How much does a H&R Block franchise cost?
Opening a H&R Block franchise takes a total initial investment of $31,700 to $158,137, according to the brand's 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document. That FDD makes no Item 19 financial performance representation, so it discloses no earnings figures at all.
The document concerns H&R Block Tax Services and describes its franchised outlets. Category: Financial Services.
Item 7
What it costs to open a H&R Block franchise
The franchisor's own estimated initial investment, as disclosed in its 2023 FDD. The total is $31,700 to $158,137. Each line below carries the FDD page it was read from.
Where the money goes
The largest costs are Leasehold improvements; construction costs ($0 to $50,000), Furniture and decor items ($15,000 to $30,000), and Real property (Estimated cost total is for three (3) months) ($1,400 to $30,000). Together they make up about 70% of the high-end estimate.
The initial franchise fee is $2,500, about 7.9% of the low-end total.
Our arithmetic from the Item 7 table below.
| Expenditure | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $2,500 | $2,500 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Real property (Estimated cost total is for three (3) months)2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $1,400 | $30,000 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Leasehold improvements; construction costs2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $0 | $50,000 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Signage2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $1,200 | $6,500 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Furniture and decor items2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $15,000 | $30,000 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Equipment2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $8,000 | $12,000 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Opening2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $500 | $1,000 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Initial training expenses2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $1,500 | $3,000 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Start-up supplies2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $500 | $500 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Insurance2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $620 | $1,037 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Zoning expenses2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $0 | $500 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Utility deposits2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $50 | $300 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Architect design2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $0 | $4,500 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Professional fees2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $0 | $2,500 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Additional funds2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $430 | $12,000 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Applicable business licenses, if required2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $0 | $1,800 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
| Total estimated initial investment2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 | $31,700 | $158,137 | 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12 |
Source H&R Block, 2023 FDD, Item 7, p. 12, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-27. Read from a scanned copy of this FDD; figures and page citations were transcribed from the page images.
Item 19
What H&R Block franchisees actually report earning
This brand's FDD publishes no Item 19.
We do not make any representations about a franchisee’s future financial performance or the past financial performance of company-owned or franchised outlets. We also do not authorize our employees or representatives to make any such representations either orally or in writing. If you are purchasing an existing outlet, however, we may provide you with the actual records of that outlet. If you receive any other financial performance information or projections of your future income, you should report it to franchisor’s management by contacting Roxane Harris, H&R Block Tax Services LLC, One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, MO 64105, telephone number 817-846-1788, the Federal Trade Commission, and the appropriate state regulatory agencies.
Source H&R Block, 2023 FDD, Item 19, p. 36, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-27. Read from a scanned copy of this FDD; figures and page citations were transcribed from the page images.
Item 20
How many H&R Block outlets there are, and how many closed
H&R Block ended 2023 with 2,339 franchised outlets and 6,582 company-owned outlets. In that year no franchised outlets opened and 222 left the system.
Three years at a glance
From 2021 through 2023, H&R Block opened 2 franchised outlets and 549 outlets left the system. That is a net loss of 547, from 2,886 to 2,339 franchised outlets. Of the outlets that left, 70 were terminated, 13 were not renewed, 350 were bought back by the franchisor, and 116 closed for other reasons.
On average, about 6.7% of franchised outlets left the system each year, roughly 1 in 15.
Our arithmetic from the FDD's Item 20 table below. "Left the system" counts every outlet the franchisor reports as terminated, not renewed, bought back, or closed for other reasons.
| Year | Start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2,561 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 151 | 49 | 2,339 | 2023 FDD, Item 20, p. 44 |
| 2022 | 2,752 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 136 | 23 | 2,561 | 2023 FDD, Item 20, p. 44 |
| 2021 | 2,886 | 2 | 20 | 9 | 63 | 44 | 2,752 | 2023 FDD, Item 20, p. 44 |
Source H&R Block, 2023 FDD, Item 20, p. 44, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-27. Read from a scanned copy of this FDD; figures and page citations were transcribed from the page images.
Compare
How H&R Block compares with other Financial Services franchises
Measured against the 14 Financial Services franchises on this site, using each brand's own FDD.
- Cost to open. The middle of H&R Block's estimated range is $94,919. It costs more to open than 69% of Financial Services franchises here.
- Outlets leaving each year. 6.7% for H&R Block. That is lower than 86% of the 8 Financial Services franchises with at least 10 outlets.
- Three-year growth. H&R Block's franchised system shrank 19%. The typical Financial Services franchise here shrank 2.6%.
- Earnings disclosure. 4 of the 14 Financial Services franchises here publish earnings figures in Item 19. H&R Block is not one of them.
Our arithmetic from each brand's Item 7 and Item 20. Growth and departure comparisons leave out brands with fewer than 10 outlets, where one opening or closure distorts the figures. See every Financial Services franchise side by side.
Alert me when H&R Block files a new FDD
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