By Chris Taylor · Updated November 2, 2026 · 2 min read
Estate sale franchise or start your own?
A franchise sells you a name and a system, and you pay for it up front and every month after. Starting your own keeps your name and your money, but you have to learn the system somewhere. Here's how they compare.
Side by side
| Franchise | Your own company | |
|---|---|---|
| Name on the sign | Theirs | Yours |
| Upfront cost | A franchise fee plus startup costs, listed in their disclosure document | Your startup costs, plus any training you pay for |
| Ongoing payments | Usually royalties and marketing fees for as long as you're open | No royalties or marketing fees. With my mentorship, Estate Sale Room software is optional after year one |
| Rules | You follow their system and standards | You decide |
| Territory | Often a protected area | Anywhere you want to work |
| Selling your business later | Needs their approval, often a transfer fee | Yours to sell |
When a franchise makes sense
If you want a known name on day one and you're fine paying every month for it, a franchise can work. Read the whole Franchise Disclosure Document, especially the fees and the outlet tables, and talk to current owners before you sign.
When starting your own makes sense
If you'd rather build your own name and keep what you earn, start your own. The hard part is learning pricing, contracts and sale days without making expensive mistakes. That's why I offer one-on-one mentorship: you get our method and our software, under your own name, for one price.
Start with how to start an estate sale company.
More guides
- How to start an estate sale business
- How much estate sale companies make
- One-page estate sale business plan
- Estate sale franchise or start your own?
- See a sample estate sale company website
Do it with me, one-on-one
I set up the software, build your website, optimize it for local search and teach you everything one-on-one. $12,000, one time, under your own name. Not a franchise.