Miracle-ear vs Flip Flop Shops
Franchise Comparison 2026
Both Miracle-ear and Flip Flop Shops are retail franchises. Miracle-ear requires an investment of $120K – $403K while Flip Flop Shops requires $183K – $349K. In terms of revenue, Flip Flop Shops reports higher average unit revenue at $473K. Note: Reported for a subset of outlets rather than the whole system. Flip Flop Shops has SBA lending data on file with a 52.6% charge-off rate. FranchiseVerdict rates Miracle-ear B (Above average) and Flip Flop Shops F (Weakest tier).
| Metric | Miracle-ear | Flip Flop Shops |
|---|---|---|
| Verdict Grade | BAbove averageAbove average | FWeakest tierWeakest tier |
| Investment Range | $120K – $403K | $183K – $349K |
| Franchise Fee | $30K | $30K |
| Royalty Rate | Flat monthly fee ($104.15/month per FT or PT location; $41.21/month per service location) plus per-unit fees ($48.80 per Miracle-Ear hearing aid, $30.15 per AudioTone Pro) - not a percentage of gross sales. | 5.0% |
| Average Revenue (Item 19) | $428KOutlet subset | $473KOutlet subset |
| SBA Charge-Off Rate | Limited data | 52.6% (26 loans) |
| Total Units | 1,595 | 47 |
| Unit Growth (YoY) | -9 units | -2 units |
| Year Began Franchising | 1984 | 2018 |
| FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Investment Range
$120K – $403K
$183K – $349K
Franchise Fee
$30K
$30K
Royalty Rate
Flat monthly fee ($104.15/month per FT or PT location; $41.21/month per service location) plus per-unit fees ($48.80 per Miracle-Ear hearing aid, $30.15 per AudioTone Pro) - not a percentage of gross sales.
5.0%
Average Revenue (Item 19)
$428KOutlet subset
$473KOutlet subset
SBA Charge-Off Rate
Limited data
52.6% (26 loans)
Total Units
1,595
47
Unit Growth (YoY)
-9 units
-2 units
Year Began Franchising
1984
2018
FDD Year
2026
2025