Remodeling a home’s kitchen is at the top of many homeowner’s wish lists. According to research conducted by Statistica, the most popular reason given by 37% of homeowners for why they are finally embarking on this type of renovation is having the funds to do so, according to research conducted by Statistica. But this is not an inexpensive update. Houzz.com reported that the median amount homeowners spent in 2020 remained stable at $35,000.

With home improvement booming in general in 2020—spending grew by nearly 3% to $420 billion in 2020, per a recent study by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)—the time is now to get in on this lucrative franchise opportunity. Especially since researchers involved in that study expect the numbers to climb an additional 4% in 2021.

The Kitchen Tune-Up franchise opportunity

What started as a cabinet store in South Dakota in 1975 has grown over the last almost 50 years to a business opportunity for entrepreneurs interested in helping people give their kitchens a “tune-up” just like they give their cars. Officially founded in 1988, Kitchen Tune-Up has grown and evolved over the years, adding services and shifting the owner-operator model to one where the owner works on the business, not in it. 

The franchise is built on a 5 Trustpoints system, with the goal being to make the experience of kitchen remodeling as fun and as hassle-free as possible. 

Franchisees promise to:

1. Arrive on time. Kitchen Tune-Up understands that customers have lives and need reliable scheduling.
2. Provide dependable solutions. If something unexpected comes up, that is communicated, and a mutually agreed-upon solution is determined.
3. Listen carefully. Franchisees pay attention to what customers want and develop a plan that reflects that and fulfills the agreement.
4. Respect the customer’s home. The work area is protected and then cleaned daily.
5. Communicate. All calls are returned within 24 hours.

Services offered include their signature 1-Day Tune-Up, which consists of cleaning all cabinets with a nine-step process to rid wood cabinets of dirt, oil, and grime that can build up from everyday use. There is also cabinet painting, refacing, or complete cabinet door replacement. Finally, homeowners can select the option of having custom cabinets designed, crafted, and installed. The overriding belief of Kitchen Tune-Up is that customers shouldn’t have to spend a fortune or be displaced from their homes for weeks to improve their living spaces. 

The family-operated franchise business prides itself on understanding the needs of its franchisees and making the kitchen remodeling experience enjoyable for its customers. Kitchen Tune-Up was named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list in 2020.

How to buy a Kitchen Tune-Up franchise

What are the requirements for a Kitchen Tune-Up franchise?

If you are contemplating buying any franchise, there are four main things to consider. First, do you have the necessary money to make the purchase and keep the business up and run until it can turn a profit? Each franchise system’s financial requirements are different. 

For instance, potential Kitchen Tune-Up franchisees need to have around $57,000 in liquid cash available and a net worth of $150,000. They should expect their investment in a Kitchen Tune-Up franchise to range from just over $98,000 to a little more than $142,000.

Next, have you researched the franchise, and do you fully understand their requirements, as well as the benefits they provide their franchisees? Kitchen Tune-Up doesn’t require franchisees to have a background in remodeling. Still, they look for people who possess strong project and people management backgrounds, are detail-oriented and process-driven, and have excellent customer service skills.

The third point to think about is the franchisor’s territory map. Is there an opportunity available in your region? Territories in the Kitchen Tune-Up system are exclusive. They determine territories by evaluating census numbers and then adjusting the demographics based on the age of homes and household income of homeowners, in addition to other factors. Each Kitchen Tune-Up territory has a minimum of 41,000 single-family homes in it with an average population of 260,000.

Finally, what is the level of training and support offered by the franchisor you are considering? Kitchen Tune-Up’s training is varied and on-going. It starts with a home-study pre-training course that guides you through opening your business, as well as setting the stage for when you come to the in-person training school. Once you have completed both the home study and the in-person trainings, franchisees are assigned a mentor to help with the additional ongoing training and support. 

But that isn’t the end of training with Kitchen Tune-Up. During the first 12 weeks that your franchise begins operating, you can access the KTU Connect Program. Franchisees are assigned a Connector to check in regularly—as often or as little as you need. Finally, Kitchen Tune-Up provides ongoing webinars, podcasts, newsletters, weekly coaching calls, and discussions in a private Facebook group, in addition to an annual three-day gathering for all franchisees.

Finding the right franchise for you can be a challenge, but Frannexus franchise consultants can help. We understand that not all franchises are alike. Frannexus supports you by allowing you to evaluate and select the franchise opportunity that’s an ideal fit for you based on your experience, goals, passion, lifestyle requirements, and budget. Our proven process will help you make the right decision, whether you are looking for a career transition, an investment portfolio diversification strategy, or simply want to be your own boss.

Contact Frannexus today to get started on turning your dream of owning your own business into a reality.