Varsity Zone Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Varsity Zone is a home services franchise providing HVAC heating, cooling, and ventilation services. Franchisees run local operations, dispatching technicians and managing scheduling and sales.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Varsity Zone franchise requires a total initial investment of $204K – $269K, including a $60K 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
- $204K – $269K
- 78th pct Home Services
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- N/A
- Units
- 6
- 13th pct Home Services
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Home Services · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Home 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 $204K – $269K including a $60K franchise fee.
- RETURNSItem 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands.
- RISKVerdict C (Average), verdict score 40/100 (higher is better).
- DATAItem 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands. Ask franchisees directly for full unit-level revenue.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- HPB HVAC LLC
- Parent company
- JEZ Investments LLC
- Predecessor
- Amped Services Plus, Inc.
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer
- Anthony "Tony" Hulbert
- Incorporated in
- Pennsylvania
- HQ
- 2525 N. 117th Avenue, Third Floor, Omaha, Nebraska 68164
- Auditor
- Forvis Mazars, LLP
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $212K
- vs $869K prior year
Affiliated brands
- HorsePower Nation
- HPB HVAC Holdings
- HPB Automotive Sales
- HPB Accounting
- HPB Blinds and Shutters
Other brands the franchisor or its parent operates (Item 1).
Overview
About
- CEO
- Anthony "Tony" Hulbert
- Headquarters
- NE
- Founded
- 2023
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 1
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost is about average for a home services franchise.
Source: FDD 2025 · Items 5–7
Full Item 7 breakdown22 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Feenot refundable | $60K | $60K | |
| Insurance (90 days)not refundable | $5K | $8K | |
| Tuition Feenot refundable | $5K | $5K | |
| Travel and Living Expenses while Trainingnot refundable | $2K | $4K | |
| Emerging Business Academynot refundable | $10K | $10K | |
| Opening Packagenot refundable | $5K | $7K | |
| Initial Inventory Packagenot refundable | $5K | $8K | |
| Rent and Utilities (90 days)not refundable | $7K | $15K | |
| Vehiclesnot refundable | $36K | $41K | |
| Licenses Certificates and Permitsnot refundable | $0 | $5K | |
| Professional Feesnot refundable | $1K | $11K | |
| Technology Feenot refundable | $3K | $3K | |
| Special Software Feenot refundable | $900 | $900 | |
| Contact Center Feenot refundable | $1K | $4K | |
| Dues and Subscriptionsnot refundable | $0 | $1K | |
| Leasehold Improvementsnot refundable | $0 | $5K | |
| Brand Marketing Feenot refundable | $16K | $16K | |
| Initial Marketing Expenditure and Local Advertising Expenditure (90 days)not refundable | $20K | $20K | |
| Digital Management Feenot refundable | $2K | $2K | |
| Accounting Services Feenot refundable | $2K | $2K | |
| Total initial investment | $204K | $269K |
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
- $204K – $269K
- Bottom third — review vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $20K – $40K
- Middle of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $60K – $60K
- Middle of category vs category
- Royalty
- Greater of: (i) tiered percentage of Gross Revenue Collec…
- Ad fund
- 3.0%
- typical 3–5%
- Total fee load
- 8.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marketing / ad fund | 3.0% of gross sales |
| Technology fee | $1K |
| Transfer fee | $12K |
| Renewal fee | $12K |
| Inventory (initial) | $5K – $8K |
| Total fee load | 8.0% of rev |
What do units actually make?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 19
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Varsity Zone 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 Varsity Zone unit return on the cash you put in?
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Estimated return on your total franchise investment, before any debt financing.
28%
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: 2025 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 8.0% (near the Home Services average).
Disclosure
Item 19 reports outlet revenue, but not in a form that yields a per-outlet average we can compare across brands.
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 Home Services averages
How Varsity Zone Compares
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2025 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 6
- Opened
- 6
- 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
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 6
- Closed (3yr)
- 0
- Terminated (3yr)
- 0
- Non-renewed (3yr)
- 0
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Reacquired (3yr)
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
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.
Available to sell in · Item 12
- California
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- South Dakota
States where the franchisor is registered to sell new franchises (FDD registration filings).
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA loan disclosures. This brand has only 1 7(a) loan on file; statistical reliability is limited below 10 loans.
- Total loans
- 1
- Loan volume
- $325K
- Median loan
- $325K
- 50th percentile
- Charge-off rate
- N/A
- limited sample (1 loan) — rate not shown below 10
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- N/A
- 5-yr charge-off
- N/A
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 1
- Defaults
- N/A
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
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
Pre-opening HVAC franchisor (began 2024, 6 units) with negative net worth of -$725,133 and a net loss of -$651,383 on $868,961 revenue. Two pending litigation matters, including a fraud/misrepresentation/consumer-protection suit against affiliate MDR United seeking rescission. Multiple concerns stacked but early-stage.
Litigation (Item 3)
2 case reference(s): 2 pending, 0 settled.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Forvis Mazars, LLP
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: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 40 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORNegative franchisor net worth -$725,133
- 02MINORNet loss -$651,383 on revenue $868,961
- 03HIGH2 pending suits incl. fraud/misrepresentation/rescission against affiliate
- 04MINORTiny system (6 units), pre-opening/early stage
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Ongoing fees run about 8.0% 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 | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | Population-based |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Territory population | 200,000 |
| Online sales rights | 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 | 1 |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 2 |
| Mandatory arbitration | Yes |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | Pennsylvania |
| Litigation count | 2 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
2 case reference(s): 2 pending, 0 settled.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 83 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 22 hrs
- Training location
- On-site and at franchisor location
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- ServiceTitan
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: ServiceTitan
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
18 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
Varsity Zone · FDD (2025) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Varsity Zone franchise?
The total investment to open a Varsity Zone franchise ranges from $204K – $269K, with an initial franchise fee of $60K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Varsity Zone franchise owners earn?
Varsity Zone 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 Varsity Zone 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 Varsity Zone FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Varsity Zone's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Varsity Zone (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 Varsity Zone franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Varsity Zone has 6 total units in the United States, including 6 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 6 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Varsity Zone a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Varsity Zone as a C-grade franchise with a verdict score of 40 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
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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.