How much does a Kitchen Tune-Up franchise cost?
The 2026 Kitchen Tune-Up Franchise Disclosure Document estimates $121,930 to $198,850 to open one U.S. franchised business and its first territory. The model is usually operated from a home office, with one required white branded vehicle. An outside office, warehouse, retail location, or approved showroom can increase the buyer's actual outlay because local premises and buildout costs are not fully resolved by the disclosed range.
Estimated Initial Investment for the first U.S. territory under the February 20, 2026 FDD. The opening estimate includes the $79,950 paid to the franchisor at signing, launch costs, three months of Initial Marketing, and $15,000-$25,000 of Additional Funds covering the pre-opening period and first three operating months.
Data basis: legal franchisor HFC KTU LLC; U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document issued February 20, 2026; Item 5 page 7, Item 6 pages 8-12, Item 7 pages 12-15, Item 10 pages 18-19, plus cost-relevant provisions in Items 8, 11, and 17. Information checked July 18, 2026. FDD references are unlinked because no matching public copy was located on an official franchise-controlled domain.
The current official U.S. investment page shows the same $121,930-$198,850 range and lists $80,000 of required liquid capital. Kitchen Tune-Up is presented as a Home Franchise Concepts brand on the parent company's investment page.
Capital snapshot
The six figures below separate the signing obligation, opening reserve, qualification threshold, first-year reserve, recurring Royalty basis, and disclosed financing capacity.
What is included in the $121,930-$198,850 estimate?
The 2026 opening range combines fixed payments to the franchisor with third-party costs for training travel, a vehicle, insurance, tools, compliance, launch marketing, and the initial operating reserve. It is one range for the franchised business; the FDD does not publish separate totals for home-based, office, warehouse, retail, or showroom configurations.
| Item 7 expenditure | Amount | When paid | Payee / basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $19,950 | When the agreement is signed | HFC KTU LLC; includes initial training and the Start-up Package |
| Initial Territory Fee | $60,000 | When the agreement is signed | The franchisor; first territory under the first agreement |
| Travel and Living Expenses While Training | $1,750-$3,000 per person | During training | Airlines, hotels, rental cars, restaurants, and other third parties |
| Office/Work Space | $500-$3,000 | As incurred | Landlord or supplier; outside premises are optional |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5 page 7 and Item 7 pages 12-14.
| Item 7 expenditure | Amount | Timing | Main cost driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | $7,000-$50,000 | Upon opening | Existing compliant vehicle, lease/down payment, or purchase plus approved signage |
| Credit Card Processing Technology | $30-$500 | Upon opening | Lease, finance, or lump-sum vendor payment |
| Miscellaneous Tools and Office Supplies | $1,000-$3,000 | As incurred | Recommended tools and supplies |
| Miscellaneous Opening Costs | $2,000-$3,500 | As incurred | Other equipment, inventory, and required operating software |
| Lead Safe Certification | $300-$500 | When required by law | EPA-approved trainer |
| Contractor's License and Bond | $150-$3,000 | When required by law | State and local licensing conditions |
| Auto Insurance | $1,000-$3,000 | Before opening and during year one | Insurer or broker |
| Commercial General Liability Insurance | $500-$2,400 | Before opening and during year one | Insurer or broker |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7 pages 13-15. The federal certification obligation is explained by the EPA Renovation, Repair and Painting training guidance.
| Item 7 expenditure | Amount | Covered period | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional Fees | $750-$3,500 | Before opening | Negotiated with professional advisers |
| Initial Marketing | $12,000-$18,000 | First three months | FDD recommends at least $4,000 per month in local marketing |
| Additional Funds | $15,000-$25,000 | Before opening and first three months | Operating reserve for factors such as premises, staff, payroll and benefits, gasoline, and vehicle maintenance |
| Total Estimated Initial Investment | $121,930-$198,850 | Opening period | Official Item 7 total for the first franchised business and territory |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7 pages 13-15. Owner compensation is not expressly identified as included in Additional Funds.
Each bar shows the disclosed maximum minus the disclosed minimum. It measures uncertainty within a category, not an additional charge.
Derived calculation from the official low and high amounts in the 2026 FDD, Item 7 pages 12-15. The Vehicle range contributes most of the disclosed spread.
The stated high-end total is $198,850, while the listed maximum line items add to $198,350. The FDD does not explain the $500 difference. Preserve the official total for planning, but ask the franchisor to reconcile the table before signing.
Why does the official website call $79,950 the franchise fee?
The current official website uses $79,950 as a combined headline figure. The 2026 FDD separates that amount into two nonrefundable Item 5 fees: a $19,950 Initial Franchise Fee and a $60,000 Initial Territory Fee. Both are due when the first agreement is signed, so the cash timing is the same even though the legal fee names are different.
Exact Item 5 amounts due to the franchisor at signing.
Training and the Start-up Package are included.
Secures the first territory under the first agreement.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5 page 7 and Item 7 pages 12-14. The components reconcile exactly to $79,950.
For cost comparisons, use the Item 5 names rather than treating $79,950 as one fee. That distinction matters for veteran reductions and additional territories. If a second agreement for a second territory is signed at the same time, the Additional Territory Fee is $50,000; otherwise a later territory is priced at the then-current Initial Territory Fee. No Initial Franchise Fee is payable under a subsequent agreement.
When is the money paid?
The largest fixed payment is due at contract signing, while the rest of the Item 7 investment is paid across training, pre-opening, opening, and the first three operating months. The FDD's sequence is more useful than treating the total investment as one day-one cash payment.
The brand's official franchise process places FDD review before agreement execution and training. Separately, the FTC franchise buying guide explains the federal 14-calendar-day disclosure period before a buyer signs or pays the franchisor or an affiliate.
Which Kitchen Tune-Up fees continue after opening?
The core monthly obligations are the Royalty, National Advertising Fund Payment, and Technology Fee. The Royalty and advertising obligations use the prior month's Gross Revenue but also include minimum payments, so low or zero sales do not necessarily eliminate monthly fees after the introductory period.
| Fee | Amount / basis | Payment timing | Material adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 6% of the first $83,300 of monthly Gross Revenue and 5% above $83,300, compared with the applicable minimum | Gross Revenue reported by the 5th; funds drawn on the 15th | No minimum in months 1-3; $500 per territory in months 4-12; $1,500 per territory thereafter. Minimum may rise annually by CPI. |
| National Advertising Fund Payment | Greater of 1% of prior-month Gross Revenue or $500 for the first agreement | Funds drawn on the 25th | Second agreement minimum is $250. Rate may increase up to the greater of 2% of Gross Revenue or $500 per territory; minimum may rise by CPI. |
| Technology Fee | $500 per month for the first territory; $250 for second and later territories | Funds drawn on the 5th | May increase by up to 3% annually. |
| Convention Fee | Currently $899 plus travel, accommodation, and some meals; no more than $2,000 annually | Monthly installments in advance, drawn on the 5th | Annual Convention attendance is mandatory. |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6 pages 8-12. Percentage fees are stated only on the disclosed Gross Revenue basis; no annual dollar estimate is implied.
For Royalty calculations, the FDD generally recognizes Gross Revenue in the month that is earlier of final-invoice payment or 90 days after the final invoice is issued. Earlier invoices are aggregated with the final invoice, and sales in unassigned Gray Areas are included under the disclosed allocation rule.
Conditional fees are triggered by events, not normal monthly operation
Training requests, late reporting, audits, transfers, territorial breaches, and enforcement events can create additional charges beyond the regular monthly fee schedule.
How much cash should a buyer have beyond Item 7?
Three different capital concepts appear in the current disclosures, and they should not be combined or treated as interchangeable. The official website lists $80,000 required liquid capital; Item 7 includes $15,000-$25,000 of Additional Funds for the initial period; and the FDD separately recommends $100,000 in working capital for the first year.
- Estimated Initial Investment
- $121,930-$198,850. This is the official Item 7 opening range, not a liquidity test.
- Required Liquid Capital
- $80,000 on the current official U.S. investment page. The page does not define which assets qualify or how financing affects the test.
- Additional Funds
- $15,000-$25,000 already included in Item 7for before opening and the first three months. It should not be added to the Item 7 total again.
- First-year Working Capital
- $100,000 recommended in the Item 7 footnote. It is not presented as a separate Item 7 line or as a contractual minimum.
- Net Worth
- No current U.S. net-worth threshold is disclosed in the 2026 FDD or on the current official U.S. investment page reviewed for this article.
The three-month Additional Funds reserve is narrower than the FDD's first-year working-capital recommendation. A buyer should request a written cash schedule showing which funds must remain available after the signing payment, vehicle decision, and any financing proceeds.
How do home-based, office, and showroom choices change the cost?
Most Kitchen Tune-Up franchisees operate from home, and the Office/Work Space allowance is only $500-$3,000. The FDD says an outside office or retail location can make the initial investment higher depending on local real-estate and leasing conditions. It does not provide a separate retail or showroom total.
Home-based configuration
The FDD describes this as the common configuration. It reduces premises exposure, but the required white vehicle, approved signage, insurance, tools, technology, marketing, supplier purchases, and working capital still apply.
Office, warehouse, retail, or showroom
An office/workspace is generally described as approximately 500-1,200 square feet. A showroom needs prior approval, must meet specifications, and requires a showroom addendum. Equipment, signs, fixtures, opening inventory, lease deposits, improvements, and local occupancy costs are not separately quantified.
The current official franchise overview also describes a choice between a home office and a retail location. Because the FDD uses one opening range, a retail buyer should not assume the high end automatically covers local buildout or lease obligations.
Vehicle, supplier, and technology obligations can change the range
The required vehicle is the largest disclosed variable category at $7,000-$50,000. The low end assumes the buyer already has a compliant white vehicle or uses a lease/down payment; the high end contemplates acquiring a vehicle and applying approved signage. Item 8 also requires kitchen-improvement products and services to be purchased from HFC KTU LLC, Partnership Vendors, or Approved Vendors, and estimates that about 95% of establishment purchases will come from those designated suppliers.
Item 11 provides the initial laptop at classroom training, but a lost or damaged laptop may cost $1,500-$2,250 to replace. Additional computers are estimated at $1,500-$2,250, and required upgrades could cost $1,500-$2,500. The Franchise Agreement places no contractual limit on the frequency or cost of required upgrades. These replacement and upgrade amounts are not ordinary opening-cost line items.
What financing and veteran reductions are disclosed?
The franchisor offers qualified candidates up to $48,000 of in-house financing for the Initial Franchise Fee and part of the Initial Territory Fee. Approval is subject to credit standards and does not reduce the investment; it converts part of the signing payment into debt secured by substantially all business assets.
| Term | FDD disclosure | Buyer interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Amount financed | $48,000 | Initial Franchise Fee and part of the Initial Territory Fee |
| Minimum down payment | $0 | Other Item 7 costs still require funding |
| Term and rate | 60 months at 10% | Payments begin with the first Royalty due date |
| Monthly payment | $1,023.07 | Separate from Royalty, advertising, Technology Fee, and operating costs |
| Prepayment | No penalty | Note may be prepaid during its term |
| Security and default | Security interest in substantially all assets; unpaid balance, attorneys' fees, and costs can become due | Financing approval is not a guarantee of business performance or continued franchise rights |
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 10 pages 18-19. The official Kitchen Tune-Up financing page also states that up to $48,000 may be available to qualified candidates. The SBA 7(a) program overview explains one external loan category, but Kitchen Tune-Up does not guarantee third-party approval.
Item 10 says no separate personal guaranty is required for the in-house note. That does not remove broader contract exposure: the FDD Special Risks disclosure says a spouse must sign a guarantee covering the financial obligations under the agreement even when the spouse has no ownership interest.
Veteran fee reduction
The 2026 FDD discounts both first-agreement fees by 15% for eligible active service members, honorably discharged veterans, and their spouses. The disclosed amounts are $16,958 for the Initial Franchise Fee and $51,000 for the Initial Territory Fee, or $67,958 combined. The current official veteran page describes a 15% reduction on the territory fee, which is narrower wording than the 2026 FDD. Obtain written confirmation of the amounts that will appear in the signed agreement.
Using the full $48,000 in-house note would reduce the immediate franchisor payment from $79,950 to $31,950 before any veteran discount, but the financed $48,000 remains part of the investment and creates a $1,023.07 monthly debt payment for 60 months.
Which costs may appear at renewal, transfer, or default?
Later-stage costs are not part of the opening range. The agreement has a 10-year initial term and provides two consecutive five-year renewal terms, subject to the disclosed conditions, then-current agreement, required upgrades, and the Renewal Fee.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 5 page 7, Item 6 pages 9-11, Item 11 pages 23-26, and Item 17 pages 30-34.
What should a prospective franchisee verify before signing?
The official opening range is usable only after the buyer resolves the vehicle, premises, staffing, financing, and first-year reserve assumptions. The most important questions are numerical reconciliations, not general sales-process questions.
- Request a written reconciliation of the $500 Item 7 high-end difference between the stated total and the listed maximum line items.
- Confirm the exact cash due at signing after any $48,000 financing, veteran reduction, or simultaneous second-territory commitment.
- Ask how $80,000 of required liquid capital is defined, including eligible assets, borrowed funds, and the measurement date.
- Build separate home-based and premises budgets if considering an office, warehouse, retail location, or showroom; do not rely on the single Item 7 high end for unpriced buildout obligations.
- Confirm what the $15,000-$25,000 Additional Funds category excludes, especially owner compensation, taxes, debt service, and costs after month three.
- Obtain current Item 6 schedules before payment because minimum fees, technology charges, training rates, and other amounts may increase.
Decision synthesis: Kitchen Tune-Up's 2026 opening contract is a $121,930-$198,850 investment for the first territory, with $79,950 contractually due to the franchisor at signing unless financing or a verified discount changes timing. The Vehicle range is the main disclosed source of variation. The larger unresolved issue is capital after opening: the opening estimate includes only three months of Additional Funds, while the FDD recommends $100,000 of first-year working capital and the official site separately lists $80,000 of required liquid capital.