How much does a Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions franchise cost?
The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates $141,100 to $163,750 to open a new, single-territory Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions franchise in the United States. The range includes the Territory Fee, Opening Package, leased-van assumptions, training travel, insurance, Information Technology, and Additional Funds for the first three months.
This is the 2026 Item 7 range for a new single-territory franchise. It includes $124,900 paid to The Filta Group Inc. for the $49,950 Territory Fee and $74,950 Opening Package. It assumes no Existing Customer Fee and assumes the van is leased rather than purchased. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 16–18.
The stated total is not a universal price for every Filta transaction. An Existing Customer Fee can increase the Territory Fee when the territory already has customers, and buying an existing Filta business follows a different payment structure.
- Legal franchisor
- The Filta Group Inc., a Delaware corporation
- FDD basis
- 2026 U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 30, 2026
- Applicable format
- New single-territory mobile franchise; existing-business acquisitions are addressed separately
- Cost sections reviewed
- Items 5–8, 10, 11, and 17, including Item 7 pp. 16–18 and Item 6 pp. 8–16
- Current official check
- Official U.S. franchise information checked July 22, 2026 on the Filta franchise investment page
- Public FDD link
- No matching 2026 FDD was located on an official franchise-controlled website; FDD citations below are therefore unlinked Item-and-page references.
Which figures matter most before signing?
The two largest fixed opening payments are the Territory Fee and Opening Package. The official franchise site also publishes separate liquidity and net-worth qualifications, which are screening thresholds rather than additional Item 7 charges.
Base amount; an Existing Customer Fee may also apply.
Includes the MFU, initial equipment, supplies, uniforms, marketing materials, and standard vehicle preparation.
Already included in Item 7; covers the first three months.
Current official-site qualification, checked July 22, 2026.
Current official-site qualification; not cash available to spend.
New franchises have no Monthly Fees for the first three months after opening.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 5–7, pp. 7–18; current single-territory qualifications on the official investment page.
What is included in the $141,100 to $163,750 range?
The disclosure contains eight cost categories. The Territory Fee and Opening Package account for $124,900 of the range, while insurance and the three-month Additional Funds allowance create much of the remaining variation.
Each fill ends at the disclosed high amount; the black marker identifies the low amount. Scale maximum: $74,950.
Interpretation: The fixed Territory Fee and Opening Package dominate the disclosed opening capital. The training bar is a derived sum of the compatible Item 7 travel range ($250–$1,500) and field-training lodging range ($500–$850). Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 16–18.
| Item 7 category | Amount | When due | Paid to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Territory Fee | $49,950 | At Franchise Agreement signing; optional $15,000 deposit earlier | The Filta Group Inc. |
| Opening Package | $74,950 | At Franchise Agreement signing | The Filta Group Inc. |
| Taxes on Opening Package | $0–$3,000 | When the Opening Package is paid | Government |
| Van | $8,150–$8,300 | Before opening and during the first three months | Lessor or dealer |
| Expenses for Training | $250–$1,500 travel; $500–$850 lodging | Before opening | Airlines and hotels |
| Insurance | $2,300–$7,200 | Before opening | Insurers |
| Information Technology | $0–$3,000 | As incurred | Vendors |
| Additional Funds — 3 Months | $5,000–$15,000 | As incurred after opening | Vendors |
| Total Estimated Initial Investment | $141,100–$163,750 | Official Item 7 total for a new single-territory franchise | |
The Additional Funds line is already included in the total. It excludes owner compensation, payroll under the FDD's no-additional-staff assumption, Monthly Fees during the first three months, and billed but uncollected service invoices. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–18.
When is the money paid?
The largest cash commitment occurs when the Franchise Agreement is signed. The remaining Item 7 amounts are paid before opening or during the first three months, while the defined Monthly Fees begin in month four for a new franchise.
After application approval, The Filta Group Inc. may sign a Deposit Letter and accept a $15,000 non-refundable deposit. The deposit is applied to the Territory Fee when the Franchise Agreement is signed. Some states may restrict deposit collection.
Pay the balance of the $49,950 Territory Fee and the full $74,950 Opening Package by cashier's check or wire transfer. Without a prior deposit, the combined payment is $124,900.
Arrange the van, opening-package tax, training travel, field-training lodging, first-year insurance, and Information Technology. The Item 7 van estimate includes a $6,500 initial payment.
Use the disclosed $5,000–$15,000 Additional Funds allowance and pay the first three van installments of $550–$600 per month. New franchises owe no defined Monthly Fees during this period, but supply purchases and other operating obligations can still arise.
The Base Royalty, Marketing Contribution, Information System User Fee, Conference Fee, and applicable service royalties begin. The core Monthly Fees are generally due on the 28th of each month.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 5, pp. 7–8; Item 6, pp. 8–16; Item 7, pp. 16–18; Item 11, pp. 25–31. Filta's separate public ownership sequence is described on the official process page.
Which fees continue after opening?
The principal ongoing charge is the Base Royalty: the greater of a tiered percentage applied to each year-to-date Base Revenue increment or a $650 Minimum Royalty for the month. Marketing, technology, conference, filter, and service-specific charges can also continue.
The percentages apply incrementally to the stated year-to-date Base Revenue bands and reset to 6.5% on January 1.
Interpretation: A lower percentage applies only to the Base Revenue increment within that band; it does not replace the rate on prior increments. The monthly Base Royalty cannot be below the disclosed $650 Minimum Royalty. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 8 and 14–15.
| Ongoing charge | Amount or basis | Timing | Cost meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Royalty | Greater of tiered percentage or $650 | 28th monthly; month 4 for a new franchise | Applied to prior-month Base Revenue under the annual incremental schedule. |
| Marketing Contribution | 1% of Base Revenue | 28th monthly; month 4 for a new franchise | Paid to the system marketing and advertising fund. |
| Information System User Fee | $200 or $300 monthly | 28th monthly; month 4 for a new franchise | $200 until Gross Revenue first reaches $1,000,000 in a calendar year; $300 begins the following calendar year. |
| Conference Fee | Currently $65 monthly | With Base Royalty | May rise to $100 on notice; collected amounts are refundable under the attendance terms in Item 6. |
| MFU Filters | $417–$485 in Items 6 and 8 | 7th monthly | The FDD Special Risks page states $457–$485 per case of 20. Confirm the current quote. The minimum purchase is currently one-third box per month per MFU; U.S. shipping is extra. |
| FiltaBio Royalty | 15% of FiltaBio Revenue | 28th monthly when applicable | Applies only when the franchisee sells waste cooking oil locally on its own terms. |
| FiltaGold Royalty | 4% of FiltaGold Revenue | 28th monthly | Applies to the disclosed FiltaGold Revenue basis. |
| Centralized Accounts | Up to 5% of amount invoiced | Deducted from customer payment | Administrative charge; not applicable to FiltaGold services. |
“Base Revenue,” “Gross Revenue,” “FiltaBio Revenue,” and “FiltaGold Revenue” are separately defined fee bases. They should not be treated as interchangeable. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 8–16.
The 2026 FDD contains an internal filter-price discrepancy: the Special Risks page states $457–$485 per case of 20, while Items 6 and 8 state $417–$485 per box. Confirm the current filter type, subscription, quantity, shipping, and price in writing. The three-month Monthly Fee holiday does not suspend required supply purchases.
Which Filta-specific obligations can move the budget beyond Item 7?
The vehicle assumption and FiltaBio storage thresholds are the main franchise-specific cost escalators. Item 7 assumes one leased van and does not fully price later expansion, optional transport choices, or the storage infrastructure required at higher waste-oil volume.
Van and WVO infrastructure cost triggers
Van choices
Item 7 estimates $8,150–$8,300 for a leased van during the initial period. A new-van purchase is estimated at approximately $52,000. Shipping the van to the territory is estimated at $1,000–$4,500, and locally completed approved upfitting is estimated at approximately $5,000.
Additional mobile units
Each additional van requires another MFU. The 2026 acquisition price is $14,787 plus U.S. shipping, and an additional van retrofit package may also be required. These later expansion costs are not part of the single-territory Item 7 total.
Storage before the threshold
A franchisee may rent waste-oil storage earlier. The FDD estimates $200–$2,000 per month for 1,000 square feet and $1,200–$8,500 per month for 6,000 square feet, subject to location and facility requirements.
Storage at 2,000 gallons per month
At 2,000 gallons of collected WVO per month, a storage facility with at least 6,850 gallons of capacity becomes required. Additional collection equipment is estimated at $21,000, excluding installation; professional plumbing is estimated at $3,000–$5,000.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 17–18; Item 8, pp. 18–23. The official brand describes the business as mobile on its U.S. franchise information page, while the parent company identifies Filta's North American operating model in its official Filta profile.
The EPA provides an official Tier I SPCC Plan template for qualifying facilities. Whether self-certification is permitted depends on facility-specific and state requirements.
How much liquidity and net worth does Filta require?
The current official franchise site lists $50,000 liquidity and $100,000 net worth for a single-territory candidate. For its multi-territory presentation, it lists $500,000 liquidity and $1,000,000 net worth. These are financial qualifications, not Item 7 expenses.
Single-territory qualification
Liquidity: $50,000
Net worth: $100,000
Item 7 range: $141,100–$163,750
Multi-territory website presentation
Liquidity: $500,000
Net worth: $1,000,000
First-territory estimate shown: $141,100–$163,750
The official investment page says each additional territory is $49,950 plus the van, upfit, MFU, and related equipment. Item 5 of the 2026 FDD separately says one Territory Fee applies when a contractually defined Territory bundles multiple mapped territories. The documents may be describing different development structures. A multi-territory buyer should obtain the exact agreement set and written cost schedule rather than applying the single-territory Item 7 range to every territory.
The 2026 FDD says The Filta Group Inc. generally does not offer direct or indirect financing to new franchisees and does not guarantee a note, lease, or other obligation. The official support page advertises vehicle financing and leasing programs, so any new-franchise vehicle arrangement should be confirmed as a third-party program with its own approval, pricing, and repayment terms.
For an existing franchisee that reaches the FiltaBio equipment threshold, Item 10 describes an Equipment Loan covering 100% of the required WVO equipment purchase price and freight, delivery, and installation. It carries no stated interest or fixed payment period; 25% of applicable WVO-sale proceeds is applied to the balance until repaid. This financing does not fund the initial Territory Fee or Opening Package. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 10, pp. 24–25.
Does buying an existing Filta business use the same cost range?
No. A transfer buyer does not pay the Territory Fee or Opening Package, but the 2026 FDD does not disclose the seller's purchase price or an all-in resale investment range. The buyer instead pays a $9,950 Transition/Training Fee before starting business and may have other transaction costs.
- Transition/Training Fee
- $9,950 before operating the acquired business; includes classroom training with associated lodging, field training without lodging, uniforms, stationery, and three days of in-field transition support.
- Possible referral commission reimbursement
- If a third-party referral service introduced the buyer to the seller, the current disclosed commission passed through to the buyer is the higher of 10% of the sale price or $20,000.
- Monthly Fees
- For an existing franchise acquired from a prior operator, Monthly Fees begin in the buyer's first month of ownership rather than month four.
- Remaining term
- A transfer buyer generally receives the remainder of the seller's term rather than a fresh 10-year term, unless the approved transaction documents provide otherwise.
Buyer verification: A resale budget must separately identify the seller's price, working capital, equipment condition, vehicle obligations, customer-related amounts, transfer conditions, and the $9,950 Transition/Training Fee. The new-franchise $141,100–$163,750 range is not a resale valuation.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5, pp. 7–8; Item 6, pp. 8–16; Item 17, pp. 38–42. The official investment page also labels the purchase price of an existing business as variable.
Which later events can create additional fees?
Several costs arise only after a specific service approval, transfer, default, audit, or end-of-term event. They are not part of the new-franchise Item 7 total.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 9–13; Item 17, pp. 38–42.
What should a buyer verify before relying on the range?
The verified 2026 range is a single-territory starting point, not a promise that every buyer can open with the same cash profile. The most important confirmations are the Existing Customer Fee, van structure, insurance, environmental compliance, and any multi-territory or resale agreement.
Cost synthesis: A new single-territory Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions franchise has a verified 2026 Estimated Initial Investment of $141,100–$163,750. The amount includes $124,900 in fixed Territory Fee and Opening Package payments and $5,000–$15,000 of Additional Funds for three months. The largest unresolved variables sit outside the simple headline range: existing customers, van acquisition and transport, later MFU and WVO infrastructure, insurance, environmental compliance, and transaction-specific multi-territory or resale terms.
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