What it takes, upfront.
Most franchise websites make you fill out a form to learn the cost of entry. We'd rather you know now: the full investment range, every ongoing fee, the territory you'd own, and what it takes to qualify. If it fits, let's talk. Either way, you'll make your decision with the facts in front of you.
The investment: $470,900 to $1,131,167.
The full estimated range, including the franchise fee, equipment, vehicle, and three months of operating funds.
Where the money actually goes
Here is what makes this investment different from most franchises in this price range: the largest component, $300,000 to $750,000 of it, is rental inventory. Tents, tables, chairs, staging, lighting. These are not leasehold improvements that belong to your landlord, or buildout that's worth nothing the day after opening. They are revenue-producing assets that rent out week after week, for years.
Your opening inventory isn't a guess, either. It's an itemized, vendor-sourced bill of materials built from fifteen years of utilization data at the company operation, weighted toward the equipment that earns hardest, down to the chair caps and tent fittings.
A warehouse, with a showroom path. An Encore location runs from roughly 6,000 to 10,000 square feet of industrial space with a customer-facing office, and the playbook includes a defined showroom option for operators pursuing deeper wedding-market share. Occupancy costs start where they belong, low, with a clear path to retail presence when the strategy calls for it.
| Component | Range |
|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $60,000 |
| Rental Inventory | $300,000 to $750,000 |
| Vehicle (truck / trailer) | $5,000 to $50,000 |
| Market Introduction Program | $10,000 to $25,000 |
| Additional Funds (first 3 months) | $50,000 to $100,000 |
| All other (facility, insurance, systems, training travel, etc.) | per Item 7 |
| Total estimated initial investment | $470,900 to $1,131,167 |
Pre-approved for SBA financing.
Byline Bank has pre-approved the Encore franchise for SBA financing. Byline is one of the most active SBA lenders in the country, and qualified candidates work with a lender that already knows and has reviewed the Encore model, rather than starting cold.
Pre-approval of the franchise is not a guarantee of an individual loan. Each candidate is subject to the bank's own qualification and underwriting. We introduce serious candidates to our contact at Byline directly during the process.
No surprises later.
These are the numbers, and they match our Franchise Disclosure Document.
| Fee | Amount | What it funds |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 8% of gross sales | Systems, support, ongoing development |
| Marketing Fund | 1% of gross sales | System-wide brand building |
Room to build something worth owning.
Exclusive territory of approximately 250,000 to 500,000 in population, or a 20-mile radius, whichever is smaller. Within it, we will not place another Encore outlet, company-owned or franchised.
A 10-year agreement with successor rights: a horizon long enough to build something worth owning.
Multi-unit development available by separate agreement for operators with the capacity to build more than one territory.
Do you qualify?
We award franchises; we don't sell them. Encore is a fit for a specific kind of owner.
Capital
$500,000+ net worth and $150,000+ in liquid capital.
Operating experience
You've managed people, equipment, schedules, and budgets. Construction, equipment rental, logistics, distribution, and military operations backgrounds translate directly.
An owner's commitment
This is a hands-on business in its first years, not a passive investment.
If that's you, the next step is a conversation, not a pitch. You'll receive our Franchise Disclosure Document, and we'll both evaluate fit.
A note on financing: Chris Sater works today as an M&A advisor whose practice includes SBA and commercial loan consulting. Candidates get a franchisor who understands, firsthand and currently, how these deals are financed, and who will tell you plainly whether the structure you're considering makes sense.
Request the Franchise Overview