Dentsmart Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
- Investment
- $79K – $111K
- Disclosed sales
- not disclosed
- SBA charge-off
- Not SBA-matched
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Dentsmart is an automotive franchise specializing in paintless dent repair and minor auto body cosmetic repairs. Franchisees run local operations, managing technicians, service, and dealer and consumer accounts.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Dentsmart franchise requires a total initial investment of $79K – $111K, including a $25K franchise fee and an ongoing 8.0% royalty[2]. This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. FranchiseVerdict grade: B (Above average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Limited operating history: franchising since 2024. A system this young has fewer than three years of Item 20 outlet history and rarely enough SBA loans for a charge-off rate, so its grade rests on less evidence than an established system's. Read its Item 20 tables and talk to its first franchisees before relying on the grade. Other new franchisors
Sources, dates and evidence
FDD issued: · Data extracted: · Last cited check: · Staleness risk: medium - issued 12 to 24 months ago; a newer filing is likely on file
Evidence: strong✓ Investment (Item 7)✓ Item 19 status✓ Units and owners (Item 20)✗ SBA loan coverage✓ Litigation (Item 3)✓ Financial statements (Item 21)✓ Franchisor identityhow this is scored4 of 4 headline figures on this page cite a page of the filing.
Overview
- Investment
- $79K – $111K
- 9th pct Automotive
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- 40th pct Automotive
- Units
- 17
- 12th pct Automotive
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Automotive · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Automotive median · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $79K – $111K including a $25K franchise fee, 8.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSThis franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that.
- RISKVerdict B (Above average), verdict score 53/100 (higher is better).
- GROWTHFlat: no net change in franchised outlets in the latest year (0 opened, 0 closed) (Item 20).
- DATAThis franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Dentsmart LLC
- Predecessor
- Dentsmart, Inc.
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer
- Jeff Williams
- Incorporated in
- IL
- HQ
- 1333 El Camino Drive, Pekin, IL 61554
- Auditor
- Rice Sullivan, LLC
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $4.6M
- vs $8.7M prior year
Independent franchisee associations
- Franchise Advisory Council (FAC)
Franchisee-led councils or alliances disclosed in Item 20. Indicates operator voice.
Overview
About
- CEO
- Jeff Williams
- Headquarters
- IL
- Founded
- 2022
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 16
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 74% below the typical automotive franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown12 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $25K | $25K | |
| Training Expenses | $3K | $3K | |
| Security and utility deposits and other costs associated with establishing your office | $0 | $5K | |
| Office equipment, fixtures, leasehold improvements, whether purchased or leased | $1K | $1K | |
| Tools | $10K | $10K | |
| Business licenses and other licenses | $2K | $3K | |
| Software and Hardware | $2K | $3K | |
| Insurance | $3K | $3K | |
| Grand opening advertising and marketing | $2K | $2K | |
| Other Professional Fees | $4K | $6K | |
| Technician Training | $9K | $9K | |
| Additional Funds - 3 months | $20K | $40K | |
| Total initial investment | $79K | $109K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $79K – $111K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $20K – $40K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $25K – $25K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- Currently the Administrative Fee is $100, from which $20 …
- Total fee load
- 10.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 8.0% of net sales |
| Technology fee | $50 |
| Transfer fee | $2K |
| Renewal fee | $5K |
| Total fee load | 10.0% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Dentsmart makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD - a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule - so no unit revenue figures are disclosed. The return models need a revenue figure to start from, and the operating costs that turn gross sales into a profit are in no FDD. Enter your own and the calculator runs on your assumptions — nothing here is modelled until you do.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Dentsmart unit return on the cash you put in?
Illustrative category typicals — not sourced to any filing, survey or sample. Replace them with figures from franchisee validation calls before you rely on the output.
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Your modelled return on total invested capital, before any debt financing.
—
An FDD discloses gross sales, not profit. We hold no sourced figure for annual revenue, ad fund rate, COGS, labour, rent / occupancy and other operating costs, and will not substitute an assumed one. Enter your own and the model runs on your assumptions.
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2025 FDD
Financial Performance
No financial performance representation
This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that.
Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Fee burden
Total ongoing fee load of 10.0% — above the Automotive median of 8.0%.
Disclosure
This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Operator retention
System expanding at 8.3% CAGR over 3 years across 17 units — operators are staying and new ones are joining.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Automotive medians
How Dentsmart Compares
Category median of published Automotive brands that report the figure; the middle half spans the 25th to 75th percentile and n counts the brands behind it. Medians are used because a few very large systems pull an average far from the typical brand. Revenue is disclosed gross sales, not profit.
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 17
- Opened
- 0
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- N/A
- Company-owned
- 4
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 81%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +8.3%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +8.3%
- Compounded over last 3 years
Last fiscal year · Item 20 exits and transfers
- Terminated
- 0
- Not renewed
- 0
- Transferred
- 0
- Reacquired
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Signed, not yet open
- 0
- 0.00 per open outlet · Item 20 Table 5
- Projected new
- 2
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 20 · 8 states with active franchisees
The Territory Map
Derived from franchisee contact records. Shows states with at least one current operator. Not where the franchisor is registered to sell new units (that data is re-extracting in a future refresh).
States derived from franchisee contact records (FDD Item 20). Shows states with at least one current operator on file. Full state registration data (Item 12) will appear on a future FDD refresh.
Where the owners are · Item 20 owner list
12 current owners across 8 states.
- IL 4
- TN 2
- IA 1
- MN 1
- NC 1
- NY 1
- OH 1
- WI 1
Counts only, from the list the franchisor prints in Item 20. Names and phone numbers are for your own due diligence and are not shown here.
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Dentsmart presents CAUTION-level risk due to regulatory history, missing financial transparency, minimal unit growth over 13+ years, and dual royalty structure, requiring intensive franchisee validation before investment.
Litigation (Item 3)
Subject: officers or affiliates. The franchisor is not a named party in these cases.
State of Minnesota Dept. of Commerce action against predecessor Dentsmart Inc. (OAH Docket No. 8-1005-22373-2, ~Nov 2011) for offering franchise without registration. Resolved by Consent Order Dec. 22, 2011; predecessor paid $2,500 civil penalty and agreed to cease offering franchises in Minnesota until registered.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Rice Sullivan, LLC
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
FY2024 (year ended Dec 31, 2024) total revenue $4,585,416 comprised Service Income $2,253,829, Royalties $2,165,367, Technician Placement Fee $151,667, Other Income $14,553. Prior year FY2023 total revenue was $8,699,453 (Service Income $6,053,954, Royalties $2,202,105, Tech Placement $228,153, Other $214,841). Net loss of $604,166 in FY2024. Cover page flags Special Risk: franchisor's financial condition calls into question its ability to provide services/support (see Item 21). Franchisor organized July 6, 2022; audited by Rice Sullivan, LLC.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 53 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORNo Item 19 financial performance disclosure (average revenue/net income unknown) prevents ROI validation
- 02MINORRegulatory violation in 2011 with consent order indicates compliance/disclosure issues by predecessor entity
- 03MINOROnly 17 units with unknown growth trajectory suggests stagnant or declining system despite franchise model since 2011
- 04MINORHigh combined royalty burden (8% PDR + 8% Non-PDR) reduces franchisee profitability margins
- 05MINOR5-year term is shorter than industry standard (typically 10 years), creating renewal uncertainty risk
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 10.0% of sales (royalty + ad fund), before rent and labor.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 5 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 2 |
| Territory type | Protected territory |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Right of first refusalℹ | No |
| RoFR response window | 30 days |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 10 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 2 |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Arbitration location | Peoria County / Tazewell County, Illinois (principal place of business) |
| Jury trial waiver | No |
| Governing law | IL |
| Litigation count | 1 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
State of Minnesota Dept. of Commerce action against predecessor Dentsmart Inc. (OAH Docket No. 8-1005-22373-2, ~Nov 2011) for offering franchise without registration. Resolved by Consent Order Dec. 22, 2011; predecessor paid $2,500 civil penalty and agreed to cease offering franchises in Minnesota until registered.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 80 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 100 hrs
- Training location
- Du Quoin and/or Pekin, Illinois (classroom); Franchisee Location (OJT)
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 2 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee with franchisor approval
- Franchisor financing
- Offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Vehicle Hub
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Vehicle Hub
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
12 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Dentsmart franchise?
The total investment to open a Dentsmart franchise ranges from $79K – $111K, with an initial franchise fee of $25K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Dentsmart franchise owners earn?
Dentsmart makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD - a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule - so no unit revenue figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Who owns Dentsmart?
Dentsmart is franchised by Dentsmart LLC. Source: FDD Item 1, 2025 filing.
What is Item 19 in the Dentsmart FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Dentsmart FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Dentsmart's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Dentsmart (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Dentsmart franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Dentsmart has 17 total units in the United States, including 13 franchised units and 4 company-owned units.
Is Dentsmart a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Dentsmart as a B-grade franchise with a verdict score of 53 out of 100 (higher is better). The grade is a deterministic score built from six weighted dimensions — financial health, unit economics, unit growth, scale, legal, and transparency — then calibrated against SBA loan charge-off rates and FDD age. Transparency is one of the six, so a filing that discloses less scores lower on that dimension than one that discloses more. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
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Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.