How much does a SpeedPro Studio cost to open?
The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates $246,216 to $493,221 to begin operating a SpeedPro Studio in the United States. The franchise commonly searched as SpeedPro Imaging is offered by SP Franchising LLC as a commercial Studio. The range includes upfront franchise, equipment and launch-marketing charges, plus premises costs, travel, professional expenses and a six-month operating reserve.
SpeedPro 2026 FDD, Item 7, pages 23–26. This is one disclosed U.S. range for a SpeedPro Studio; the high end reflects the more expensive equipment package and higher assumptions for several location and operating-cost categories. Applicable sales tax on the package price is not quantified.
- Legal franchisor
- SP Franchising LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
- Disclosure basis
- SpeedPro 2026 Multi-State Franchise Disclosure Document, issued April 10, 2026; Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 17.
- Formats analyzed
- New Studio, additional Studio, conversion of an independent print business, and transfer of an existing Studio where the fee contract differs.
- Checked
- July 19, 2026. The franchisor’s 2026 FDD release announcement and official cost page were also reviewed. No matching 2026 FDD file was verified on an official franchise-controlled domain, so FDD Item and page citations below are unlinked.
Capital snapshot
What is included in the $246,216 to $493,221 range?
The largest component is the package charge paid to the franchisor for required equipment and supplies. Item 7 then adds the franchise and launch-marketing charges, premises costs, travel, permits, insurance, utility deposits, advisor costs and the six-month reserve. The line items reconcile exactly to the official low and high totals.
Payments made to the franchisor
| Item 7 expenditure | Low | High | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $24,750 | $49,500 | When the agreement is signed. |
| Start-Up Fee | $128,775 | $259,775 | Earlier of 120 days after signing or execution of the Studio lease. |
| Initial Marketing Fee | $10,000 | $10,000 | When the package charge is paid. |
Source: SpeedPro 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7, pages 11–12 and 23–25. The cover separately states that $24,750 to $321,775 of the total may be paid to the franchisor or an affiliate. It should not be read as a subtotal of only the three ordinary Item 7 lines shown above; applicable sales tax also remains unquantified.
The package choice is the largest fixed source of variation inside Item 7. The franchisor is the sole approved supplier of both options, and Item 11 states that $15,824 of initial Computer System and Software System cost is included.
minimum opening equipment
minimum equipment plus additional equipment
Interpretation: Option B is $131,000 more than Option A before applicable sales tax. Official figures from SpeedPro 2026 FDD, Items 5, 7 and 8, pages 12, 23–27.
Premises, setup and six-month operating funds
| Item 7 expenditure | Low | High | What drives variation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leasehold Improvements | $3,500 | $35,000 | Premises condition, landlord contribution and negotiated lease terms. |
| Furniture & Fixtures | $3,431 | $6,256 | Office furniture, storage, fixtures and business supplies. |
| Rent and Security Deposit | $7,500 | $24,500 | First six months of rent and the assumed deposit structure. |
| Training Travel Expenses | $4,260 | $6,390 | Estimate for one attendee; extra attendees increase travel and living costs. |
| Permits, insurance and Utility Deposits | $2,500 | $6,800 | Derived grouping of three compatible Item 7 categories. |
| Professional Fees | $1,500 | $5,000 | Attorney, accountant and other advisor costs. |
| Additional Funds for first six months | $60,000 | $90,000 | Employee wages, utilities, legal and accounting fees, software and other initial operating expenses. |
Floating bars use a common $0 to $90,000 scale and show the official low-to-high range for each category.
Interpretation: The six-month reserve is the largest non-package category, while leasehold and occupancy terms create the widest premises-related uncertainty. Official figures from SpeedPro 2026 FDD, Item 7, pages 24–26. Bar positions are derived only to display the disclosed ranges on a shared scale.
When does a prospective franchisee pay the money?
The cost is not paid as one lump sum. The agreement triggers the franchise fee, the lease milestone can accelerate the package charge and launch-marketing fee, and the remaining Item 7 categories are paid to landlords, suppliers, authorities, insurers and advisors as the Studio moves toward opening.
Sign the agreement
Pay the applicable franchise fee. A first new Studio pays $49,500. The fee is nonrefundable and due in full, except that a qualifying retirement-account funding arrangement may begin with a refundable $25,000 deposit under a Deposit Agreement. The balance is due on the earlier of receipt of the retirement funds or 30 days after that deposit agreement becomes effective, subject to a possible extension for delayed funds.
Secure the site and lease
Provide at least three proposed sites within 60 days and secure an approved site within 120 days. Rent and Security Deposit are paid as negotiated with the landlord. Item 11 says the franchisor may charge its site-visit expenses if the first three proposed sites fail and it elects to visit additional sites.
Pay the package and launch-marketing charges
Pay 100% of the package charge at the earlier of 120 days after signing or the date the Studio lease is signed. The $10,000 launch-marketing fee is due at the same time. These payments are nonrefundable; sales tax on the package charge is additional.
Complete build-out and pre-opening purchases
Pay Leasehold Improvements, Furniture & Fixtures, Training Travel Expenses, permits, insurance, Utility Deposits and Professional Fees before opening or as incurred. A new Studio generally must open within 180 days unless the franchisor approves an extension.
Fund the initial operating period
Item 7 includes $60,000 to $90,000 as a six-month reserve. This reserve covers listed operating costs but excludes debt service, owner salary and personal living expenses.
The franchisor’s official ownership sequence separately describes introductions to third-party funding partners before the FDD review and agreement stage. Under the FTC Franchise Rule, the disclosure document is intended to provide material information before the buyer signs or pays.
How do additional Studios, conversions and transfers change the cost contract?
The 2026 FDD does not publish separate complete investment totals for these paths. Instead, it modifies the upfront charges, royalty ramp and certain training costs. A buyer should not combine one path’s reduced fee with another path’s Item 7 assumptions and call the result an official total.
SpeedPro’s fee paths are not interchangeable
Additional Studio
The franchise fee is $24,750. An existing franchisee may avoid the package charge only if transferable equipment meets or exceeds the then-current Option A requirements.
Independent print conversion
The franchise fee may be $49,500, $39,500, $34,500 or $29,500 based on the prior 12 months of verified gross revenue. The package charge may be waived if existing equipment meets Option A specifications. The $10,000 launch-marketing fee still applies.
Transfer of an existing Studio
The buyer may owe a $2,500 Business Training Fee and a $2,500 Live Production Training Fee plus trainer travel in stated circumstances. The technology charge and percentage royalty begin immediately. The monthly minimum is $0 in months 1–12, $500 in months 13–24, $750 in months 25–36, $1,000 in months 37–48 and $1,500 after month 48.
Service incentive: a qualified U.S. veteran, National Guard member or first responder pays a reduced $39,500 Initial Franchise Fee for the first franchise. The $10,000 reduction does not reduce the equipment package, launch marketing, premises or working-capital categories.
Source: SpeedPro 2026 FDD, Items 5, 6, 7 and 8, pages 11–17 and 23–28.
Conversion Initial Franchise Fee schedule
| Verified prior 12-month gross revenue | Initial Franchise Fee | Application |
|---|---|---|
| At or below $250,000, exactly $500,000, exactly $750,000, or otherwise outside a stated lower tier | $49,500 | Literal result of the FDD’s “otherwise” clause. |
| Greater than $250,000 and less than $500,000 | $39,500 | Conversion tier. |
| Greater than $500,000 and less than $750,000 | $34,500 | Conversion tier. |
| Greater than $750,000 | $29,500 | Lowest disclosed conversion fee. |
The conversion schedule is an Item 5 fee rule, not an earnings analysis. It determines one upfront payment from historical financial records. In months 37–48, the conversion royalty is the greater of the standard percentage formula or a $1,000 monthly minimum; from month 49, the minimum is $1,500. The FDD does not state a complete conversion investment range after accounting for retained equipment, premises condition and other conversion-specific circumstances.
Which fees continue after the Studio opens?
New Studios pay no percentage royalty or monthly minimum for the first 12 months after the agreement’s Effective Date. The marketing contribution starts on that date, while the base technology charge generally starts in month 13 because its first 12 months are included in the package charge.
| Ongoing fee | Amount or basis | When paid | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royalty Fee | 6% of the first $60,000 of monthly Gross Sales plus 4% of monthly Gross Sales above $60,000, subject to the Minimum Royalty Fee. | Monthly; new Studio percentage royalty starts in month 13. | No Minimum Royalty Fee through month 24 for a new Studio. |
| Marketing Fund Fee | Current tiers range from 1.75% to 0.75% of monthly Gross Sales; contractual cap is 2%. | Monthly from the Effective Date. | SP Franchising LLC may change or remove tiers on 90 days’ notice, but may not exceed 2%. |
| Technology Monthly Fee | Base $350 per POS System; $450 total per Studio when multiple Studios share the same POS System structure described in Item 6. | Generally month 13 for a new Studio; immediately for a transferee. | Data storage and CRM-contact overages can add $15 and $53–$108 per month; annual increases are capped at 10%. |
| Annual Franchisee Convention Fee | Currently $275; may increase up to $550, plus travel, lodging and attendance expenses. | As incurred if a convention is held. | The fee may be due even if the franchisee does not attend. |
Source: SpeedPro 2026 FDD, Item 6, pages 13–23. The disclosed “Gross Sales” basis is defined broadly in Item 6 and excludes specified sales taxes, returns, refunds, allowances and previously counted deposits or gift certificates.
Current Marketing Fund Fee tiers for new Studios and transferees
| Monthly Gross Sales range | Fund contribution |
|---|---|
| $0–$20,000 | 1.75% |
| $20,001–$40,000 | 1.5% |
| $40,001–$170,000 | 1.25% |
| $170,001 and above | 0.75% |
SpeedPro 2026 FDD, Item 6, pages 22–23. The franchisor may change or remove the tiers on 90 days’ notice, but the contractual maximum remains 2% of monthly Gross Sales.
Minimum Royalty Fee for a new Studio
| Months from Effective Date | Minimum Royalty Fee | Royalty rule |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1–12 | $0 | No Royalty Fee and no Minimum Royalty Fee. |
| Months 13–24 | $0 minimum | Percentage Royalty Fee applies, but no minimum. |
| Months 25–36 | $500/month | Greater of percentage Royalty Fee or minimum. |
| Months 37–48 | $750/month | Greater of percentage Royalty Fee or minimum. |
| Months 49–60 | $1,000/month | Greater of percentage Royalty Fee or minimum. |
| After month 60 | $1,500/month | Greater of percentage Royalty Fee or minimum for the remainder of the term. |
The franchisor’s current franchise FAQs summarize the first-year royalty holiday and marketing contribution, but Item 6 supplies the more precise formulas and minimum schedule used here.
Which other charges appear only when a trigger occurs?
Item 6 includes event-driven costs that are not part of ordinary monthly fees. Some are fixed; others reimburse the franchisor, a designated supplier or a third party for the actual cost caused by a transfer, renewal, default, requested exception, site issue or system change.
Renewal and modernization
A $10,000 Renewal Fee is due before the successor term that follows the initial 10-year term. Renewal also requires a remodel or modernization investment of not less than $5,000 and not more than $20,000 under Items 8 and 17.
Transfer and training
The Transfer Fee is $10,000. A transferee may also owe the $2,500 Business Training Fee and $2,500 Live Production Training Fee plus travel, subject to the stated waiver and training conditions. Required modernization must be completed within 90 days of transfer, but the FDD does not give a separate transfer-remodel range.
Insurance intervention
Required insurance premiums vary. The Insurance Admin Fee is not currently charged. If coverage lapses and the franchisor obtains insurance, the Insurance Service Charge can equal the premium plus the franchisor’s costs, capped at 20% of the policy premium.
Site, relocation and supplier exceptions
Additional site visits can trigger reimbursement of the franchisor’s expenses. Relocation requires payment of all relocation costs, including up to $1,000 of the franchisor’s costs. Alternative Product or Supplier Testing Costs equal the franchisor’s evaluation expenses.
Training, improvements and mark changes
Additional or Advanced Training, Conferences and Seminars require payment of instructor, material and related expenses. Improvements, Updates and Upgrades and Modifications to Marks are paid by the franchisee as required; technology upgrade costs have no disclosed cap.
Late payment, audit and inspection
The Late Fee is $100, increasing to $200 after three or more delinquencies in the prior 12 months, plus interest at 18% or the legal maximum. An understatement of 2% or more in the disclosed sales base can trigger audit costs; current mystery-shopper visits are about $200 each.
Termination and prohibited solicitation
Liquidated Damages for Termination use the disclosed average royalty-payment formula multiplied by up to 36 months or the remaining term. Liquidated Damages for Client Poaching equal twice the revenue received from the solicited client.
Indemnification
The franchisee is responsible for the amount of liability, costs and expenses arising under the indemnification obligation. Item 6 does not provide a fixed maximum.
How much liquidity and net worth does SpeedPro currently require?
SpeedPro’s official franchise FAQs currently state minimums of $100,000 in liquidity, $300,000 in net worth, and a credit score of around 700 in connection with third-party funding options. These figures were checked July 19, 2026 and are official supplemental qualifications, not amounts disclosed in Item 7.
Liquidity
The official-site $100,000 threshold refers to funds that are relatively available. It is not the same as the $246,216 low end of the startup range and does not show how much a lender will require the buyer to contribute.
Net Worth
The $300,000 threshold is an assets-minus-liabilities measure. It is not cash available to pay upfront charges, lease costs or the six-month reserve.
Financing
Item 10 states that the franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing and does not guarantee a note, lease or obligation. The official site describes introductions to third-party funding partners; approval and terms remain separate lender decisions.
What does the official investment range not fully resolve?
Item 7 is a startup estimate based on U.S. franchisee experience, not a guarantee that every required dollar falls inside the range. Several obligations are excluded, unquantified or dependent on the chosen site and operating circumstances.
Equipment-package sales tax
Option A and Option B are stated “plus applicable sales tax,” but Item 7 does not quantify that tax.
Debt service, owner salary and living expenses
The six-month reserve estimate excludes loan payments, owner compensation and personal living expenses.
Vehicle cost
The official FAQs say a Studio vehicle is needed for deliveries and sales calls but may be the owner’s personal vehicle. A separate vehicle purchase is not listed in Item 7.
Later production equipment
Unless Option B is selected, Item 7 recommends—but does not require—being prepared to invest about $125,000 for additional equipment after monthly sales are consistently above $30,000.
Computer maintenance and upgrades
Item 11 estimates annual Computer System maintenance, updating, upgrading or support at $1,870 to $4,126, excluding the technology charge. Required future upgrades have no disclosed cost ceiling.
Local lease and build-out exposure
The rent estimate assumes a 2,000-to-3,500-square-foot commercial location, but actual rent, deposit, accessibility work, permits and construction can exceed the disclosed assumptions.
Conversion and transfer totals
The FDD modifies individual fees but does not publish a complete separate Estimated Initial Investment for a conversion or purchased existing Studio.
The FTC guide for prospective franchise buyers distinguishes the disclosure document from the buyer’s own financial analysis and notes that some states review franchise filings. As a current offer-status cross-check, the franchisor appears on the Wisconsin active franchise registration list with an expiration date of April 10, 2027. The official franchise site also maintains U.S. available-market information, subject to state registration and disclosure requirements.
What capital question should a buyer resolve before signing?
The verified starting point is $246,216 to $493,221, with the equipment choice creating a $131,000 difference and the six-month reserve contributing $60,000 to $90,000 inside the total. The upfront franchise charge is only one component; liquidity and the asset test are separate qualification tests; and recurring or event-triggered charges remain after opening.
The central unresolved question is the buyer-specific cash schedule: which equipment package applies, whether an equipment exception is available, what the approved lease requires, how much sales tax and debt service must be funded, and whether the six-month reserve assumption is sufficient without owner compensation. Those points should be reconciled against the current FDD, agreement, lender terms and signed lease before any binding payment.
Current public description of the Studio investment and premises format.
Current fee summary, liquidity, asset threshold, credit and vehicle statements.
FDD review, funding-partner introduction and agreement-stage context.
Federal disclosure framework for prospective franchise purchasers.