Garage Living^®

Construction & Home Improvement • Year: 2026

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What Is Garage Living?

Garage Living is a franchise providing design, supply and installation of residential garage organizers, cabinetry, concrete floor coatings, car lifts, garage doors, garage door operators and related residential garage renovation products and services. Franchised businesses operate from leased light-industrial, commercial or retail premises with showroom, office and warehouse space (typically 3,000–4,000 sq ft in primary markets and 1,000–2,000 sq ft in secondary markets) and must provide customer parking and loading/drive-in access. The business serves residential and commercial customers, targeting residential customers with above-average income and generally not targeting do-it-yourself consumers.

Garage Living Franchise: Pros and Cons

The franchise shows unusually low churn with zero outlet terminations, non‑renewals, reacquisitions and no signed‑but‑not‑open units, indicating strong operator retention; however, startup costs are high-Item 7 minimum of $246,450 and a $64,500 franchise fee plus 75% manager equity and three company units increase funding and oversight risk.

Pros

Zero outlet terminations, non‑renewals, and reacquisitions - unusually low churn for this sector, which suggests current franchisees have stayed in the system.

No government penalties, no franchisee‑initiated judgments or settlements, and no fraud cases - a clean regulatory and legal record compared with peers.

Signed-but-not-open units: 0 - no pipeline backlog, so there are currently no openings stalled in pre‑launch stages.

Cons

Item 7 Total Min of $246,450 is well above typical for Construction & Home Improvement, meaning your total startup capital required to open will be higher than most peers.

The minimum franchise fee of $64,500 is well above typical, increasing the upfront cash you must pay to the franchisor before operations begin.

Manager required equity of 75% (top 5%), combined with a higher‑than‑typical number of company‑owned units (3) and two franchisor‑initiated enforcement actions, points to greater franchisor control and stricter oversight-this raises financing complexity and potential operational friction.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

67/100

NORMAL

Garage Living. Part 1 (The Facts): Garage Living has pursued enforcement actions against former franchisees alleging unpaid invoices, misuse of confidential IP, and breaches of post-term non-competes, resulting in injunctions and a consent settlement transferring IP and confidential payment. Part 2 (The Advice): Review post-termination covenants, IP assignment, payment remedies, Item 12 territory protections, and settlement confidentiality.

Territory Protection

51/100

Good

Garage Living grants an exclusive, site-specific Designated Territory (primary: 75,000–170,000 qualified households; secondary: 25,000–75,000) tied to explicit market-density and monthly gross‑revenue performance targets. Territory rights are contingent on meeting these quotas; the franchisor retains rights to sell via e‑commerce/alternative distribution channels and to develop additional units nearby.

Training & Support

82/100

NORMAL

Garage Living provides an extensive 134-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch support focused on operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses, and on-site assistance may incur additional fees.

Unit Growth Analysis

Garage Living is at 50 units now, a net rise from 38 since 2022 but showing a modest -2.0% year-over-year dip. This reads as a validated growth-stage brand-mostly franchise-owned-where the concept is proven but momentum has cooled, so confirm the franchisor’s capacity to support new owners (lead quality, training, service responsiveness) and check remaining territory availability before you commit.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Garage Living Franchise?

Opening a Garage Living franchise requires a total initial investment of $246,450 to $323,900, according to the 2026 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

$246,450

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$323,900

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$64,500

Real Estate$40,200

Equipment & Assets$96,500

Reserves$30,000

Training$3,000

Other$12,250

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$64,500

Real Estate$52,400

Equipment & Assets$134,000

Reserves$50,000

Training$5,000

Other$18,000

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 Garage Living Franchise Owners Make?

Garage Living franchise locations reported average gross sales of $1,631,626 and median gross sales of $1,470,778 in 2026, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$1,631,626

Median Gross Sales:

$1,470,778

High Gross Sales:

$3,592,713

Low Gross Sales:

$322,407

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

50.0%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: The Item 19 figures represent U.S. franchised operations only (30 franchise business operations operating 37 territories for the 12 months ending December 31, 2025). Company-owned operations (including a single corporate unit in Canada) are excluded from this data, so direct comparisons between franchised and corporate performance cannot be made from these numbers.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial variability across units: average gross sales are $1,631,626 while the top quartile average is $2,949,020 and the bottom quartile average is $653,351. The median ($1,470,778) is slightly below the mean, indicating right-skewed distribution driven by higher-performing outliers (highest = $3,592,713, lowest = $322,407). Cost structure: average COGS 41.29% and average labor 24.23% combine to yield an average gross margin of 34.48%. The disclosure also notes an average unit growth rate in 2025 of 7.17%.

Data Scope and Limitations: The sample excludes 4 non‑conforming franchise units and the company-owned Canadian unit; written substantiation is available on request. The FDD explicitly warns that individual results may differ and there is no assurance a new franchisee will earn these amounts. The Item 19 data is not presented as audited financial statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Garage Living a good franchise to own?

Whether Garage Living is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2026 FDD: Garage Living operates 50 locations, received a legal risk score of 67/100, a training and support score of 82/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a Garage Living franchise worth the investment?

The value of a Garage Living franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $246,450 to $323,900. Garage Living disclosed average gross sales of $1,631,626 in 2026. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

How long does it take to break even with a Garage Living franchise?

Break-even timelines for Garage Living franchises are not disclosed in the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is Garage Living a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2026 FDD, Garage Living operates 47 franchised locations and 3 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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