THE SCOUT GUIDE
The Scout Guide franchise enables operators to establish and operate an advertising publication business specializing in the production and distribution of high-quality advertising guides under the 'The Scout Guide' or 'TSG' brands. Franchisees sell advertising space in these print guides to local businesses and distribute them to upscale consumers, with additional digital promotion via websites, social media, and newsletters. The business model relies on advertising revenue from primarily small businesses in developed markets, with year-round sales.
Franchise Costs
10% royalty + $175/mo technology fee
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How THE SCOUT GUIDE Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 76% of Business Services franchises
- Higher than average SBA loan default rate in Business Services
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
THE SCOUT GUIDE Current | $137K – $246K | $50K | 10.0% | 88 |
| 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 (2023)
Outlets by state across the United States
+19 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for THE SCOUT GUIDE franchisees (2022 – 2025)
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
88 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 |
88 Contacts Available
Unlock all THE SCOUT GUIDE franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
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 THE SCOUT GUIDE franchise ranges from $136,600 to $245,900. This includes a franchise fee of $50,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 10.0% of gross sales.
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Also includes FDDs for
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