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    Franchise opportunities compared

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise vs City Publications

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    ACA Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise2025 FDDCity Publications2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    $69,364 – $79,973

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    City Publications

    $35,300 – $68,900

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    $44,900

    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    City Publications

    $89,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Royalty · Item 6

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    8%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    City Publications

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Before you compare

    • A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise figures come from its 2025 FDD and City Publications figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • City Publications discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    $69,364 – $79,973
    Total Estimated Initial Investment: $69,364–$79,973
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15

    City Publications

    $35,300 – $68,900
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    $44,900
    2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    City Publications

    $89,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10
    Royalty (Item 6)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    8%
    Royalty rate on first monthly revenue tier
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14

    City Publications

    6%
    Royalty — standard card deck and booklet mailings
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    4%
    National Advertising Fund cap — 4%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    City Publications

    3%
    Royalty — single-card mailings and digital advertising — 3%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    133
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 46

    City Publications

    35
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    +133
    Calculated: 0 at end of 2022 → 133 at end of 2024

    City Publications

    Not available
    Only one year reported
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    City Publications

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    City Publications

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    City Publications

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    ACA Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Hommati franchisees surveyed November 2024; financial results based on monthly…
    $4.00
    other Table 1.1 full-time highest full-time
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 43
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Full-time franchisees; Over 2 Years
    $5.00
    other Table 1.2 full-time franchisees at Over 2 Years: 5
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 43
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Hommati franchisees surveyed November 2024; financial results based on monthly…
    $1.00
    other Table 2.1 part-time highest part-time
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 45
    +15 more groups in the full report
    City Publications

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise vs City Publications: common questions

    Which costs less to open, A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise or City Publications?
    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise: $69,364 – $79,973 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 15); City Publications: $35,300 – $68,900 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for City Publications. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise and City Publications royalties compare?
    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise: 8% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14); City Publications: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise or City Publications?
    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise: 133 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 46); City Publications: 35 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise and City Publications disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise has reviewed Item 19 figures for 18 location groups; City Publications makes no Item 19 financial performance representation. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

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    Full A Consu m er’s Guide to Bu y i ng a F r anchise report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full City Publications report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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