Franchise opportunities compared
BNI vs The Alternative Board
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.
Initial investment · Item 7
BNI
$53,410 – $270,070
2025 FDD · Item 7The Alternative Board
$77,130 – $95,405
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16Initial franchise fee · Item 5
BNI
$35,000
2025 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 18The Alternative Board
$44,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10Royalty · Item 6
BNI
20%
2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20The Alternative Board
$60,000
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10Before you compare
- BNI figures come from its 2025 FDD and The Alternative Board figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
- BNI discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (BNI: 2, The Alternative Board: 12). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
BNI
The Alternative BoardBNI
The Alternative Board
BNI
The Alternative Board
BNI
The Alternative Board
BNI
The Alternative Board
System scale & health
BNIThe Alternative BoardBNI
The Alternative Board
BNI
The Alternative Board
BNI
The Alternative Board
BNI
The Alternative Board
BNI
The Alternative Board
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
BNIThe Alternative BoardItem 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.
BNI vs The Alternative Board: common questions
- Which costs less to open, BNI or The Alternative Board?
- BNI: $53,410 – $270,070 (2025 FDD · Item 7); The Alternative Board: $77,130 – $95,405 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for BNI. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do BNI and The Alternative Board royalties compare?
- BNI: 20% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 20); The Alternative Board: $60,000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, BNI or The Alternative Board?
- BNI: 191 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 52); The Alternative Board: 186 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do BNI and The Alternative Board disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- BNI has reviewed Item 19 figures for 2 location groups; The Alternative Board has reviewed Item 19 figures for 12 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full BNI report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full The Alternative Board report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
