How much does a Midas franchise cost?
Midas has three separate U.S. investment ranges in its 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, and they should not be blended. A new 8-bay Midas Shop is estimated at $385,450 to $940,050. Converting an operating or previously operated automotive repair facility is estimated at $143,400 to $941,050. A Midas/SpeeDee Co-Branding Shop is estimated at $170,150 to $1,365,750, but that format is offered only on a limited basis to existing Co-Branding Shop franchisees and their transferees. These are Item 7 totals for the U.S. offer dated April 16, 2026.
Legal franchisor: Midas International, LLC. FDD issuance date: April 16, 2026. Formats reviewed: new 8-bay Midas Shop, conversion Midas Shop, and Midas/SpeeDee Co-Branding Shop. Principal cost sources: FDD Items 5, 6, and 7, with cost-relevant provisions from Items 8, 10, 11, and 17. FDD pages cited below use the document's printed page numbers. Public information was checked July 14, 2026. No matching 2026 FDD was located on an official franchise-controlled public webpage, so FDD citations are intentionally unlinked.
The conversion format has a much lower disclosed minimum, while its maximum is almost the same as a new Shop. Co-Branding has the highest maximum because its additional equipment, branding, and exterior requirements sit on top of an applicable Midas Shop investment.
Source: Midas International, LLC, 2026 FDD, cover page and Item 7, pp. 20-28. The bars show official low-to-high ranges, not averages or expected budgets.
As checked July 14, 2026, the official public Midas investment page still displays older figures that do not match the April 16, 2026 FDD. This article uses the 2026 FDD for every FDD-governed amount rather than the older webpage figures.
What is included in the new 8-bay Midas Shop range?
The $385,450 to $940,050 new-Shop range includes the franchise fee, grand-opening advertising, leased-premises costs, equipment, technology, inventory, professional expenses, and three months of Additional Funds. It does not include land acquisition or building construction, and the disclosure notes expressly exclude royalties from the total. The table assumes the real property and building will be leased. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 20-23.
Agreement, training, and premises costs
The agreement-stage payments are comparatively fixed, while training travel and premises costs vary by site, landlord, and distance from the training location.
| Opening expenditure | New 8-bay amount | Payment timing | Printed page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee, Minimum Site Payment, or Deposit | $35,000 | At Franchise Agreement execution; an Application Deposit is applied toward it | p. 20 |
| Marketing Support Program or Other Grand Opening Advertising | $20,000 | At Franchise Agreement execution, site approval, or as incurred with a third party | p. 20 |
| Travel & Living Expenses while Training | $1,050-$8,000 | Before opening, as incurred; estimate is for one person | p. 20 |
| Security Deposit, Licenses & Permits | $10,000-$50,000 | Before occupancy or at lease/sublease signing | p. 20 |
| Rent and Real Estate Taxes (3 months) | $15,000-$75,000 | First month before occupancy or lease signing, then monthly | p. 20 |
Equipment, branding, and opening inventory
Equipment & Tools is the largest disclosed in-range category for a new 8-bay Shop. The FDD assumes new equipment and excludes applicable sales and use tax from that equipment estimate.
| Opening expenditure | New 8-bay amount | Payment timing | Printed page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment & Tools | $180,000-$385,000 | Before opening | p. 20 |
| Shipping and Installation Costs - Equipment | $15,500-$41,000 | Before opening | p. 21 |
| Computer, Hardware & Telephone System | $10,300-$30,800 | Before opening | p. 21 |
| Office & Waiting Room Furniture & Point of Purchase Materials | $10,300-$30,800 | Before opening | p. 21 |
| Branding | $10,300-$41,000 | Before opening | p. 21 |
| Shipping and Installation Costs - Signage | $5,100-$25,700 | Before opening | p. 21 |
| Initial Inventory & Supplies | $25,700-$103,000 | Before opening under vendor payment terms | p. 21 |
Technology, professional costs, and the operating cushion
The first-three-month estimates for software support, insurance, and Additional Funds are already inside the published total. They should not be added a second time when interpreting the official range.
| Opening expenditure | New 8-bay amount | Basis or timing | Printed page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Point-of-Sale System License and Training Fees | $0-$10,800 | At vendor agreement execution | p. 21 |
| Point-of-Sale System Software Maintenance Fee (3 months) | $0-$1,250 | Monthly by credit card or ACH | p. 21 |
| Parts & Labor Guide Subscription (3 months) | $0-$400 | Monthly by credit card or ACH | p. 21 |
| Insurance (3 months) | $1,550-$4,600 | Before opening | p. 21 |
| Legal & Accounting | $1,050-$3,600 | As incurred | p. 21 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $41,500-$69,000 | Payroll and working capital as needed | p. 21 |
| Miscellaneous | $3,100-$5,100 | As incurred | p. 22 |
Equipment & Tools carries the highest Item 7 range. Initial Inventory & Supplies, three months of rent and taxes, and Additional Funds are the next largest categories shown here. Land and building construction are excluded from this chart because they are excluded from the Item 7 total.
Source: Midas International, LLC, 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 20-22. The chart compares official category ranges on the same new 8-bay Shop basis; it does not sum category highs or create a midpoint.
Additional Funds are included in the $385,450 to $940,050 total. They cover the first three months of operation, including payroll and working capital for expenses that may exceed receipts, but the FDD excludes any owner draw or salary. Source: FDD Item 7, pp. 21 and 23.
Why can a conversion cost much less, while Co-Branding can cost more?
Under the 2026 FDD, a conversion can start lower because existing equipment, furniture, branding, inventory, and technology may satisfy some Midas requirements, allowing several disclosed categories to begin at $0. Its high end remains $941,050 because a conversion that needs extensive equipment, signage, and remodeling can approach the new-Shop maximum. A Co-Branding Shop adds SpeeDee-specific lifts, equipment, possible emissions equipment, branding, exterior improvements, and inventory to the applicable new-Shop or conversion costs.
The Midas format contract changes what the range means
A conversion is not a separate low-cost package with a capped scope. It is an existing automotive facility brought up to Midas specifications. Co-Branding is an additional layer over one of the two Midas Shop tables, not a standalone investment table that can be added mechanically at either extreme.
| Co-Branding addition | 2026 amount | What drives the range | Printed page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Change Bay Lift Costs | $0-$29,000 | Existing equipment and site configuration | p. 27 |
| Additional Equipment & Tools | $0-$37,000 | Equipment already owned versus added | p. 27 |
| Emissions (smog) Analyzer | $0-$41,000 | Whether the location is in an applicable emissions area | p. 28 |
| Office & Waiting Room Furniture | $2,050 | Additional point-of-purchase materials | p. 28 |
| Branding & Exterior Improvements | $11,300-$77,000 | Existing image, exterior work, and Co-Branding specifications | p. 28 |
| Shipping/installation and inventory additions | $0-$26,650 | Equipment shipping up to $11,300, signage shipping up to $10,250, and inventory up to $5,100 | p. 28 |
The final row above is a derived grouping of three compatible Co-Branding line-item maxima for presentation only. The official Co-Branding total remains $170,150 to $1,365,750 and is not recalculated from selected category endpoints. Source: FDD Item 7, pp. 27-28.
Which property costs are outside the Item 7 total?
Buying land and constructing a building are outside the published totals because all three totals assume leased real property and a leased building. The 2026 FDD separately estimates acceptable real estate at $615,000 to $1,250,000 and construction of a typical Midas Shop at $1,250,000 to $2,050,000. Those figures are not part of the $385,450 to $940,050 new-Shop range. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 22-23.
For a new 8-bay Shop, the FDD states that remodeling may require an additional $52,000 to $260,000 where rent is lower. For a conversion, the comparable remodeling estimate is $51,500 to $205,000. These are described as additional expenses, so a buyer should confirm whether a proposed site's work is inside or outside the applicable Item 7 line items.
If Midas Realty, LLC or Midas Property, LLC owns or controls the premises, the franchisee may lease or sublease it and pay fixed minimum rent, real estate taxes, insurance, common-area charges, maintenance, repairs, and replacements. Item 6 lists fixed minimum rent of $5,000 to $20,000 per month, real estate taxes of $1,000 to $5,000 per month, and insurance in addition.
For an affiliated lease or sublease, the FDD generally requires a security deposit equal to two months' rent and taxes, disclosed as $10,000 to $50,000, plus the first month's rent and taxes on the commencement date. Source: FDD Items 5 and 6, pp. 11-13.
The published maximum is not a ceiling for an owned-site project. Land, construction, site-specific remodeling, sales and use tax on equipment, and triple-net property obligations can materially change the capital requirement without changing the published Item 7 total.
When does a Midas franchisee pay the money?
The first payment can occur with the franchise application, before a site is finalized, while the largest asset payments usually occur after site approval and before opening. The official Midas franchise process page also describes the $10,000 Application Deposit and the balance of the standard franchise fee. The 2026 FDD controls the payment terms summarized below.
The Application Deposit is paid in a lump sum with the Application and credited toward the Initial Franchise Fee. It is refundable only if Midas rejects or otherwise terminates the Application. Source: FDD Item 5, p. 8.
The standard $35,000 fee is due at execution, less the deposit already credited. The $20,000 Franchisee Commitment Funds are generally due at signing when a site is identified. If a site is not yet identified, those marketing funds are due when Midas approves the site. Source: FDD Item 5, pp. 8-11.
When an incentive waives or reduces the initial fee and no site is identified, Midas may require a $10,000 Minimum Site Payment at signing. It is credited to the trade account after the site schedule is signed, but Midas may retain it if the site is not approved within the contract's deadline. Source: FDD Item 5, p. 9.
Security deposits, licenses, permits, first rent, taxes, architecture, engineering, and contractor costs are due under the landlord's, government's, or professional's terms. The FDD's typical opening period is 12 to 24 months for a new Shop and 2 to 3 months for a conversion, subject to site, financing, construction, permits, equipment, inventory, staffing, and training. Source: FDD Item 11, p. 48.
Most opening assets are paid or financed before opening. Midas does not charge tuition for the Operations Training Program, but the franchisee pays meals, travel, lodging, and living expenses. Training must be completed before opening, followed by a minimum 48-hour wait. Source: FDD Item 11, pp. 49-50.
Rent and real estate taxes, insurance, software support, the Parts & Labor Guide, and Additional Funds include initial three-month estimates. Royalty payments begin after opening and are outside the Item 7 total.
The FDD states that a prospective franchisee must receive the disclosure document at least 14 calendar days before signing a binding agreement or making a payment to the franchisor or an affiliate. The FTC Franchise Rule is the federal disclosure framework, and the FTC compliance guide explains the disclosure timing requirement.
Which Midas fees continue after opening?
The principal continuing charge is a category-based Royalty Fee on Net Revenue, paid monthly by ACH. Item 6 defines Net Revenue as all revenue from the Franchised Unit excluding sales, use, or gross-receipts taxes. The standard rate is 10%, with 6% on qualifying tire-related revenue, 2% on battery sales as defined in the Franchise Agreement, and 0% on narrowly defined Exempt Sales charged at cost. Certain Co-Branding Shop revenue can be subject to 11%. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 12 and 17-18.
| Continuing cost entity | Amount or basis | Timing and condition | Printed page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 2%-10% of Net Revenue; up to 11% in certain Co-Branding cases | Due by the 10th of each month for the preceding month by ACH | pp. 12, 17-20 |
| Marketing / Advertising | No separate standard percentage listed | Midas states that at least one-half of royalties actually received from standard Midas franchisees will be spent on marketing; one-third of Tire Royalty is allocated to marketing | pp. 17, 43-45 |
| Warranty Registration Fee | $1.04-$4.80 per registered part unit | Added to the trade account when the warranty is registered; statement generally due by the 21st | p. 13 |
| Midas Limited Lifetime Tire Guarantee Fee | $1.60 per qualifying tire | As tires are sold; may increase to the third-party administrator's actual cost | p. 13 |
| Point-of-Sale software support | First 3 months: $0-$1,250 | Required vendor support for Shops using the designated system; ongoing vendor charges continue after the initial three-month period | pp. 21, 31-32 |
| Affiliated Rent, Taxes & Insurance | Rent $5,000-$20,000/month; taxes $1,000-$5,000/month; insurance additional | Fixed rent and tax deposit monthly; percentage-rent reconciliation may apply | p. 13 |
| Fleet Program Processing Fee | 1.25% plus $0.95 per transaction | Only for qualifying fleet transactions under the optional Fleet Program | p. 16 |
The $20,000 Franchisee Commitment Funds are a pre-opening grand-opening obligation, not the ongoing Royalty Fee and not a separate annual brand-fund percentage. Midas may also approve franchisee-funded local advertising, but Item 11 states that franchisees are not required to participate in local or regional advertising cooperatives.
Which fees appear only after a transfer, renewal, relocation, or default?
Under the 2026 FDD, event-triggered charges can be significant even though they are not part of the opening investment. Item 6 and the Franchise Agreement create separate costs for ownership changes, renewal, site changes, reporting failures, audits, and defaults. Renewal and transfer can also require renovations or refurbishment in addition to the stated fee.
For Franchise Agreements dated April 1, 2010 or later, the fee is the greater of $5,000 or 15% of the then-current standard franchise fee charged to a new franchisee with no other Midas Shops. For older agreements it is 0.5% of the business sale price excluding real estate. Additional transferred Shops closing simultaneously are capped at $1,250 each after the first. Source: pp. 14 and 20.
A first-time Midas transferee pays a New Franchisee Support Fee equal to the then-current applicable initial fee less the Transfer Fee. A separate Resale Assistance Fee of up to $15,000 can apply when Midas or its representatives identify or facilitate the buyer. Source: p. 14.
The current Renewal Fee is $5,000 and may be increased to a maximum of $17,500. It can be paid in two or twelve installments over one year, subject to multi-Shop rules. Renewal may also require relocation, renovation, or remodeling. Source: Items 6, 10, and 17, pp. 15, 39, and 60.
$1,000 when notice of an intended relocation is submitted, subject to the FDD's limited exception for certain affiliated head-lease expirations and its refund provisions. Source: p. 15.
An audit can require reimbursement of audit cost plus additional royalties when the stated conditions are met. Past-due royalties may bear the lesser of 18% annual interest or the lawful maximum. Other disclosed charges include $20 per month for a late electronic sales report and a current $100 manual-report fee that may rise to $500. Source: pp. 15-16.
Item 6 lists $300 per day in Liquidated Damages for breach of non-monetary provisions, actual indemnification losses and claims, actual attorneys' fees where applicable, and reimbursement of replacement insurance if required coverage is not maintained. Source: pp. 16-17.
How do liquid assets, net worth, and financing differ from the investment range?
The official Midas franchise site currently screens for at least $200,000 in liquid assets and $600,000 in net worth, but neither figure replaces the applicable Item 7 range. Liquid assets are funds that can generally be accessed, net worth is assets minus liabilities, and the Estimated Initial Investment is the disclosed cost range for the selected format. The application questions appear on the official Midas U.S. franchise website and the official process page as checked July 14, 2026.
This is a candidate-screening threshold, not a statement that $200,000 is enough to open every format. It is below the new 8-bay Item 7 minimum and above the conversion Item 7 minimum, which demonstrates why the concepts must remain separate.
Net worth is not the same as available cash. The FDD also requires entity owners to sign a Personal Guaranty covering obligations under the Franchise Agreement and certain real estate or financing documents.
The reviewed FDD cost sections and current official franchise pages do not state a separate minimum amount of non-borrowed funds. A lender or Midas may still evaluate equity, collateral, credit, and financial resources during approval.
What financing does the 2026 FDD disclose?
Midas does not promise financing or guarantee a franchisee's loan, lease, or other obligation. Item 10 says Midas may refer credit-qualified franchisees to lending or leasing companies for certain equipment. Those providers may require the Shop's assets as collateral and may also require the borrower's residence. Midas states that it currently receives no placement fee.
The franchisor directly allows the Renewal Fee to be paid in installments without interest or financing charges and without a security interest, although owners of an entity must provide a Personal Guaranty. Affiliated real estate arrangements can also spread site acquisition, construction, or renovation costs through lease or sublease rent. These arrangements are contractual payment structures, not guaranteed credit approval. Source: FDD Item 10, pp. 39-41.
Which Midas franchise fee reductions may change the cash due?
The 2026 FDD contains a permanent-format reduction for an eligible independent automotive-business conversion, a veteran and first-responder waiver subject to conditions, and several incentive programs tied to dates or circumstances. A buyer should obtain written confirmation before assuming any incentive remains available, especially because the principal 2026 program required Franchise Agreement signing by June 30, 2026, a date that had passed when this article was checked.
| Fee reduction or program | Disclosed effect | Key condition | Printed page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent automotive-business conversion | Initial Franchise Fee reduced to $17,500 | Existing independent automotive business is converted to a Midas Shop | p. 8 |
| Existing Midas franchisee - first additional Shop | $10,000 fee | Ownership, good-standing, training, signing, and opening conditions apply | pp. 8-10 |
| Further simultaneous additional Shops | $5,000 each | Franchise Agreements signed simultaneously and Shops opened by the stated deadline | pp. 8-10 |
| U.S. Military Veteran & First Responder Program | Initial Franchise Fee waived | First franchise only; eligibility rules apply; not available for a transfer; Minimum Site Payment may still apply without an identified site | pp. 10-11 |
| Marketing Support Program | Midas contribution of $10,000 | Requires at least $20,000 of Franchisee Commitment Funds; FDD program dates and agreement terms apply | p. 11 |
| Existing-franchisee Grand Opening Marketing Pilot | Midas contribution of $60,000 | Requires at least $20,000 from the franchisee and compliance with designated marketing requirements; pilot may be changed or discontinued | pp. 10-12 |
The dedicated official Midas veterans and first responders page and the FDD state that qualified candidates receive a 100% waiver of the $35,000 standard fee. A general Midas franchise webpage still contains older 50% language, so the signed incentive document should control. The FDD limits the waiver to the first franchise and excludes a Shop acquired by transfer.
The FDD's primary incentive window required signing by June 30, 2026 and opening by June 30, 2027. Because the signing date has passed, do not reduce a capital plan for royalty reductions, the Marketing Support Program, the $60,000 pilot contribution, or existing-franchisee fee reductions unless Midas confirms an extension or replacement in writing.
What should a prospective Midas franchisee verify before setting a capital budget?
The central task is to match one proposed site and one transaction structure to the correct 2026 FDD table, then identify every amount that the table assumes, defers, or excludes. The following checks prevent the most common misreadings of the Midas cost disclosure.
Confirm whether the transaction is a new 8-bay Shop, an automotive-facility conversion, a transfer of an operating Midas Shop, or the limited Co-Branding offer. Do not apply the conversion minimum to a new build or treat Co-Branding as a universally available format.
Obtain a site-specific statement showing whether land, construction, major remodeling, environmental work, sales tax, utility work, and triple-net obligations are included, excluded, or payable through rent.
For a conversion, obtain written approval for equipment, lifts, computer hardware, furniture, signage, inventory, and the Point-of-Sale System before relying on a $0 line-item minimum.
Ask for the applicable Incentive Rider, Marketing Funds Agreement, veteran/first-responder documentation, or transfer rider. Confirm signing and opening deadlines, repayment triggers, and whether the Application Deposit or Minimum Site Payment remains due.
Confirm which revenue is subject to the standard Royalty Fee, Tire Royalty, battery rate, Exempt Sales treatment, Fleet Program rate, or Co-Branding rate. Do not convert a percentage into an annual dollar amount without an approved operating forecast.
The Item 7 Additional Funds estimate covers three months but expressly excludes an owner draw or salary. Any personal living-cost reserve is separate from the published franchise investment.
The verified 2026 cost answer remains format-specific and the three published ranges should not be blended. Equipment, inventory, leased-premises costs, and three months of Additional Funds are inside the applicable published range; land purchase, building construction, owner compensation, royalties, and some site-specific remodeling can sit outside it. Liquid assets, net worth, and ongoing fees remain separate capital questions.