Franopolis
    vsPB

    Franchise opportunities compared

    City Publications vs Padgett Business Services

    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.

    City Publications2026 FDDPBPadgett Business Services2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    City Publications

    $35,300 – $68,900

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Padgett Business Services

    $8,700 – $117,295

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    City Publications

    $89,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Padgett Business Services

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    City Publications

    6%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Padgett Business Services

    9%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • City Publications and Padgett Business Services disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Padgett Business Services has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    City Publications

    $35,300 – $68,900
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Padgett Business Services

    $8,700 – $117,295
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    City Publications

    $89,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Padgett Business Services

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    City Publications

    6%
    Royalty — standard card deck and booklet mailings
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Padgett Business Services

    9%
    Royalty — conversion: 9%; timely payments 5% first year, 6.5% second year; minimum after 24 months
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    City Publications

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

    Padgett Business Services

    2%
    Advertising fund — up to 2%; fund not yet established — 2%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    City Publications

    35
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34

    Padgett Business Services

    164
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 36
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    City Publications

    Not available
    Only one year reported

    Padgett Business Services

    −1
    Calculated: 165 at end of 2023 → 164 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    City Publications

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Padgett Business Services

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

    City Publications

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Padgett Business Services

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

    City Publications

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Padgett Business Services

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    City Publications

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    PBPadgett Business Services
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Revenue $500,000+
    $12,773,686
    other Cumulative adjusted profit
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 33
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchisees with annual revenue $100,000–$299,999
    $17,080
    other Royalties
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 35
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchisees with annual revenue Below $100,000
    $45,258
    other Tax Preparation
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 35
    +23 more groups in the full report

    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.

    City Publications vs Padgett Business Services: common questions

    Which costs less to open, City Publications or Padgett Business Services?
    City Publications: $35,300 – $68,900 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Padgett Business Services: $8,700 – $117,295 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Padgett Business Services. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do City Publications and Padgett Business Services royalties compare?
    City Publications: 6% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10); Padgett Business Services: 9% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 9). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, City Publications or Padgett Business Services?
    City Publications: 35 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 34); Padgett Business Services: 164 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 36). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do City Publications and Padgett Business Services disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    City Publications makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Padgett Business Services has reviewed Item 19 figures for 26 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.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full City Publications report

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

    PB

    Full Padgett Business Services report

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

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