Quick Verdict · who it fits
Made in the Shade fits first-time franchise buyers with $75,000+ liquid looking for a mid-scale retail concept.
The numbers a buyer needs first — straight from the filing.
Initial investment (Item 7)
$78K - $108K
Franchise fee (Item 5)
$68K
Item 19 median rev
$497k all eligible US franchisees
System size (Item 20)
131 +21
Liquid capital
$75K
Agreement term
10 yrs
Years in business
14+ yrs
Item 3 litigation
None disclosed
Model Made in the Shade's costs in the investment calculator → Prefilled from this filing — startup cost, cash flow and break-even.
Buyer qualifications
✓Financing available✓Exclusive territory•Owner-operator required✓No bankruptcy disclosed✓No Item 3 litigation
Data extracted from the 2026 FDD filed with state regulators. Fees and terms may have changed since filing — request the current FDD from the franchisor before deciding. Not legal, financial, or investment advice. Full disclaimer.
Free AI summary — the first read on the filing.
131
Total units open
21
Units opened last year
5
Units closed last year
14
Net unit growth
What our analysis flagged across the 2026 filing.
4
Risks to review
3
Strengths identified
4
Questions to ask
How Made in the Shade ranks against 119 Retail peers we've analyzed.
Initial investment
20th pct · of 119 peers
Franchise fee
92nd pct · of 119 peers
System size
66th pct · of 119 peers
Retail industry averages
Avg investment
$246K - $701K
Avg franchise fee
$37K
Avg system size
238
Franchises analyzed
119
Closest concepts by category and investment.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made in the Shade | Disclosed | $68K | $78K - $108K | — | 131 |
| Franchise ConceptsSimilar price | Disclosed | $20K | $68K - $107K | — | 107 |
| 7-ElevenBiggest system | Disclosed | — | $163K - $1.7M | 45–56% | 7,274 |
| Byrider Franchising PartnersTop-rated in category | Disclosed | $60K | $947K - $1.6M | 1–2.5% | 81 |
Not sure Made in the Shade is the one?
Answer five questions and get matched against 2,000+ analyzed FDDs — including every Retail brand we cover. Free, no account needed.
Free explainers to go deeper before you sign.
Brand Analysis
The '$0 franchise fee' is the bottom of a range, not the fee. 7-Eleven's 2026 FDD prices the Franchise Fee at $0 to $1,100,000 per store, and the ongoing 7-Eleven Charge is not just a royalty: Item 6 says it is also your lease of the store and equipment. Here is the full cost stack, line by line.
Brand Analysis
Ace Hardware Corporation is a retailer-owned cooperative, not a conventional franchisor. It counted 5,250 cooperative locations in the United States at the end of 2025, members buy stock rather than paying a royalty, and some states still deem those member-owned stores franchises.
Investment Guide
Laundromats are the most-Googled passive-income business, and 2026 is a strong moment for the category. Here's an honest breakdown of what laundromat franchises actually cost, how profitable they are, and which brands deserve a serious look.
Made in the Shade requires a $67,500 initial franchise fee and a total initial investment range of $78,000–$107,700, per the most recent FDD on file.
Made in the Shade is franchised by Made in the Shade Blinds and More LLC, the franchisor entity of record on its Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 1 of the FDD discloses the franchisor's corporate history, parents, and predecessors.
Yes. Made in the Shade discloses Item 19 financial performance representations with reported revenue around $496,655. See the financials sub-page for the full distribution.
Franchisees pay an advertising fund contribution of $100 per month on gross sales as defined in Item 6 of the FDD.
Per the FDD, Made in the Shade typically expects $75,000 in liquid capital. Actual approval thresholds may vary by territory and program.
As of their 2026 FDD, Made in the Shade has 131 total locations, with 21 new locations opened in the most recent reporting year. This information comes from Item 20 of the FDD.
Yes. Made in the Shade grants franchisees an exclusive territory under Item 12 of the FDD. Note that exclusive territories often carve out online sales, alternative distribution channels, and non-traditional venues — review the full Item 12 language before signing.
Per the FDD, Made in the Shade discloses an initial agreement term of 10 years, a renewal fee of $6,000, a transfer fee of $10,000. Review Items 10 and 17 for the full renewal and termination provisions.
This page is part of VetMyFranchise. View all pages: llms.txt · llms-full.txt