About Ford's Garage Franchise
Ford's Garage is a distinctive full-service restaurant and bar concept, blending the nostalgic aesthetic of a 1920s service station and prohibition bar with the contemporary appeal of a prime burger and craft beer joint.
Franchisees operate establishments offering extensive lunch and dinner menus, specializing in gourmet burgers and a wide selection of craft beers, alongside other alcoholic beverages and branded merchandise.
The target customers
Ford's Garage Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$1.6M
Average Investment
$4.2M
Maximum Investment
$6.7M
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $70,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 0.25% of Gross Sales (Local Advertising) + 1.25% of Gross Sales (Marketing Fund Contribution) + Up to 5% of Gross Sales (Cooperative Advertising) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $1,616,800 – $6,723,000 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $1.6M–$6.7M reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (6% of Gross Sales) and marketing fee (0.25% of Gross Sales (Local Advertising) + 1.25% of Gross Sales (Marketing Fund Contribution) + Up to 5% of Gross Sales (Cooperative Advertising)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $70,000 | $70,000 |
| Reimbursement of Expenses for Opening Team | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| Training Expenses | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| Lease Payments 6 Months | $60,000 | $300,000 |
| Security Deposit | $12,000 | $300,000 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $800,000 | $4,000,000 |
| Computer Equipment and Software | $50,000 | $120,000 |
| Office Expenses | $1,000 | $2,000 |
| Signage | $50,000 | $125,000 |
| Furniture and Equipment | $200,000 | $650,000 |
| Utilities | $500 | $15,000 |
| Uniforms | $3,000 | $15,000 |
| Inventory | $60,000 | $100,000 |
| Architecture Fees | $50,000 | $150,000 |
| Insurance | $3,000 | $50,000 |
| Licenses and Permits | $2,000 | $150,000 |
| Legal and Accounting | $5,000 | $25,000 |
| Dues and Subscriptions | $300 | $1,000 |
| Additional Funds | $100,000 | $400,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | $15,000 |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of our then-current franchise fee |
| Technology Fee | $300.00 to $600.00 Monthly, but subject to reasonable increases which will not exceed 5% per year |
| Audit Fee | Cost of inspection or audit, plus understated amount due with interest, and all late fees, from the date originally due until the date of payment |
| Merchandise Licensing Fee | 14.25% of Gross Sales of all retail sales of merchandise, excluding Gift Card sales |
| Website Fee | Not to exceed $2,000 per year, subject to reasonable increases up to 5% per year |
| Social Media Fee | $600.00 per year but subject to reasonable increase which are not to exceed 5% a year |
| Late Fees | 1.5% per month or the highest rate allowed by the state where you are located (whichever is lower) |
| Approval of Products or Suppliers | $500 to $1,000 |
| Insurance Policies | Amount of unpaid premiums plus our reasonable expenses in obtaining the policies |
| Relocation Assistance Fee | Reimbursement of our costs |
| Management Fee | Our then-current Management Fee, not to exceed 3% of Gross Sales, plus expenses |
| Mystery Shopper Fee | Upon implementation, fee to be determined |
| Reputation Management Fee | Not to exceed 5% a year including the social media fee |
| Gift Cards and Loyalty Program | $300 – $1,500 per month |
| Cost of Enforcement | All costs including reasonable attorneys’ fees |
| Indemnification | Will vary under circumstances |
| Liquidated Damages | Equal to the average monthly Royalty Fees paid during the twenty-four (24) months of operation before termination (or for the period operated if less than 24 months), multiplied by the lesser of: (i) twenty-four (24) months; or (ii) the number of months remaining in your Franchise Agreement had we not terminated it. |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 300 – 420 hours |
| Classroom Training | 9 |
| On-the-Job Training | 300 – 420 |
| Training Location | Tampa, Florida or another certified training center location designated by us |
| Additional Training | The franchisor makes additional training programs and seminars available, which may be mandatory for the Restaurant Manager and other personnel. On-site training is available upon request, with the franchisee responsible for a per diem fee and reimbursement of expenses for the franchisor's representatives. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected Territory/DMA |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Minimum population of approximately 100,000 people, size negotiated based on factors like population density, neighborhood character, competition, and lease requirements. |
| Description | Defined by one or more 5-digit zip codes, a radius from the Restaurant, county or city boundaries, fixed geographical boundaries (e.g., river, streets, highways), or identified on a map. Non-traditional sites within the DMA are not included in the protected territory. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 20 years |
| Renewal Term | One (1) successive renewal term of 20 years |
| Renewal Fee | 50% of our then-current franchise fee |
| Renewal Conditions | Franchisee must have fully complied with the Franchise Agreement, have the right to possession of the approved location, made necessary capital expenditures, satisfied all monetary obligations, not be in default, given timely written notice of intent to renew, signed the then-current Franchise Agreement (which may have different terms), complied with current training requirements, paid the renewal fee, and signed a general release. |
| Transfer Fee | $15,000 |
| Transfer Conditions | Franchisor's consent is required. Conditions include: franchisor not exercising its right of first purchase, all monetary obligations paid, no defaults, execution of a general release, prospective transferee meeting business and financial standards, transferee and owners signing the then-current Franchise Agreement, provision of all related contracts, payment of a $15,000 transfer fee (for each undeveloped MUDA unit), transferee and owners personally guaranteeing obligations, transferee obtaining all necessary third-party consents, and transferee's Designated Manager completing initial training and obtaining all necessary insurance. |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor may terminate for curable defaults (e.g., failure to maintain insurance, make payments, or comply with operating procedures) if not cured within 30 days. Non-curable defaults (e.g., material misrepresentation, felony conviction, unauthorized use of Marks, abandonment for 5+ days, repeated underreporting of sales, bankruptcy, health/safety violations) allow immediate termination. Cross-default provisions allow termination if another agreement with the franchisor or its affiliates is terminated. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | During the term of the franchise agreement and for 2 years after termination or expiration, the franchisee, its owners, and their immediate families/households are prohibited from acquiring, operating, financing, investing in, controlling, or owning any beneficial interest in, or performing services for, any automobile-themed restaurant/bar or any other competitive business (where hamburgers constitute 25% or more of food sales) within 25 miles of the franchised restaurant or any other Ford's Garage Restaurant. They are also prohibited from diverting business or customers to competitors or harming the franchisor's goodwill or system. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | The franchisee is required to personally supervise the operation of the Restaurant and devote full time and best efforts. If the franchisee is an entity, an individual owning at least 5% of the ownership interest must be designated as the Designated Manager, who will directly supervise operations for at least 40 hours per week. If there is more than one restaurant, the franchisee must devote the necessary time for all. The Designated Manager must complete initial training and be approved by the franchisor. Managerial and other personnel with access to confidential information must sign non-disclosure agreements. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees have the option to use the franchisor's affiliate, Payment Management Systems, LLC (PMS), for payroll and merchant services. If not using PMS, franchisees must choose from a list of approved suppliers or request approval for an outside provider. Franchisees must also purchase or lease certain products and services (including all food and beverage items, ingredients, supplies, and other products) solely from approved or designated suppliers. A complete list of Approved Suppliers is in the Operations Manual and is subject to change. |
| Supply Restrictions | Purchases from approved suppliers are required to ensure uniformity and quality standards. Purchases from the franchisor or approved suppliers, or those conforming to specifications, are estimated to represent 60% to 90% of total purchases for establishing the Restaurant, and 70% to 85% for continuing operation. Franchisees must purchase or lease products and services that conform to standards and specifications in the Operations Manual for items not required from approved suppliers. The franchisor can modify specifications and require new equipment/software at franchisee's expense. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | The franchisor has not received revenue from required franchisee purchases or leases to date, but reserves the right to do so in the future. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the franchisor received $1,000 from GFS and $2,500 from Kraft in rebate money, which is passed back proportionally to individual restaurant locations. The franchisor may receive volume rebates, discounts, or other financial benefits from suppliers in the future. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | Neither we nor any agent or affiliate offers direct or indirect financing to you, guarantees any note, lease or obligation of yours, or has any practice or intent to sell, assign or discount to a third party all or any part of any financing arrangement of yours. |
Ford's Garage Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Ford's Garage does not make an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. This means they do not disclose revenue, profit, or earnings data for franchised locations. Before investing, ask the franchisor directly for franchisee contact information so you can speak with existing owners about their actual financial performance.
Ford's Garage does not include an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD. Contact information for current and former franchisees is listed in Item 20 of the FDD.
Ford's Garage Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordFord's Garage has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Ford's Garage System Growth
Total Units
20
Franchised
20
Company-Owned
0
Ford's Garage currently operates 20 franchised locations and 0 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 2022 | 5 | 1 | 20 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 1
State Registrations
Registered in 15 states: CA, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
Franchisor Financials (Item 21)
Revenue
$4.3M
Net Income
$310K
Total Assets
$4.6M
Audited by Jim D. Lee, Certified Public Accountant for year ending December 31.
Ford's Garage Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Ford's Garage franchise ranges from $1,616,800 to $6,723,000, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $70,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Ford's Garage charges a royalty fee of 6% of Gross Sales of gross sales, plus a 0.25% of Gross Sales (Local Advertising) + 1.25% of Gross Sales (Marketing Fund Contribution) + Up to 5% of Gross Sales (Cooperative Advertising) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Ford's Garage Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Ford's Garage to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
Ford's Garage does not provide an Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, which means they do not disclose franchisee revenue or earnings data. Prospective investors should contact existing franchisees directly (listed in Item 20 of the FDD) to gather real-world financial performance information.
Ford's Garage has been franchising since 2017. The FDD shows an investment range of $1,616,800-$6,723,000, a 6% of Gross Sales royalty, and no Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $70,000 and the total investment ranges from $1,616,800 to $6,723,000 depending on location size and market. A minimum of $100,000 in liquid capital is required. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Ford's Garage and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Ford's Garage or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com