Start a The Grout Doctor Franchise in 2024

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $24K - $38K

Units as of 2024: 83 0.0% over 3 years

The Grout Doctor is one of America’s leading tile grout and restoration specialists, responding to house calls for nearly three decades. Apart from enjoying a high satisfaction rating from customers, the company has more than 75 franchises. The company believes in the value of restoration over replacement and continues to open its doors to potential franchisees who share their belief in the principle of "green karma."

Why You May Want to Start a The Grout Doctor Franchise

The first and most obvious advantage of opening a The Grout Doctor franchise is the simple fact that grout is everywhere. The market may not only exist, but thrive. Another plus is the flexible, home-based, family-oriented nature of the business. You own your time and are, in every sense, your boss. In addition, The Grout Doctor also offers an option to own a franchise as an absentee owner. This could result in you hiring other people to run the hands-on aspect of the business, effectively allowing you to spend more time doing what you want to do.

The Grout Doctor franchises are also remarkably affordable - in fact, they are among the lowest in the industry. If you do buy into one, they have a business model that has worked repeatedly for franchisees. To begin, all you need is the company’s power startup package and training program. The company strives to provide the most comprehensive franchise support system in the industry, so you should be in good hands.

There is a remarkably growing consumer preference for tile restoration over replacement because of its cheaper cost. With this market projected to continue to expand, now may be the best time to hop into the industry and start reaping the leading franchise brand's benefits.

What Might Make Opening a The Grout Doctor Franchise a Good Choice

The Grout Doctor is rather generous with perks, including discounts for veterans and first franchisees in their states, a vehicle wrap, and grand opening advertising allowance. To be part of the Grout Doctor team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment and that will include a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also be prepared for ongoing fees including advertising fees, royalty fees, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set liquid capital requirements.

How Do You Open a The Grout Doctor Franchise?

To open a The Grout Doctor franchise, start by filling out an inquiry form. If all goes well with your introductory interviews, the corporate office may request more information and conduct initial background checks. As you progress with The Grout Doctor, you may receive a Franchise Disclosure Document. Read through the Franchise Disclosure Document thoroughly before filling out the application form. At the same time, you'll want to start looking for territory with the corporate office's help.

After your application is approved, you will sign the franchise agreement and pay the franchise fee. You will then head to training, where the franchise team will prep you for your grand The Grout Doctor opening.

Company Overview

About The Grout Doctor

Industry	Maintenance
Related Categories	Grout Maintenance, Miscellaneous Home-Improvement Businesses, Miscellaneous Maintenance Businesses, Cleaning/Restoration
Founded	1992
Parent Company	Grout Doctor Global Franchise Corp.
Leadership	James Sneyd, CEO
Corporate Address	2150 S. 1300 E., #500 Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2001 (23 years)
# of employees at HQ	7
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.
# of Units	83 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a The Grout Doctor franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$15,000 - $20,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$23,615 - $37,725
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$15,905 - $39,915
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	50% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	9%-6%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	1%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	7 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	45 hours
Classroom Training	15 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates Social Media SEO Website Development

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	Yes
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes