In-Home Tech Help for Older Adults 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 (3 brands) | Independent | |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $40,000 – $54,950Pending verificationSourcesCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026TeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026uBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $106,450 – $468,150Pending verificationSourcesCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026TeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026uBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 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 3 brands. | $25 – $915*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, 2026California Department of Justice — Record review (request a copy of your own criminal record)(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 | 7% of revenuePending verificationSourcesCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026TeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026uBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $18,555 – $19,255Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — Insurance cost for IT consultants(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026Splashtop — Plans and prices (Remote Support SOS)(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. | $18,555 – $19,255 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $165,047 – $521,039 | $18,580 – $20,170* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $40,000 – $54,950Pending verificationSourcesCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026TeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026uBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $106,450 – $468,150Pending verificationSourcesCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026TeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026uBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 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 3 brands.
- Independent
- $25 – $915*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, 2026California Department of Justice — Record review (request a copy of your own criminal record)(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 (3 brands)
- 7% of revenuePending verificationSourcesCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026TeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026uBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $18,555 – $19,255Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — Insurance cost for IT consultants(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 31, 2026Splashtop — Plans and prices (Remote Support SOS)(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
- $18,555 – $19,255
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (3 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $165,047 – $521,039
- Independent
- $18,580 – $20,170*
5-year totals assume $38,688–$96,096 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.
CMIT Solutions (business IT, not home help)
CMIT's Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenue, gross margins and technician costs for franchisees open 24 months or more, split by how many territories they own; the figures are gross revenue, not profit.
- Average gross revenue, 2025, 74 franchisees with one territory (open 24+ months)$516,821 a yearPending verificationSourceCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 1(d). Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses, not profit. 23 of 74 (31%) exceeded the average. Excludes 50 franchisees open under 24 months, reporting fewer than 10 months, or not operating full-time. Unaudited. Your results may differ.
- Median gross revenue, 2025, 74 franchisees with one territory (open 24+ months)$309,717 a yearPending verificationSourceCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 1(d). Gross revenue, not profit. Revenue comes from business clients (managed services, projects, hardware and software sales), not home visits.
- Lowest gross revenue, 2025, among the 74 single-territory franchisees$11,113 a yearPending verificationSourceCMIT Solutions 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 27, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 1(d). The highest in the same group was $2,897,277. Gross revenue, not profit.
TeamLogic IT (business IT, not home help)
TeamLogic IT's Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenue for 182 franchisees open at least 12 months, by quartile and by number of locations; the figures are gross revenue, not profit.
- Average gross revenue, 2025, 125 franchisees with one location$624,483 a yearPending verificationSourceTeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses, not profit. 41 of 125 (33%) exceeded the average. Excludes 22 franchisees open under 12 months and 7 that closed in 2025. Qualified franchisees had operated an average of 7.2 years. Unaudited. Your results may differ.
- Median gross revenue, 2025, 125 franchisees with one location$405,141 a yearPending verificationSourceTeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19. Gross revenue, not profit. Revenue comes from business clients, including product resale.
- Average gross revenue, 2025, bottom quartile (45 franchisees)$143,675 a yearPending verificationSourceTeamLogic IT 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued March 23, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, quartile table. The lowest single franchisee reported $9,145. Gross revenue, not profit.
uBreakiFix by Asurion (retail repair store)
uBreakiFix's Item 19 reports 2025 total revenue, cost of goods and gross profit for U.S. franchisee stores open at least one year; gross profit is before rent, payroll, royalties and all other expenses.
- Average total revenue, 2025, 425 franchisee stores open 3+ years$612,328.07 a yearPending verificationSourceuBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19. Total revenue, not profit. 191 stores (45%) met or exceeded the average. National accounts made up 64.4% of system revenue in 2025. Excludes mobile units and stores that opened, closed or changed ownership during 2025. Unaudited. Your results may differ.
- Median total revenue, 2025, 425 franchisee stores open 3+ years$593,881.02 a yearPending verificationSourceuBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19. Total revenue, not profit. The low store reported $214,930.70.
- Average total revenue, 2025, 95 franchisee stores open 1–3 years$545,898.37 a yearPending verificationSourceuBreakiFix by Asurion 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 2, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19. Total revenue, not profit. 38 stores (40%) met or exceeded the average.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- A national IT-services brand with a large franchise network
- Initial training program and an operations manual
- Required business software and remote-monitoring tools supplied through the franchisor
- Vendor and alliance-partner relationships for business clients
- A national managed-IT brand with initial training for two people
- Remote monitoring and business software supplied through the franchisor
- Conversion option for an existing independent IT business
- A network of other owners to learn from
- Backed by Asurion, with national-account repair work routed to stores
- Initial training plus 16 days of on-site training at opening
- Parts supply and buyback credits through the franchisor's affiliate
- Repairs phones, tablets and computers, the same devices older clients use
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMIT Solutions (business IT, not home help) | $106,450 – $159,450 | $13,541 – $33,634 | $2,902 – $7,207 | $23,599 | $18,555 – $19,255 | $165,047 – $243,145 | +$146,467 – $223,865 |
| TeamLogic IT (business IT, not home help) | $109,701 – $144,953 | $13,541 – $33,634 | $2,321 – $5,766 | $41,760 – $49,620 | $18,555 – $19,255 | $185,878 – $253,227 | +$167,298 – $233,947 |
| uBreakiFix by Asurion (retail repair store) | $171,350 – $468,150 | $13,541 – $33,634 | $0 | $0 | $18,555 – $19,255 | $203,446 – $521,039 | +$184,866 – $501,759 |
| Independent (lean start) | $25* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $18,555 – $19,255 | $18,580 – $19,280 | — |
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 In-Home Tech Help for Older Adults guide · Sources for these figures