Maaco franchise cost: investment, fees and the SBA default rate
Items 5, 6 and 7 · Maaco FDD 2025 · Updated 2026
A Maaco franchise costs $196,000–$644,000 in total initial investment, according to Item 7 of the brand's FDD (2025), including an initial franchise fee of $45,000 (Item 5); the ongoing royalty is 8% of sales (Item 6). On the lending side, Maaco franchisees defaulted on 11.8% of SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019 (11 of 93), and the average SBA loan to a Maaco franchisee in that cohort was $357,016.
| Total initial investment (Item 7) | $196,000–$644,000 |
|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee (Item 5) | $45,000 |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 8% of sales |
| SBA 7(a) default rate, FY2010–FY2019 | 11.8% |
| Average SBA loan, 2010s cohort | $357,016 |
| Average SBA loan since 2020 | $743,996 |
| Industry | Automotive Body, Paint, and Interior Repair and Maintenance |
How much does it cost to open a Maaco franchise?
Item 7 of the FDD estimates the total initial investment at $196,000–$644,000. It is the franchisor's own estimate of what a new franchisee spends to open one unit, typically the franchise fee, equipment, premises or vehicle costs, opening inventory and an initial working-capital reserve. The low and high ends usually reflect different unit sizes, leasing versus buying, and local costs. Range is for an Auto Body Conversion Center; a Ground Up or Non-Auto Retrofit Center is estimated separately at $728,500 to $3,994,000.
What does the SBA data add?
The federal loan record adds what the FDD cannot: Maaco franchisees defaulted on 11.8% of SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019 (11 of 93 resolved loans), against the Automotive Body, Paint, and Interior Repair and Maintenance industry average of 5.8%, according to U.S. Small Business Administration data with statuses as of June 30, 2026. Since 2020 they have taken 54 new SBA loans, of which 2 have already charged off.
Set the investment range against the loans: an average SBA loan of $357,016 against the $196,000–$644,000 investment range says roughly how much of a typical Maaco opening was debt-financed in the 2010s. The brand page has the year-by-year record and the industry comparison.
What would Maaco's royalty and ad fund cost at your sales level?
From Item 6: royalty 8% of sales. Royalty and ad fund only · illustration. Other Item 6 fees, fixed or percentage, are not included.
| Annual sales | Royalty |
|---|---|
| $250,000 | $20,000 |
| $500,000 | $40,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $80,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $160,000 |
Most SBA default figures published online use loans approved since 2020 — loans that have had six years or less to fail — so those rates are floors, not outcomes. Every rate on this site is computed from the matured FY2010–FY2019 cohort: loans that have been paid in full or charged off, so the result is settled. Loans approved since 2020 are shown as counts so early charge-offs are visible without being mistaken for a rate.
Frequently asked
How much does a Maaco franchise cost?
A Maaco franchise costs $196,000–$644,000 in total initial investment, according to Item 7 of the brand's FDD (2025), including an initial franchise fee of $45,000 (Item 5); the ongoing royalty is 8% of sales (Item 6). On the lending side, Maaco franchisees defaulted on 11.8% of SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019 (11 of 93), and the average SBA loan to a Maaco franchisee in that cohort was $357,016.
What is the Maaco franchise fee?
$45,000, per Item 5 of the FDD.
What royalty does Maaco charge?
8% of sales, per Item 6.
What is Maaco's SBA loan default rate?
11.8%: 11 of 93 SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019 to Maaco franchisees were charged off.
Source
Sources: Maaco Franchise Disclosure Document (2025, Minnesota CARDS file 35144-202512-04); U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) loan program charge-off data, FY2010–FY2019. Franchise data is matched on the SBA's franchise code / brand name. "Failure rate" here means the share of approved loans (resolved: paid in full or charged off) that were charged off; it is not a measure of unit closures. Last updated September 30, 2026.
Cite this page
Franchise Failure Rates (2026). Maaco franchise cost, Items 5–7, and SBA 7(a) default rate. From the Maaco FDD and U.S. SBA FOIA data, loan statuses as of June 30, 2026.
https://franchisefailurerates.com/franchise/maaco/cost/ · Data & methodology