What is the standard initial franchise fee for a Cordova franchise?
Cordova Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Franchise Agreement
When you sign a Franchise Agreement you must pay to us a non-refundable initial franchise fee (the "Initial Franchise Fee"). The Initial Franchise Fee is $40,000 for a geographic area that operates as a single territory with a population of approximately 500,000 people (each a "Territory"). The Initial Franchise Fee is fully earned by us upon payment. The method we use to calculate the Initial Franchise Fee is uniform for all franchises that we offer under this Disclosure Document, except, as described below.
Veteran's Discount
For qualified individuals who were honorably discharged from any branch of the United States Military we offer a 10% discount off of the Initial Franchise Fee for your first Franchise Agreement. This discount must be requested at the time of your initial franchise application and requires documented military service. This discount cannot be combined with other discounts of the Initial Franchise Fee.
Conversion of Existing Business Discount
For qualified individuals who we determine have a business that provides comparable services that we offer, including recruitment and staffing services, and related products and services ("Cordova Conversion Business") the Initial Franchise Fee for your first Franchise Agreement will be discounted by $20,000. The discount must be requested at the time of signing the Franchise Agreement and represents a one-time discount applicable to only the Initial Franchisee Fee for one Franchise Agreement. This discount is subject to our approval of franchisee entering into our franchise system. You must provide documentation, which may include financial records, that we, in our sole discretion, deem appropriate to evaluate your Cordova Conversion Business. This discount cannot be combined with other discounts of the Initial Franchise Fee.
Multi-Territory and Multi-Franchise Discounts
Subject to market type, availability, and our discretion, at the time of signing your Franchise Agreement, you may request the right to purchase additional territories (each referred to as an "Additional Territory") to be added to your Operating Territory and operated under one Franchise Agreement. Each Additional Territory will be comprised of a population of approximately 500,000 people.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 10–11)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Cordova's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the standard initial franchise fee is $40,000. This fee grants the franchisee the right to operate in a single territory with a population of approximately 500,000 people. This initial franchise fee is non-refundable and is considered fully earned by Cordova upon payment. The FDD specifies that the method used to calculate this fee is uniform for all franchises.
Cordova offers certain discounts on the initial franchise fee under specific conditions. Qualified veterans who were honorably discharged from the United States Military are eligible for a 10% discount off the initial franchise fee for their first franchise agreement. This discount requires documented military service and must be requested at the time of the initial franchise application. Another discount is available for individuals with an existing comparable business, referred to as a "Cordova Conversion Business," which includes recruitment, staffing services, and related products. If approved, these individuals may receive a $20,000 discount on their first franchise agreement.
Furthermore, Cordova provides discounts for franchisees who purchase multiple territories or enter into multiple franchise agreements. The initial franchise fee per territory decreases when purchasing additional territories, with corresponding cumulative fee adjustments. For instance, purchasing two territories costs $70,000 ($35,000 per territory), while purchasing three territories costs $93,000 ($31,000 per territory). These discounts are applicable only for franchise agreements signed at the same time and are subject to market type, availability, and Cordova's discretion.