Home Buildingstars › 2025 vs. 2026
FDD Year-over-Year Comparison

Buildingstars FDD: What Changed from 2025 to 2026

The 2026 Buildingstars FDD moves the Item 7 estimated initial investment range from $2,445–$53,200 to $2,445–$8,295, and the system grows from 1,193 to 1,300 outlets (+9.0%) year-over-year. Both filings include an Item 19 financial performance representation.

Source: WI & IL state filings · Updated August 2026 · ClearlyFDD

Item 7 — Estimated Initial Investment

2025 FDD2026 FDDChange
Low end of range$2,445$2,445unchanged
High end of range$53,200$8,295−$44,905 (−84.4%)
Full range$2,445–$53,200$2,445–$8,295

The 2026 filing puts the Item 7 estimated initial investment at $2,445–$8,295, against $2,445–$53,200 in the 2025 filing. The low end is unchanged and the high end moves by −$44,905 (−84.4%), narrowing the band from $50,755 to $5,850.

2025 filing: Initial investment totals are shown separately for Technician, On-Site Manager, and Corporate programs in Item 7. 2026 filing: Item 7 provides separate estimated initial investment totals for the Technician, On-Site Manager, and Corporate programs; the initial_investment field here reflects the Technician Program total range.

Item 20 — System Size (Outlet Count)

2025 FDD2026 FDDChange
Total outlets (Item 20)1,1931,300+107 (+9.0%)
Franchised outlets1,1791,286+107 (+9.1%)
Company-owned outlets1414unchanged
Openings during the year345285−60
Closures during the year226250+24

Buildingstars reports 1,300 outlets in the 2026 FDD, against 1,193 in the 2025 filing — a change of +107 (+9.0%).

Outlet counts as each filing states them — 2025: Fiscal year ending December 31, 2024; 2026: Fiscal years ending December 31, 2025 (Systemwide; includes Buildingstars International master franchisees). Item 20 contains both ‘Our’ tables (excluding master franchisee subfranchisees) and separate systemwide tables combining the franchisor and master franchisees; the counts here use the systemwide totals for 2025.

Item 19 — Financial Performance Representations

Buildingstars included an Item 19 financial performance representation in both the 2025 and 2026 filings. The 2026 filing discloses financial performance, broken out across 3 outlet segments for 2025 (months franchisees operated during 2025; includes franchisees open and operating for any amount of time in 2025, including those that opened or ceased operations in 2025).

Item 6 — Ongoing Fees

2025 FDD2026 FDDChange
Standard royalty rate10%10%unchanged

The standard royalty rate holds at 10% of Gross Sales across both filings.

2025 filing: For On-Site Manager Program, royalty is 20% of Gross Sales attributable to Specialty Work; for Corporate Program, 30% of Gross Sales attributable to Specialty Work. 2026 filing: For the On-Site Manager Program, the royalty rate is 20% (instead of 10%) on Gross Sales attributable to Specialty Work; for the Corporate Program, 30% (instead of 10%) on Gross Sales attributable to Specialty Work. Technician Program franchisees are not permitted to do Specialty Work.

Frequently asked questions

Did the cost to open a Buildingstars franchise change in the 2026 FDD?

The 2026 FDD for Buildingstars states an Item 7 estimated initial investment of $2,445–$8,295, against $2,445–$53,200 in the 2025 filing. The high end moves from $53,200 to $8,295 (−$44,905 (−84.4%)).

How many locations does Buildingstars have?

The 2026 FDD for Buildingstars reports 1,300 outlets in Item 20, against 1,193 in the 2025 filing — 107 more.

How many Buildingstars locations closed?

The 2026 FDD for Buildingstars reports 250 outlet closures for the year it covers, against 226 in the 2025 filing.

Did Buildingstars change its royalty rate?

No. Both the 2025 and 2026 filings for Buildingstars state a standard royalty of 10%.

Unlock this Workspace

  • Clearly Report + Workspace
  • Full FDD breakdown with citations
  • Ask Clara as many questions as you need
  • Saved to your Clearly Library, organized by brand
Unlock This Workspace — $49