Published on 29 Sep 2022 Time 7 min read Last update by 28 May 2024

GO MINIS FRANCHISE Cost WORTH Profits? (2024)

Go Minis is a storage and moving franchise that provides “a storage and moving business featuring use of portable containers”. As of 2021, they had 133 locations in operation.

How is Go Minis Franchise Positioned in the Home Building and Services Industry?

The Moving services industry  makes $1.2 billion in profit every year and pays $4.2bn in an industry where the annual revenue is $18.5 billion.

Go Mini’s competes in the Home Building and Services market against big brand companies such as Walmart, College Hunks, etc. Go Mini’s franchisees also compete against other nearby moving and storage shop locations.

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How Much is a Go Mini’s Franchise?

The initial Go Mini’s Franchise Fee is $45,000. You have to pay this upfront fee when opening a Go Mini’s franchise. They reduce the fee to $36,000 for U.S. veterans with supporting credentials. The initial franchise fee is waived for a Go Mini’s dealer signing the Franchise Agreement. For container dealers in business for more than one year converting from other concepts to the Go Mini’s System and who already own at least 40 containers, the initial franchise fee is reduced to $10,000 for a territory containing a population of up to 400,000 people; however, such converting dealers must pay $10,000 for each additional 100,000 population they receive.

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Go Minis Franchise Cost

The estimated total investment necessary to begin the operation of a Go Minis Franchise ranges from $342,804 – $662,704. The following costs are part of the upfront costs included in the initial investment for a Go Mini’s. Many of these are one-time fees that are needed to launch the franchise. Review the chart below to see how much it costs to buy a Go Mini’s franchise in 2022.

Estimated Initial Investment

Type of expediture Amount To Whom Payment Is To Be Made
Low High
Initial franchise fee $45,000 $45,000 Us
Fee for additional territory $0 $60,000 Us
Rent for 3 months and lease security deposit $30,000 $102,000 Landlord
Utility deposits $100 $500 Utilities
Leasehold Improvements $0 $10,000 Contractors
Signane $500 $2,000 Sign contractor
Go Mini’s containers $235,380 $258,480 Us
Equipment and fixtures $0 $5,000 Approved suppliers
Office and supplies $500 $1,000 Approved suppliers
Computer hardware, software, monthly subscription fee (3 months) and annual fee for credit card processing $1,149 $2,799 Suppliers and Us
Transport vehicle(s) $4,500 $125,000 Approved dealer or approved seller
Travel, salary, living, expenses – training $0 $3,250 Airlines, Hotels, Restaurants
Go Mini’s technology fee $675 $675 Us
Business licenses and permits $200 $1,000 Government agencies
Professional fees $1,000 $5,000 Your lawyer and/or CPA
Forming an entity $0 $5,000 State and professional advisors
Insurance $800 $3,000 Insurance companies
Grand opening advertising $5,000 $5,000 Media and other suppliers
Other costs $3,000 $3,000 Various
Additional funds $15,000 $25,000 Funds in your posession
Total $342,804 $662,704

Owning a Go Minis Franchise Requires Ongoing Fees

Royalty: 8% of Gross Sales with a monthly minimum of $400. Converting dealers from other concepts get a reduced rate of 7% of Gross Sales with a monthly minimum of $400. Converting Go Mini’s dealers receive a reduced royalty rate for the first 2 years 5% of Gross Sales in year 1 and 6% of Gross Sales in year 2. Thereafter, royalty rates increase to 7% with a monthly minimum of $400.

Annual Container purchase: $5,385 (est.) per 20-foot container; $5,085 (est.) per 16-foot container; $4,795 (est.) per 12-foot container. After year 1 and annually thereafter, you must buy at least 12 containers per year for each 100,000 population from us until you have 48 containers per 100,000 population. For example, for a 400,000 population, you must buy at least 48 a year until you have a minimum of 192 containers.

Marketing Fund: 2% of Gross sales

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Is the Go Minis Franchise Profit Worth the Franchise Cost?

Go Mini’s does not disclose direct data about the revenue for its franchises, so we are calculating Average Unit Volume (AUV) using the marketing fund figures that are available.

Between January and March 2022, Go Mini’s collected $82,335 from franchises in Marketing Fund Contributions. This amounts to an AUV of around $31,000 per quarter or $124,000 per year. This would definitely be on the low side of what we expect AUV to be for Go Mini’s. Unfortunately, they do not disclose financial so key to check with existing franchisees.

Go Mini’s AUV: $124,000

Initial investment (midpoint) %Profit margin of median franchise sales Estimated Profits Time to recoup investments
$502,754 10% $12,400 40 years
15% $18,600 27 years
20% $24,800 20 years

Based on the median sales provided by Go Mini’s’s franchise locations, at an average of a 15% profit margin it will take around 27 years to recoup your investment. This is longer than other franchise opportunities. You may not get a 15% profit margin which would elongate getting a return on your investment.

Looking at Go Mini’s Income Statement below, we can see that the franchise makes a whole lot more money from selling containers to its franchisees than from customers or royalties. This is a red flag and we recommend talking to at least 3-5 Go Mini’s Franchise owners before entering into business with them. On the face of it, it looks like the franchisor makes money solely from selling containers which is not a sustainable business model.

Profit & Loss by Class – January through March 2022

Accrual Basis 4/24/22
Marketing Operating TOTAL
Ordinary Income/Expense Income
Royalty Income 0 206,360.01 206,360.01
Marketing Fund Income 82,335.54 0 82,335.54
Marketing Fund Admin Income 0 9,124.39 9,124.39
Trademark License Income 0 4,791.0 4,791.00
Franchise Sub Licensing Income 0 7,500.00 7,500.00
Inventory Sale – Container Sales 0 2,331,454.00 2,331,454.00
Inventory Sales – Parts Sales 0 7,011.93 7,011.93
Franchising Sales 0 45,000.00 45,000.00
Franchising 606 Deferred Revenue 0 2,724.99 2,724.99
Operation System Income 0 260.00 260.00
National Income 0 401.15 401.15
Website Income 0 39,880.00 39,880.00
Total Income 82,335.54 2,654,507.47 2,736,843.01
Cost of Goods Solds
Inventory Purchase Containers 0 2,093,458.62 2,093,458.62
Inventory Purchase Parts 0 5,831.53 5,831.53
Opreation System Expense 0 7,057.35 7,057.35
Website Cost of Goods Sold 0 36,417.00 36,417.00
Total COGS 0 2,142,764.50 2,142,764.50
Gross Profit 82.335.54 511,742.97 594,078.51
Expense
Accounting 0 21,000.00 21,000.00
Marketing Expense
Marketing Software 4,125.35 0 4,125.35
Marketing Innovative Projects 108,042.220 0 108,042.22
Marketing Payroll Expense
Marketing Payroll Salaries 0 0 0
Marketing Payroll Expense 0 0 0
Marketing Payroll Tax Employers 0 0 0
Marketing Expense 112,167.57 0 112,167.57
Franchising Development
Franchising Development 0 11,342.00 11,342.00
Franchise Training 113.86 2,475.32 2,592.18
Franchising Development 113.86 13,820.32 13,934.18
Annual Conference 0 720.00 720.00
Bank and Credit Card Charges 0 4,749.55 4,749.55
Computer and Internet Expenses 60.00 24,820.66 24,820.66
Contract Services 0 21,328.21 21,328.21
Insurance Expenses 0 4,812.22 4,812.22
Legal Fees
Lewitt and Hackman 0 1,342.12 1,342.12
Total 0 1,342.12 1,342.12

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Many factors affect the sales, costs, and expenses of your Franchised Store. Such as the Franchised Store’s size, geographic location, menu mix, and competition in the marketplace. The presence of other Home Building and Services stores; the extent of market penetration and brand awareness that Go Mini’s stores have attained in your market. Also, the quality of management and service at your Franchised Store are major factors.

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Is the Go Mini’s Franchise Profit Worth the Franchise Cost?

To assign a valuation multiple for Go Minis franchises, we leverage estimates from DealStats, a database of acquired private company transactions sourced from U.S. business brokers and SEC filings. We reviewed the larger franchise industry as well as selling price multiples for larger systems where more transaction data is available.

Under $5 Million Net Sales: Estimated Selling Price = Net Sales * 0.44

When you go to sell a Go Mini’s franchise based on the median multiple of .44 and net sales of $124,000, it would sell for $54,560. This is significantly lower than the midpoint investment of $502,754.

The more franchises you own, the more earning potential you have as private equity firms become interested in your business instead of individual owner-operators.

How many Go Mini’s units have opened and closed?

Outlet Type Year Outlets at the Start of the Year Outlets at the End of the Year Net Change
Franchised 2019 85 82 -3
2020 82 82 0
2021 82 94 +12
Dealers unuder prior form of dealer agreement 2019 44 44 0
2020 44 44 0
2021 44 39 -5
Total Go Mini’s Outlets 2019 129 126 -3
2020 126 126 0
2021 126 133 +7

Over the last three years, the company has expanded. Franchising units have increased but company-operated stores have decreased. 3 franchises closed in 2019, there was no net change in 2020, and 12 new ones opened up in 2021.

Conclusion

Go Mini’s offers people the opportunity to be a part of the moving business but it remains to prove its potential as a stable franchisor that can sustain growth. While this may be the business for you, make sure also to check out other companies offered on Vetted Biz and in the Home Building and Services Industry.

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