Meals of Hope Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Meals of Hope is a fundraising franchise that organizes meal-packing events and hunger-relief programs with corporate and community sponsors. Franchisees run local operations, coordinating events, sponsors, and volunteers.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Meals of Hope franchise requires a total initial investment of $61K – $72K, including a $40K franchise fee. The 2025 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). FranchiseVerdict grade: C (Average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $61K – $72K
- 18th pct Business Serv…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Incl. company outlets
- Royalty
- N/A
- Units
- 7
- 15th pct Business Serv…
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Business Services · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Business Services avg · 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 $61K – $72K including a $40K franchise fee.
- RETURNSTotal revenue of $97,761 for FY2023 consists of franchise fees $92,881 and brand fund fees $4,880. FY2022 total revenue $13,500 (franchise fees only); FY2021 $0. Company organized Aug 16, 2021; net loss every year (FY2023 ($438,868), FY2022 ($387,485), FY2021 ($188,343)). Member's equity is a deficit of ($412,803) at 12/31/2023, driven by $530,583 due to affiliate. FY2022/2021 statements audited by other (prior) auditors.
- RISKVerdict C (Average), verdict score 54/100 (higher is better).
- FLAGAuditor disclosed a going-concern note, which flagged doubt about the franchisor's ability to continue operations. Verify against the latest FDD.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Meals of Hope Logistics, Inc.
- Parent company
- Meals of Hope Foundation, Inc.
- CEO title
- President and CEO
- Stephen Popper
- Incorporated in
- FL
- HQ
- 2221 Corporation Blvd, Naples, FL 34109
- Auditor
- Kezos & Dunlavy
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $98K
- vs $14K prior year
- ⚠ Going-concern note
- Disclosed in FDD 2025
- Auditor flagged doubt about continued operations. Verify against the latest FDD before deciding.
Overview
About
- CEO
- Stephen Popper
- Headquarters
- FL
- Founded
- 2021
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 7
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 76% below the typical business services franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2025 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $40K | $40K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $5K | $10K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $16K | $22K |
| Total initial investment | $61K | $72K |
Source: Meals of Hope 2025 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $61K – $72K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $5K – $10K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $40K – $40K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- No traditional royalty; franchisor collects all gross sal…
- Ad fund
- 5.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 5.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marketing / ad fund | 5.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $200 |
| Transfer fee | $10K |
| Renewal fee | $5K |
| Inventory (initial) | $12K – $12K |
| Total fee load | 5.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Meals of Hope did not disclose financial performance in FDD Item 19. The ROIC and return models require Item 19 revenue. Without it all inputs are estimates. You can still run the calculator with your own assumptions by entering an expected revenue figure.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Meals of Hope unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
122%
Above the 30–60% band. Verify revenue is per-unit average
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
Total revenue of $97,761 for FY2023 consists of franchise fees $92,881 and brand fund fees $4,880. FY2022 total revenue $13,500 (franchise fees only); FY2021 $0. Company organized Aug 16, 2021; net loss every year (FY2023 ($438,868), FY2022 ($387,485), FY2021 ($188,343)). Member's equity is a deficit of ($412,803) at 12/31/2023, driven by $530,583 due to affiliate. FY2022/2021 statements audited by other (prior) auditors.
Includes company-owned outlets
- Item 19 type
- meals packed
- Sample size
- 5
- vs category median 35 · small
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Fiscal year the figures cover
- Source filing
- FDD 2025
- Disclosed in the 2025 filing, covering 2024
- Transparency
- 0 / 10
- vs category median 3 / 10 · below
Compared against 296 Business Services brands
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 5.0% — below the Business Services average of 11.9%.
Disclosure
Item 19 reports meals packed rather than annual gross sales, so unit revenue is not directly comparable.
Operator retention
Net unit growth of +75.0% over 3 years (3 opened, 0 closed).
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 averages
How Meals of Hope Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 7
- Opened
- 3
- 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
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 1
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 88%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +75.0%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +50.0%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 3
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 1
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 7 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.
7
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?
The auditor flagged going-concern doubt (Item 21) — the single biggest risk here.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
⚠ Grade capped at C: the auditor disclosed a going-concern note (FDD Item 21). The verdict score reflects the underlying financials before that cap.
Declining system with opaque financials and a donation-dependent revenue model creates significant profitability uncertainty despite low upfront capital requirements.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Kezos & Dunlavy⚠ Going-concern note flagged
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 54 / 100 verdict
- 01MEDUnit count declined 14.3% YoY (7 units) indicating system contraction and potential franchisee dissatisfaction
- 02MINORNo average revenue or net income disclosure (Item 19) prevents realistic ROI assessment on $61-72k investment
- 03MEDHighly unusual commission structure ($0.03-$0.09/meal) makes franchisee earnings dependent on franchisor's donation volume, creating misaligned incentives
- 04MINORHigh franchise fee ($40,000) relative to low initial investment range suggests front-loaded franchisor revenue extraction
- 05MEDVague territory protection and meal commission terms leave franchisee exposed to franchisor discretion on profitability
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 5.0% 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 | none |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Territory population | 2,000,000 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Not allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 25 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| RoFR response window | 30 days |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 15 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 9 |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Arbitration location | Naples, FL |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | FL |
| Litigation count | 0 |
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 15 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 3 hrs
- Training location
- Naples, FL (corporate) and Southwest FL or mutually agreed location (OJT)
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 1 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisee with franchisor approval
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
2 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Meals of Hope · FDD (2025) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Meals of Hope franchise?
The total investment to open a Meals of Hope franchise ranges from $61K – $72K, with an initial franchise fee of $40K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Meals of Hope franchise owners earn?
Meals of Hope does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is Item 19 in the Meals of Hope 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 Meals of Hope FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Meals of Hope's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Meals of Hope (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 Meals of Hope franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Meals of Hope has 7 total units in the United States, including 6 franchised units and 1 company-owned units. 3 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Meals of Hope a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Meals of Hope as a C-grade franchise with a verdict score of 54 out of 100 (higher is better), based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. 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
Are you the franchisor?
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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.