Units Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
UNITS Moving & Portable Storage is a franchise providing portable storage containers delivered to homes and businesses for moving and storage. Franchisees run a route-based operation delivering, placing, and storing containers and managing scheduling in a territory.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A UNITS franchise requires a total initial investment of $708K – $1.2M, including a $56K – $222K franchise fee and an ongoing 8.0% royalty[2]. The 2024 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). SBA 7(a) loans show a 0.0% charge-off rate across 70 loans[1]. FranchiseVerdict grade: A (Strongest tier), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified · figures per the 2024 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $708K – $1.2M
- 63rd pct Business Serv…
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- 25th pct Business Serv…
- Units
- 73
- 43rd pct Business Serv…
- SBA charge-off
- 0.0%
- % of SBA 7(a) loans not repaid · median varies by category
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 $708K – $1.2M including a $56K franchise fee, 8.0% ongoing royalty.
- RETURNSItem 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands.
- RISKVerdict A (Strongest tier), verdict score 90/100 (higher is better). SBA loan charge-off rate of 0.0% across 70 loans (well below the franchise average, based on all SBA 7(a) franchise lending, 2010–2025).
- GROWTHSystem growing at 59.1% CAGR over 3 years with 73 total units. Strong expansion trajectory.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- UNITS Franchising Group, Inc.
- CEO title
- President and CEO
- Michael McAlhany
- Incorporated in
- South Carolina
- HQ
- 234 Seven Farms Dr., Suite 111B, Daniel Island, South Carolina 29492
- Auditor
- Glaser and Company, LLC
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $10.8M
- vs $11.6M prior year
Affiliated brands
- MHM Group
Other brands the franchisor or its parent operates (Item 1).
Overview
About
- CEO
- Michael McAlhany
- Headquarters
- SC
- Founded
- 2005
- FDD year
- 2024
- States available
- 33
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 250% above the typical business services franchise.
Source: FDD 2024 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown9 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franchise Feenot refundable | $56K | $222K | |
| Real Estate | $25K | $50K | |
| Technology Systems and Initial Inventorynot refundable | $8K | $18K | |
| Containers, including Freight and Shippingnot refundable | $303K | $434K | |
| UNITS Moving and Portable Storage Delivery Systems and Forkliftnot refundable | $225K | $300K | |
| Signagenot refundable | $200 | $5K | |
| Grand Opening Advertisingnot refundable | $10K | $10K | |
| Trainingnot refundable | $2K | $5K | |
| Additional Fundsnot refundable | $80K | $200K | |
| Total initial investment | $708K | $1.2M |
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
- $708K – $1.2M
- Middle of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $80K – $200K
- Middle of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $56K – $222K
- Middle of category vs category
- Royalty
- 8.0%
- Gross Sales · typical 6–8%
- Ad fund
- 2.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 10.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty | 8.0% of gross sales |
| Marketing / ad fund | 2.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $10K |
| Transfer fee | $20K |
| Renewal fee | $1K |
| Inventory (initial) | $8K – $18K |
| Total fee load | 10.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2024 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
UNITS 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 UNITS unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
9%
Below the 30–60% attractive-franchise band
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: 2024 FDD
Financial Performance
Item 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands. We omit it from rankings.
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% — below the Business Services average of 11.9%.
Disclosure
Item 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands.
Operator retention
System expanding at 59.1% CAGR over 3 years across 73 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 averages
How Units Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2024 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 73
- Opened
- 11
- 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
- 3
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 96%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +59.1%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- +59.1%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 11
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 1
- Franchisor bought back
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 33 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.
33
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.
- Total loans
- 70
- Loan volume
- $82.4M
- Median loan
- $1.1M
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- 0.0%
- rates vary by category · see methodology
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- 100.0%
- 5-yr charge-off
- 0.0%
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 11
- Defaults
- 0
- Typical loan rate
- 6.3%
- avg rate to borrowers
- vs industry
- 0.0%
- brand is above its industry ↑
- Jobs supported
- 274
- 0.3 per loan
- Lender concentration
- 70%
- top lender's share
Borrower mix: 75% went to startups / new businesses, 25% to established operators
Vintage analysis
Units charge-off rate by loan vintage
Top lenders financing Units franchisees
Showing 3 of 11 lenders. The full breakdown — every lender, state distribution, interest rates & risk ratings — is in the SBA Lending Report below.
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
Premium insight
SBA Lending Report
Deep-dive into Units's SBA lending history: lender network, geographic footprint, interest rates, and more.
SBA Lending Report
- Principal loss rate and NAICS industry benchmark
- 10 lenders with concentration factor
- Per-state charge-off rates across 15 states
- Startup risk premium and job creation velocity
- 10-year lending trend
- SBA 504 real estate/equipment data
Instant access. No subscription.
With a 0.0% charge-off rate across 70 loans, banks have historically viewed this brand favorably for lending.
What could kill this investment?
SBA loans charge off at 0.0% — 100% below the 16.0% national norm, i.e. lower lender-observed risk.
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Negative franchisor net worth of -$1,157,947 is the sole concern, but it is offset by strong positive net income of $1,492,387 on robust revenue of $11.58M. No litigation, no bankruptcy, no going-concern; Item 19 disclosed with avg gross sales $762,508 and healthy 59.1% growth across a 73-unit system. Negative equity likely reflects distributions/leverage rather than operating distress.
Litigation (Item 3)
0 case reference(s): 0 pending, 0 settled.
Largest disclosed settlement: $734,400
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Glaser and Company, LLC
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: No
- Must buy proprietary products: No
- Restricted to system-approved products: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 90 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORNegative franchisor net worth: -$1,157,947
- 02MINOROffsetting strong net income: $1,492,387
- 03MINORNo litigation, no going-concern
- 04MEDItem 19 disclosed, 59.1% growth
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 2024 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | Population-based |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Territory population | 300,000 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Termination groundsℹ | 2 |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 2 |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | South Carolina |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
0 case reference(s): 0 pending, 0 settled.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 35 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 4 hrs
- Training location
- On-site and off-site
- Site selection
- franchisee
- POS system
- Sitelink Portable Storage Software
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Sitelink Portable Storage Software
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
1 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
UNITS · FDD (2024) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a UNITS franchise?
The total investment to open a UNITS franchise ranges from $708K – $1.2M, with an initial franchise fee of $56K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do UNITS franchise owners earn?
UNITS 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 UNITS 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 UNITS FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is UNITS's franchise failure rate?
Based on SBA 7(a) loan data, UNITS has a charge-off rate of 0.0% across 70 loans, meaning 0.0% of franchise loans were charged off. Charge-off rates are one proxy for franchise risk, though they do not capture all closures. This data comes from FOIA-sourced SBA lending records.
How many UNITS franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, UNITS has 73 total units in the United States, including 70 franchised units and 3 company-owned units. 11 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is UNITS a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates UNITS as a A-grade franchise with a verdict score of 90 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?
If you represent UNITS, you can request corrections or provide updated information.
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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.