Senior Move Management 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 | $57,000 – $58,900Pending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Blue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 2 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $75,860 – $123,250Pending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Blue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 2 brands. | $1,079 – $3,589*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — LLC (domestic) forms and fees(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026NASMM — Annual membership dues(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 4 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded. |
| Ongoing royalties | 5.5% – 6% of revenuePending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Blue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 2 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $16,745 – $31,745Pending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026NASMM — Annual membership dues(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths. | $16,745 – $31,745 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $154,405 – $292,995 | $17,824 – $35,334* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $57,000 – $58,900Pending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Blue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 2 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $75,860 – $123,250Pending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Blue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 2 brands.
- Independent
- $1,079 – $3,589*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — LLC (domestic) forms and fees(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026NASMM — Annual membership dues(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 4 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)
- 5.5% – 6% of revenuePending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Blue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 2 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $16,745 – $31,745Pending verificationSourcesCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026NASMM — Annual membership dues(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $16,745 – $31,745
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (2 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (2 brands)
- $154,405 – $292,995
- Independent
- $17,824 – $35,334*
5-year totals assume $78,000–$195,000 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.
Caring Transitions
Item 19 reports 2025 gross receipts by quartile for franchisees open all of 2025, split by whether they run one, two, or three or more territories; the figures below are for single-territory owners.
- Average 2025 gross receipts, top quarter of single-territory franchisees (40 franchisees; gross sales, not profit)$546,789 a yearPending verificationSourceCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 202618 of 40 (45%) reached this average. FDD Item 19, Table 2 (franchisees operating a single territory, 160 franchisees, 40 per quartile), from franchisee financial reports. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Excludes franchises opened in 2025 by new franchisees and franchises that closed in 2025. Some franchisees have sold this amount; there is no assurance you'll do as well.
- Average 2025 gross receipts, second quarter of single-territory franchisees (40 franchisees; gross sales, not profit)$258,115 a yearPending verificationSourceCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 2 (franchisees operating a single territory, 160 franchisees, 40 per quartile), from franchisee financial reports. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Excludes franchises opened in 2025 by new franchisees and franchises that closed in 2025. Some franchisees have sold this amount; there is no assurance you'll do as well.
- Average 2025 gross receipts, third quarter of single-territory franchisees (40 franchisees; gross sales, not profit)$142,940 a yearPending verificationSourceCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 2 (franchisees operating a single territory, 160 franchisees, 40 per quartile), from franchisee financial reports. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Excludes franchises opened in 2025 by new franchisees and franchises that closed in 2025. Some franchisees have sold this amount; there is no assurance you'll do as well.
- Average 2025 gross receipts, bottom quarter of single-territory franchisees (40 franchisees; gross sales, not profit)$50,445 a yearPending verificationSourceCaring Transitions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026, as amended September 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Lowest in this group: $2,448. FDD Item 19, Table 2 (franchisees operating a single territory, 160 franchisees, 40 per quartile), from franchisee financial reports. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Excludes franchises opened in 2025 by new franchisees and franchises that closed in 2025. Some franchisees have sold this amount; there is no assurance you'll do as well.
Blue Moon Estate Sales
Item 19 reports 2025 gross estate sales (the total price of items sold, from which the franchisee earns a commission) per territory and per owner, grouped by time in business.
- Average 2025 gross estate sales per territory (73 territories open before 2025; total sale proceeds, not franchisee revenue or profit)$320,636 a yearPending verificationSourceBlue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table A. 25 of 73 (34%) reached this average. FDD Item 19. Important: 'Gross Sales' here is the total sale price of everything sold at the estate sales, less sales tax — not the franchisee's own revenue, which is a commission on those sales. Not profit. Excludes territories open less than a year, held for resale or termination, transferred, or reporting combined. Your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross estate sales per territory (same 73 territories; total sale proceeds, not franchisee revenue)$228,904 a yearPending verificationSourceBlue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table A. FDD Item 19. Important: 'Gross Sales' here is the total sale price of everything sold at the estate sales, less sales tax — not the franchisee's own revenue, which is a commission on those sales. Not profit. Excludes territories open less than a year, held for resale or termination, transferred, or reporting combined. Your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross estate sales, territories in business 13–24 months (15 territories; total sale proceeds, not franchisee revenue)$173,790 a yearPending verificationSourceBlue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table A. FDD Item 19. Important: 'Gross Sales' here is the total sale price of everything sold at the estate sales, less sales tax — not the franchisee's own revenue, which is a commission on those sales. Not profit. Excludes territories open less than a year, held for resale or termination, transferred, or reporting combined. Your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross estate sales per owner (65 owners, some with 2–3 territories; total sale proceeds, not franchisee revenue)$383,853 a yearPending verificationSourceBlue Moon Estate Sales 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 18, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table B. The FDD notes per-owner figures may look more favorable than per-territory ones. Includes a former affiliate's territory ($746,699 in 2025, from a larger-than-usual population). FDD Item 19. Important: 'Gross Sales' here is the total sale price of everything sold at the estate sales, less sales tax — not the franchisee's own revenue, which is a commission on those sales. Not profit. Excludes territories open less than a year, held for resale or termination, transferred, or reporting combined. Your results may differ.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- A national brand focused only on senior transitions
- Initial training and the Certified Relocation Transition Specialist program
- A designated call center to answer client calls
- CTBids.com, the brand's own online auction site for clients' belongings
- A network of other owners to learn from
- An established estate-sale brand with move management and consignment services
- Initial training and an operations manual
- Point-of-sale, inventory and shopper-marketing systems
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caring Transitions | $75,860 – $123,250 | $23,400 – $58,500 | $7,800 – $19,500 | $30,600 – $60,000 | $16,745 – $31,745 | $154,405 – $292,995 | +$136,581 – $260,171 |
| Blue Moon Estate Sales | $89,515 – $113,325 | $21,450 – $53,625 | $0 | $40,620 | $16,745 – $31,745 | $168,330 – $239,315 | +$150,506 – $206,491 |
| Independent (lean start) | $1,079* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $16,745 – $31,745 | $17,824 – $32,824 | — |
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 Senior Move Management guide · Sources for these figures