Home Organizing and Downsizing Help Franchise vs. Starting Your Own
What five years costs on each path, counting every cost we can source on both sides. Change the revenue to see how royalties grow with your sales.
Preview: figures awaiting verification
Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.
At a glance
| Franchise (2 brands) | Independent | |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $30,000Pending verificationSourcesNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Bee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Range across 2 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $37,500 – $68,760Pending verificationSourcesNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Bee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 2 brands. | $935*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — LLC (domestic) forms and fees(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Brother USA — PT-D220 Home and Office Everyday Label Maker (list price)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Computed from 3 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded. |
| Ongoing royalties | 8% – 20% of revenuePending verificationSourcesNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Bee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 2 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $10,075Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — Professional services business insurance cost (updated April 15, 2025)(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026NAPO — Frequently asked questions (napo.net page, read from the Internet Archive copy of April 6, 2026)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths. | $10,075 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $91,651 – $194,825 | $11,010* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $30,000Pending verificationSourcesNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Bee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Range across 2 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $37,500 – $68,760Pending verificationSourcesNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Bee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 2 brands.
- Independent
- $935*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — LLC (domestic) forms and fees(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Brother USA — PT-D220 Home and Office Everyday Label Maker (list price)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Computed from 3 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
Ongoing royalties
- Franchise (2 brands)
- 8% – 20% of revenuePending verificationSourcesNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Bee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 2 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $10,075Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — Professional services business insurance cost (updated April 15, 2025)(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026NAPO — Frequently asked questions (napo.net page, read from the Internet Archive copy of April 6, 2026)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $10,075
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (2 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $91,651 – $194,825
- Independent
- $11,010*
5-year totals assume $59,280–$117,000 in yearly revenue (our forecast presets at full volume), the same sourced operating costs (insurance, software, fees) on both paths, and both the lean and professional independent plans. Franchise investment figures come from each brand's disclosure (FDD Item 7) and already include the franchise fee. * Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
What franchisees report taking in
From each brand's own disclosure (FDD Item 19), copied exactly. These are gross sales before royalties and costs, not profit, and not a promise of what you will earn.
NEAT Method
Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenue for the 86 franchised outlets open all of 2025, broken out by territory tier, by quartile and by years in business; outlets in their first 12 months averaged $99,330 (5 outlets).
- Average 2025 gross revenue, 86 franchised outlets open all of 2025 (gross revenue, not profit)$172,668 a yearPending verificationSourceNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 202634 of 86 (40%) reached this average. FDD Item 19, Table 2 (all tiers). 'Gross Revenue' is service revenue plus NEAT product commissions, as reported by franchisees, before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers the 86 franchised outlets open all of 2025; 7 outlets that opened or changed owners in 2025 are left out. The FDD says some franchisees have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you will earn as much.
- Median 2025 gross revenue, same 86 franchised outlets$146,274 a yearPending verificationSourceNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 3 of the same Item 19 shows a median of $68,160 for outlets in their first 12 months (5 outlets) and $192,809 for outlets in years 7–12 (27 outlets). FDD Item 19, Table 2 (all tiers). 'Gross Revenue' is service revenue plus NEAT product commissions, as reported by franchisees, before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers the 86 franchised outlets open all of 2025; 7 outlets that opened or changed owners in 2025 are left out. The FDD says some franchisees have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you will earn as much.
- Average 2025 gross revenue, top quarter of the same 86 outlets$349,775 a yearPending verificationSourceNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Highest single outlet: $703,418. FDD Item 19, Table 2 (all tiers). 'Gross Revenue' is service revenue plus NEAT product commissions, as reported by franchisees, before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers the 86 franchised outlets open all of 2025; 7 outlets that opened or changed owners in 2025 are left out. The FDD says some franchisees have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you will earn as much.
- Average 2025 gross revenue, bottom quarter of the same 86 outlets$58,397 a yearPending verificationSourceNEAT Method 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 20, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Lowest single outlet: $7,811. FDD Item 19, Table 2 (all tiers). 'Gross Revenue' is service revenue plus NEAT product commissions, as reported by franchisees, before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers the 86 franchised outlets open all of 2025; 7 outlets that opened or changed owners in 2025 are left out. The FDD says some franchisees have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you will earn as much. Note: in the FDD's own table the third-quarter median ($152,458) is higher than that quarter's maximum ($133,837), so at least one figure in Table 2 appears to be a misprint; we show only the figures that are internally consistent.
Bee Organized
Item 19 reports 2025 gross sales for 32 franchised outlets open before 2025, split by number of territories and years in business, plus full sales and expense figures for the franchisor's own Overland Park, Kansas outlet. Bee Organized also sells moving and relocation help, which was about a third of the company outlet's sales.
- Average 2025 gross sales, the 3 franchised outlets that operate a single territory (gross sales, not profit)$83,334 a yearPending verificationSourceBee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 3a. Median $86,821; range $75,089–$88,094. Only three outlets, all in their third year. FDD Item 19. Gross Sales as reported by franchisees, not audited, less sales tax, discounts and returns — before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers franchised outlets open before January 1, 2025; 11 outlets that opened in 2025 and 2 that closed during 2025 are left out. The FDD says some outlets have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you'll earn as much.
- Average 2025 gross sales, 29 franchised outlets operating 2 to 12 territories (gross sales, not profit)$195,018 a yearPending verificationSourceBee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 3b. 18 of 29 (62%) reached this average; range $34,511–$725,962. These owners paid for two or more territories. FDD Item 19. Gross Sales as reported by franchisees, not audited, less sales tax, discounts and returns — before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers franchised outlets open before January 1, 2025; 11 outlets that opened in 2025 and 2 that closed during 2025 are left out. The FDD says some outlets have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you'll earn as much.
- Median 2025 gross sales, same 29 multi-territory franchised outlets$162,483 a yearPending verificationSourceBee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 3b. FDD Item 19. Gross Sales as reported by franchisees, not audited, less sales tax, discounts and returns — before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers franchised outlets open before January 1, 2025; 11 outlets that opened in 2025 and 2 that closed during 2025 are left out. The FDD says some outlets have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you'll earn as much.
- Median 2025 gross sales, 11 franchised outlets in their second year (opened during 2024; 2–4 territories each)$75,841 a yearPending verificationSourceBee Organized 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 19, 2026, amended July 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table 4. Average $101,196; range $44,037–$189,198. FDD Item 19. Gross Sales as reported by franchisees, not audited, less sales tax, discounts and returns — before royalties and all expenses, not profit. Covers franchised outlets open before January 1, 2025; 11 outlets that opened in 2025 and 2 that closed during 2025 are left out. The FDD says some outlets have earned this amount, your results may differ, and there is no assurance you'll earn as much.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- A national brand in premium home organizing with an established social media following
- Six-week initial training (28 classroom hours plus 16 hands-on hours in clients' homes)
- Client inquiries from the brand's website are forwarded to you within your territory
- Its own line of organizing products
- A network of other owners to learn from
- A growing brand (35 outlets at the start of 2025, 44 at the end)
- Initial training (54 hours, part online and part in Overland Park, Kansas) at no fee for you and one manager
- Business management, marketing and accounting systems already chosen for you
- Organizing, moving help and home maintenance under one brand
Going independent means
- You keep 100% of what you earn after costs — no royalties.
- You build your own brand, systems, and customer base.
- You need more self-reliance, especially in the first year.
Brand by brand
| Option | Initial investment | Royalties | Marketing fund | Fixed fees | Operating costs | 5-year total | vs. independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEAT Method | $37,500 – $44,500 | $23,712 – $117,000 | $2,964 – $5,850 | $17,400 | $10,075 | $91,651 – $194,825 | +$80,641 – $183,815 |
| Bee Organized | $40,100 – $68,760 | $23,712 – $46,800 | $5,928 – $11,700 | $24,900 | $10,075 | $104,715 – $162,235 | +$93,705 – $151,225 |
| Independent (lean start) | $935* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,075 | $11,010 | — |
Low figures pair the low end of each cost with low revenue; high figures pair the high ends. Franchise initial investment is each brand's FDD Item 7 estimate and already includes the franchise fee. Marketing fund and fixed fees show $0 where we have no sourced figure for that brand.
* Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
Costs are only half the picture
A franchise's brand, training, and support can help some owners reach customers faster. Weigh what those are worth to you against the difference above.
Back to the Home Organizing and Downsizing Help guide · Sources for these figures