p. 42
- [5]Item 19 — Franchised (75 locations) — revenue · PDF p. 44
- [6]Item 19 — Franchised (67 franchise) — other measures and costs · PDF p. 44
- [7]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 45
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: GetFDD listing
Territory & operations
112 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
Bankruptcy disclosed
Initial term
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 and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Head-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Owner participation
Territory language
Not reviewed
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Agreement term
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 3 · PDF p. 11 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Litigation total count: 0 disclosed cases
“No litigation is required to be disclosed in this Item.”
Note: Source says no litigation is required to be disclosed, not explicitly that the litigation count is zero.
Item 5 · PDF p. 12 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: ExpertNet and Technology Fees before opening
“This fee is currently $393 to $500 per month ... You will begin paying this fee approximately 2-3 weeks before opening. We estimate you will pay $393 to $500 before you open.”
Note: Provided source page does not state the ExpertNet fee or $393 to $500 amount.
Item 6 · PDF p. 14 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Non-compliance fee ($500 initially, then $250 per week until corrected)
“We may charge you $500 ... Thereafter, we may charge you $250 per week until you correct such non-compliance.”
Note: Provided source does not state the non-compliance fee amounts or weekly continuation fee.
Item 6 · PDF p. 13 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Market Cooperative Contribution (As determined by co-op; maximum 4% of Gross Sales unless unanimously increased; currently none)
“As determined by co-op. Currently, none. ... The maximum contribution to the co-op will not exceed 4% of Gross Sales unless all members of the co-op unanimously agree to a higher contribution.”
Note: Provided source does not state the Market Cooperative Contribution or 4% maximum.
Item 11 · PDF p. 29 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Owner classroom training: 36 hours
“Accounting, Reports, Payroll, Invoicing 4; Scheduling, Work Order and Support Center support 6; Compliance, Insurance and Safety 2; Sales Training 1: Property Management Sales Cycle 10; Sales Training 2: Hotels, Moving Companies, home owners and more 10; Hiring and Team Building 4; TOTALS: 36”
Note: Provided source does not state the 36-hour owner classroom training total.
Item 12 · PDF p. 31 · 2026 FDD
Our summary: Territory protection: Protected territory, but not exclusive
“We grant you a protected territory. ... You will not receive an exclusive territory. You may face competition from other franchisees, from outlets that we own, or from other channels of distribution or competitive brands that we control.”
Note: Provided source lists obligations but does not state protected or non-exclusive territory terms.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.