BNI
BNI Franchising, LLC grants franchises to operate territories with business networking referral groups called Chapters, composed of non-competing business professionals who meet weekly to exchange qualified referrals using BNI's proprietary structure, format, and training. Franchisees train and support Chapter Members to grow their businesses through these referrals, collecting annual subscription fees from Members while paying royalties to the franchisor based on gross revenues. The target market includes small to medium-sized business owners and professionals seeking structured networking opportunities.
Franchise Costs
20% royalty + $720/mo brand compliance fee (only if non-compliant) + $36 annual R&D per new/renewing member
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: 99 Operational Franchise Outlets for 2024 Calendar Year
* Average Gross Revenue ($343,922) and Median Gross Revenue ($262,018) are taken directly from the '100%' percentile row of Table 1 for Operational Franchise Outlets. Revenue for the top quartile ($772,247) is the 'Average Gross Revenue' for the 'Top 25%' percentile. Revenue for the bottom quartile ($85,027) is the 'Average Gross Revenue' for the 'Bottom 25%' percentile. No information on gross profit, net income, net profit, EBITDA, or expense data was provided.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How BNI Compares
Key Insights
- Higher than average SBA loan default rate in Business Services
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BNI Current | $53K – $194K | $35K | 20.0% | 99 |
| Bimbo Foods Bakeries Distribution, LLC | $14K – $607K | N/A | N/A | 6,454 |
| THE UPS STORE (TRADITIONAL) | $216K – $609K | $30K | 5.0% | 4,500 |
| JACKSON HEWITT TAX SERVICE | $71K – $105K | $25K | 15.0% | 2,744 |
| CRUISE PLANNERS | $2K – $21K | $11K | 3.0% | 2,655 |
| SERVPRO (UNIT) | $259K – $380K | $100K | 10.0% | 2,286 |
Business Services Average 188 franchises | $118K – $284K | $46K | 10.4% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 188 Business Services franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+22 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for BNI franchisees (2020 – 2020)
Loans by Year
SBA 7(a) loan activity over time
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
99 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
99 Contacts Available
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Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Primarily non-renewal disputes, breach of contract claims, and violations of franchise laws by former master franchisees (India, China) and U.S. franchisees, resolved via settlement, withdrawal, or ongoing negotiations.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a BNI franchise ranges from $53,395 to $193,645. This includes a franchise fee of $35,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 20.0% of gross sales.
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