The Entrepreneur's Source
Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data
Researching The Entrepreneur's Source franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
- Franchising since
- 1997 Source: franchise.org
- Headquarters
- Southbury, CT United States Source: franchise.org
The job market has changed permanently. It no longer provides the security and stability that it once did for millions of people.
Headline figures
The Entrepreneur's Source quick facts
- Is The Entrepreneur's Source a franchise?
- Yes. The Entrepreneur's Source offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 262 franchised and 0 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 51).
- How much does it cost to open a The Entrepreneur's Source franchise?
- The The Entrepreneur's Source Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $114,350 for total initial investment — low estimate (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21); $114,350–$133,450 for total estimated initial investment low (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21); $133,450 for total estimated initial investment high (2025 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 21). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the The Entrepreneur's Source initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $75,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 21). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- Does The Entrepreneur's Source disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Yes. The The Entrepreneur's Source FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 47). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
- How many The Entrepreneur's Source locations are there?
- The FDD reports 262 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 51). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is The Entrepreneur's Source 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
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $114,350 in the 2026 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2Item 19 covers 6 separate groups: other measures for 170 Franchised locations; other measures for 205 Franchised locations; other measures for 205 Franchised locations; other measures for 140 Franchised locations; other measures for 170 Franchised locations; other measures for 140 Franchised locations. They are not combined.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
The Entrepreneur's Source 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
Total estimated initial investment
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 21
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 21
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.
28 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?
6 separate populations, shown apart. Revenue is not owner income.
170 locations
Other measures · 170 locations
- Who is counted
- TES Businesses open for business at least 1 year and operated entire calendar year
- Period
- 2024
- Excluded
- Businesses open less than full calendar year and newly signed businesses not yet through OSE Phase 1 excluded, per Item 19 notes
205 locations
Other measures · 205 locations
- Who is counted
- TES Businesses open for business at least one year
- Period
- 2025
- Excluded
- Under-one-year businesses excluded; Placement Fee Share not subtracted
205 locations
Other measures · 205 locations
- Who is counted
- TES Businesses open for business at least 1 year and operated entire calendar year
- Period
- 2025
- Excluded
- Businesses open less than full calendar year and newly signed businesses not yet through OSE Phase 1 excluded, per Item 19 notes
140 locations
Other measures · 140 locations
- Who is counted
- TES Businesses open for business at least 1 year and operated entire calendar year
- Period
- 2023
- Excluded
- Businesses open less than full calendar year and newly signed businesses not yet through OSE Phase 1 excluded, per Item 19 notes
170 locations
Other measures · 170 locations
- Who is counted
- TES Businesses open for business at least one year
- Period
- 2024
- Excluded
- Under-one-year businesses excluded; Placement Fee Share not subtracted
140 locations
Other measures · 140 locations
- Who is counted
- TES Businesses open for business at least one year
- Period
- 2023
- Excluded
- Under-one-year businesses excluded; Placement Fee Share not subtracted
These groups are never combined.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
Systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of year end of each year.
2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 51
Net +114 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 ($114,350) 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]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 21
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 21
- [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — TES Businesses open for business at least 1 year and operated entire calendar y… · PDF p. 47
- [4]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — TES Businesses open for business at least one year · PDF p. 49
- [5]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — TES Businesses open for business at least 1 year and operated entire calendar y… · PDF p. 47
- [6]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — TES Businesses open for business at least 1 year and operated entire calendar y… · PDF p. 47
- [7]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — TES Businesses open for business at least one year · PDF p. 49
- [8]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — TES Businesses open for business at least one year · PDF p. 49
- [9]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 51
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
272 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.
What changed from 2025 to 2026
- Franchise fee: $15 → $25,000
- System size: 236 → 262 units
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
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. 37 · 2025 FDD
Our summary: Exclusive territory: No — the franchise is a non-exclusive license only and grants no exclusive area or territory rights.
“Because the TES Business is primarily operated virtually, the TES Franchise is a non-exclusive license only, and does not grant you any exclusive area or territory rights. You will not receive an exclusive territory.”
Note: Supplied quote could not be confirmed on the cited PDF page excerpt.
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
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