The 2025 industry average cost-per-franchise-sale is $13,757. Broker networks charge $50K.
The 2025 Annual Franchise Development Report showed franchisor development budgets jumped 39% year over year, from $734K to over $1M average. And 26% of that budget goes to media and advertising.
Meanwhile, non-broker cost-per-sale rose from $11,639 to $13,757 in a single year. And when broker networks close a candidate for you, that single sale costs roughly $50,000.
Something has to give. Because signing one more $35K to $45K franchise fee doesn't move the needle when acquisition costs eat 30 to 100% of it.
