How much does a YEL! franchise cost?
Opening a YEL! franchise takes a total initial investment of $44,800 to $71,500, according to the brand's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. That FDD makes no Item 19 financial performance representation, so it discloses no earnings figures at all.
YEL! franchises YEL Businesses. Category: Education.
Item 7
What it costs to open a YEL! franchise
The franchisor's own estimated initial investment, as disclosed in its 2025 FDD. The total is $44,800 to $71,500. Each line below carries the FDD page it was read from.
Where the money goes
The largest costs are Additional Funds and Working Capital for First 3 Months ($5,000 to $15,000), Grand Opening Marketing ($2,500 to $5,000), and Ongoing Marketing ($2,500 to $5,000). Together they make up about 35% of the high-end estimate.
The initial franchise fee is $22,500, about 50% of the low-end total.
Our arithmetic from the Item 7 table below.
| Expenditure | Low | High | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $22,500 | $22,500 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Vehicles2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $0 | $1,200 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Real Estate, Furniture and Equipment2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $200 | $2,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Initial Supplies2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $3,500 | $4,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Travel and Living Expenses While Training2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $1,800 | $3,700 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Grand Opening Marketing2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Ongoing Marketing2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Technology Expenses2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $2,500 | $3,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Insurance2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $600 | $700 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Permits and Licenses2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $200 | $400 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Professional Fees2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $2,500 | $5,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Miscellaneous Expenses2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $1,000 | $4,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Additional Funds and Working Capital for First 3 Months2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $5,000 | $15,000 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
| Total estimated initial investment2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 | $44,800 | $71,500 | 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7 |
Source YEL!, 2025 FDD, Item 7, p. 7, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-15.
Item 19
What YEL! 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 franchise YEL Businesses. 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 YEL Business, however, we may provide you with the actual records of that YEL Business. If you receive any other financial performance information or projections of your future income, you should report it to the franchisor’s management by contacting Chet Gunhus at 343 Bluff Road, Carver, Minnesota 55315, telephone (800) 959-9261, the Federal Trade Commission, and the appropriate state regulatory agencies.
Source YEL!, 2025 FDD, Item 19, p. 25, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-15.
Item 20
How many YEL! outlets there are, and how many closed
YEL! ended 2024 with 2 franchised outlets and 3 company-owned outlets. In that year 1 franchised outlet opened and none left the system.
Three years at a glance
From 2022 through 2024, YEL! opened 1 franchised outlet and no outlets left the system. That is a net gain of 1, from 1 to 2 franchised outlets.
With fewer than 10 outlets, one closure moves the numbers a lot, so we do not calculate a yearly rate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 27 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 27 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 27 |
Source YEL!, 2025 FDD, Item 20, p. 27, via Public FDD bucket (storage.googleapis.com/franchiseindx_fdds) (source record). Figures read and verified 2026-09-15.
Compare
How YEL! compares with other Education franchises
Measured against the 56 Education franchises on this site, using each brand's own FDD.
- Cost to open. The middle of YEL!'s estimated range is $58,150. It costs less to open than 87% of Education franchises here.
- Earnings disclosure. 37 of the 56 Education franchises here publish earnings figures in Item 19. YEL! 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 Education franchise side by side.
Alert me when YEL! files a new FDD
Franchisors reissue their FDD at least once a year, and the Item 7 and Item 19 figures move. Leave an email and we will send you YEL!'s updated numbers when the next document is published, plus the brand-comparison worksheet.
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