The questions people actually ask.

Helpful, not required. A handful of our best operators came in with no skiing background. What matters more is that you're an entrepreneurial operator, you love working with kids and families, and you genuinely care about the lifestyle this business creates. The technical side — instruction, curriculum, training — is what we bring.

The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a federally regulated document that contains every material fact about the franchise — investment ranges, fees, financial performance, franchisee contact info, the franchise agreement itself. We deliver it after our brand presentation (typically week 3 of the process). Federal law then requires 14 days before you can sign anything. Use that time for real diligence.

Not for the first year. Shredder is a community-driven business — parents need to feel that the owner is invested in the place their kids spend time. After year one, with a strong general manager in place, semi-absentee structures are viable. Multi-unit owners eventually run a portfolio. But we don't award territories to passive investors looking for hands-off cash flow.

9 markets are open and operating. Five more are signed and in active development. That leaves roughly 80 metro markets in the U.S. that fit our demographic profile and are still available. If your specific city is gone, the nearest open territory is usually within 30 minutes of where you are.

SBA-preferred lenders typically want to see 10–20% of total project cost in liquid capital, which puts the floor around $30K–$70K liquid for a single unit. Personal net worth requirements are higher. Bank-financed and self-financed structures both work. We'll walk through your specific structure on the intro call.

Pre-opening: 4–6 months of part-time-to-full-time work depending on how hands-on you want to be on buildout and hiring. First 6 months operating: this is your real job. After that, with a strong staff in place, the time commitment drops considerably. Most year-two owners are running 25–35 hours a week with one capable manager.

Because we've only been franchising for a short window. Until recently, every Shredder location was company-owned. The category has been validated; we just haven't put a flag in every city yet. That's literally the opportunity.

Fair question to ask any franchisor. Shredder has been operating successfully for over a decade across 9 locations. The company is owner-operated and has no outside venture capital pressure to grow at unsustainable speed. The franchise agreement contains specific provisions for franchisee continuity in the unlikely event of corporate-level disruption. Your local business is yours regardless.

Yes. Franchises are transferable subject to franchisor approval of the buyer (standard in every franchise system). The transfer process and any associated fees are detailed in the franchise agreement and FDD.

The initial franchise term is 10 years with renewal options. Specific renewal fee and conditions are detailed in the FDD. We have not had a non-renewal in our history.

Standard franchise structure: an initial franchise fee paid at signing, an ongoing royalty as a percentage of gross sales, and a marketing/brand fund contribution. Specific percentages are in Item 5 and Item 6 of the FDD, which we deliver during the discovery process.

During discovery, you'll work directly with Rob (owner) and the franchise development team. Post-opening, every franchisee has a dedicated operations coach plus access to the owner for strategic questions. We're not a 500-location system with layers — when you call, you reach a person who knows your name.