i4 Search Group Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
- Investment
- $65K – $111K
- Disclosed sales
- not disclosed
- SBA charge-off
- Not SBA-matched
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
i4 Search Group is a recruiting franchise placing professional and technical talent, with a focus on healthcare staffing. Franchisees run search practices, sourcing candidates and managing placements for client companies.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A i4 Search Group franchise requires a total initial investment of $65K – $111K, including a $50K – $80K franchise fee and an ongoing 14.0% 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 →
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 scored5 of 5 headline figures on this page cite a page of the filing.
Overview
- Investment
- $65K – $111K
- 20th pct Business Serv…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 14.0%
- 47th pct Business Serv…
- Units
- 39
- 33rd pct Business Serv…
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Business Services · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Business Services 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 $65K – $111K including a $50K franchise fee, 14.0% 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 64/100 (higher is better).
- GROWTHPositive: net +8 franchised outlets in the latest year (10 opened, 2 closed) (Item 20).
- GROWTHSystem growing at 72.7% CAGR over 3 years with 39 total units. Strong expansion trajectory.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- i4 Franchise Development Inc.
- CEO title
- President
- Scott Butts
- CEO experience
- 18 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Founder active
- Yes
- Original founder still leading the business
- Incorporated in
- AZ
- HQ
- 7185 Liberty Centre Drive, Suite A, West Chester, Ohio 45069
- Auditor
- DA Advisory Group PLLC
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $972K
- vs $890K prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Scott Butts
- Headquarters
- OH
- Founded
- 2020
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 17
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 34% below the typical business services franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown10 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Feenot refundable | $50K | $80K | |
| Office Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment | $500 | $2K | |
| Rent – Three Months | $0 | $2K | |
| Computer Systems | $1K | $2K | |
| Business Development start Up Investment | $5K | $5K | |
| Travel for Initial Training | $2K | $3K | |
| Professional Fees | $1K | $5K | |
| Insurance | $200 | $4K | |
| Licenses and Permits | $100 | $300 | |
| Additional Funds – Three Months | $6K | $9K | |
| Total initial investment | $65K | $111K |
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
- $65K – $111K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $6K – $9K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $50K – $80K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- 14.0%
- typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 3.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 17.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 14.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 3.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $234 |
| Transfer fee | $10K |
| Renewal fee | $8K |
| Total fee load | 17.0% of rev |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
i4 Search Group 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 i4 Search Group 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, 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 17.0% — above the Business Services median of 9.0%.
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 72.7% CAGR over 3 years across 39 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 Business Services medians
How i4 Search Group Compares
Category median of published Business Services 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
- 39
- Opened
- 10
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 2
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 5.1%
- Company-owned
- 1
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 97%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +72.7%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +72.7%
- Compounded over last 3 years
Last fiscal year · Item 20 exits and transfers
- Terminated
- 0
- Not renewed
- 0
- Transferred
- 3
- Reacquired
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Signed, not yet open
- 0
- 0.00 per open outlet · Item 20 Table 5
- Projected new
- 8
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
- Termination rate
- 50.0%
- Franchisor-initiated terminations
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 17 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
17
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
Fast growth in a small system. Newer franchisors expanding quickly may not yet have the support infrastructure of larger systems.
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
Litigation (Item 3)
Subject: officers or affiliates. The franchisor is not a named party in these cases.
No litigation required to be disclosed in Item 3.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · DA Advisory Group PLLC
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
The provided page images (p204-p208) are from Exhibit G (List of Franchisees that Have Left the System) and Exhibit H (State Specific Addenda / California FDD Amendment) of the i4 Search Group Multi-State FDD dated April 14, 2025. None of these pages contain the Item 21 audited financial statements, balance sheet, income statement, or Independent Auditor's Report. No financial figures or auditor name could be extracted from this image set.
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: No
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 64 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORHigh royalty rate of 14% on gross sales (not net profit) creates cash flow pressure, especially in early years
- 02MEDNo going concern status disclosed — suggests potential franchisor financial instability or recent changes in ownership/structure
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 17.0% 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 | 8 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 2 |
| Territory type | Protected territory |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory population | 6 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 25 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 2 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Arbitration location | Butler County, Ohio |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | OH |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation required to be disclosed in Item 3.
Suppliers & sourcing5 categories · Item 8
Supplier requirements
| Category | Approval | Kickback |
|---|---|---|
| Search agreement management / accounts payable / accounts receivable / third-party vendor management servicesfranchisor-owned | Required | — |
| Insurancefranchisor-owned | Not required | — |
| Branded Items and Marketing Materials | Required | — |
| Computer System | Required | — |
| System Designated Resources | Required | — |
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 53 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 44 hrs
- Training location
- West Chester, Ohio
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 2 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee with franchisor approval; home-based office permitted
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- LOXO
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: LOXO
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
27 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 i4 Search Group franchise?
The total investment to open a i4 Search Group franchise ranges from $65K – $111K, with an initial franchise fee of $50K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do i4 Search Group franchise owners earn?
i4 Search Group 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 i4 Search Group?
i4 Search Group is franchised by i4 Franchise Development Inc.. The FDD names no parent company. Source: FDD Item 1, 2025 filing.
What is Item 19 in the i4 Search Group 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 i4 Search Group FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is i4 Search Group's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for i4 Search Group (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 i4 Search Group franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, i4 Search Group has 39 total units in the United States, including 38 franchised units and 1 company-owned units. 10 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is i4 Search Group a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates i4 Search Group as a B-grade franchise with a verdict score of 64 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.