The Doan Group^®

Real Estate • Year: 2025

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What Is The Doan Group?

The Doan Group is a franchise offering a property and casualty damage appraisal business that provides appraisals for personal and commercial vehicles and heavy equipment. Franchisees perform all appraisal and related services and submit bills directly to National Accounts—such as insurance companies, independent adjustment companies, and third‑party administrators—indicating the primary customers are businesses (B2B). The System supplies licensed Marks, methods, training and support, requires a designated Operating Principal and a full‑time Designated Appraiser (who may need state licenses), and requires compliance with applicable laws and franchise requirements.

The Doan Group Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise's perfect 100 training and support score, well above Real Estate norms, promises faster onboarding and operational ramp-up while combined with a low $10,000 entry fee and $14,050–$68,000 startup range; however, managers must hold 25% equity, significantly reducing financing flexibility and forcing larger personal capital commitments.

Pros

The $10,000 entry fee is well below the industry standard, leaving you with more cash on hand for build-out and early operating expenses.

A perfect 100 training and support score is well above typical for Real Estate, indicating strong onboarding and ongoing support that shortens your operational ramp-up.

The estimated startup range of roughly $14,050 to $68,000 is well below what's common in Real Estate, keeping your total capital requirement modest and limiting financial exposure.

Cons

The franchisor operates zero corporate-owned units, which means they don't run locations themselves and lack the ability to test or iterate operational systems from direct experience.

Managers are required to hold 25% equity, a much higher owner-equity requirement than typical, which reduces financing flexibility and forces significant personal capital commitment.

The maximum franchise fee of $53,000 is above the Real Estate norm, meaning the cost to acquire the franchise rights can be materially higher than the low-end fee implies.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Territory Protection

53/100

Good

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains rights to develop additional units in the surrounding market, sell via e-commerce and alternative distribution channels within the market, and condition protection on performance contingencies, affecting market density and site-specific rights.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

The brand provides a focused 14-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch assistance for operational readiness, with travel and lodging expenses managed by the franchisee and additional on-site support available for an extra fee.

Unit Growth Analysis

The franchise shows a volatile but recovering trajectory: units rose modestly from 23 to 25 in 2022–2023 (+2 units, +8.7%), plunged to 18 in 2024 (−7 units, −28.0%), then rebounded to 26 in 2025 (+8 units, +44.4%), reaching the highest count in the period. For investors this mix of sharp contraction followed by a strong rebound signals execution and churn risk (the 2024 drop) but also demonstrates capacity for rapid expansion—investors should validate the drivers of the 2025 recovery and whether that +44.4% gain is sustainable.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a The Doan Group Franchise?

Opening a The Doan Group franchise requires a total initial investment of $14,050 to $68,000, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$14,050

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$68,000

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$10,750

Real Estate$0

Equipment & Assets$1,000

Reserves$0

Training$800

Other$1,500

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$53,000

Real Estate$5,500

Equipment & Assets$2,000

Reserves$0

Training$1,500

Other$6,000

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do The Doan Group Franchise Owners Make?

The Doan Group franchise locations reported average gross sales of $350,355 and median gross sales of $106,518 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$350,355

Median Gross Sales:

$106,518

High Gross Sales:

$1,996,968

Low Gross Sales:

$14,522

Sample Size:

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Only franchised location data is provided in Item 19, so no direct comparison to company-owned or corporate outlets can be made from this disclosure.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial variability: the mean gross receipts (350,355.11) are much higher than the median (106,518.15), and the range spans from 14,522.32 to 1,996,967.92, indicating results are skewed by a few high-performing locations.

Data Scope and Limitations: The figures cover gross receipts only for the 2024 Measurement Period and include 26 franchised locations; no expense, cost-of-goods, or net income data and no audit statement are provided, limiting profitability analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to open a The Doan Group franchise?

The total initial investment for a The Doan Group franchise ranges from $14,050 to $68,000, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and working capital.

What is the The Doan Group initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for The Doan Group is $10,000, as stated in the 2025 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How much do The Doan Group franchise owners make?

The Doan Group franchise locations reported average gross sales of $350,355 and median gross sales of $106,518 in 2025, based on Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does The Doan Group have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

The Doan Group received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2025 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does The Doan Group offer exclusive franchise territories?

The Doan Group received a territory protection score of 53 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does The Doan Group provide to new franchisees?

The Doan Group received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides a focused 14-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two staff members for launch.

How many The Doan Group franchise locations are there?

The Doan Group had 26 total locations as of the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is The Doan Group?

The Doan Group is a franchise offering a property and casualty damage appraisal business that provides appraisals for personal and commercial vehicles and heavy equipment.

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