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Education/TutoringLimited DataItem 19: ✓ DisclosedMedium Confidence · 60/100FDD data: 2022 · Stale

Chess at Three Franchise Cost and Profit

FDD-based startup cost, franchise fee, revenue, profit, SBA default rate, and investment risk signals for Chess at Three.

Based on 2022 FDD · 1 filing in corpus

This page is using 2022 FDD source data. Verify the franchisor's current FDD before relying on costs, fees, or Item 19. It is excluded from search indexing until refreshed.

FranchiseIQ Score
54
C
Moderate Risk
Composite score from 3 risk dimensions. Click for breakdown ↓
Health Score
C
55/100
2/7 metrics · Low confidence
Full analysis unlocks:
✓ Cash-on-Cash return
✓ Payback period
✓ SBA default rate
✓ Red flags assessment
✓ Comparable franchises
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Cost and profit at a glance

How much does a Chess at Three franchise cost and make?

Based on FDDIQ's FDD corpus, a Chess at Three franchise shows an estimated initial investment of $56K – $167K. The franchisor does not provide enough Item 19 data for a clean profit estimate. Use the links below to compare the cost, revenue, SBA loan history, and ROI against other franchises before you request the full FDD.

Startup Cost
$56K – $167K
Total initial investment
Profit / Revenue
Item 19 not disclosed
FDD Item 19 signal
Payback Signal
Estimate unavailable
Modeled return metric
SBA Default Rate
No matched SBA history
Loan repayment history
Compare franchise costsEstimate franchise ROICheck SBA default ratesBrowse Education/Tutoring franchisesCompare similar franchises

Quick fee read: $45K franchise fee · 9% royalty/ad burden. These figures are directional screening data, not a substitute for reading the current FDD and speaking with existing operators.

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Before you talk to Chess at Three, check the numbers buyers usually miss.

The unlocked report ties this brand's FDD disclosures to SBA outcomes, Item 20 movement, fee load, missing-data labels, and buyer assumptions — so you can decide whether this is worth deeper diligence.

FDD disclosure qualitySBA default outcomesItem 20 unit movementFee/cost stressComparable brands
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Chess at Three Franchise Analysis

Chess at Three requires a total initial investment of $56K to $167K (midpoint approximately $112K), with an initial franchise fee of $45K. The ongoing fee burden is 9% (8% royalty plus 1% advertising fund). This is below the industry average of approximately 15.5%, leaving more margin for the operator.

Chess at Three does not publicly disclose Item 19 financial performance data in their FDD. This is a significant transparency gap — franchisees must rely on validation calls and personal research rather than audited financial representations. Prospective buyers should demand current unit-level financials from existing operators during due diligence.

Prospective franchisees should verify all figures against the most recent FDD, conduct validation calls with multiple existing franchisees, and consult with a franchise attorney before signing any agreement.

Analysis based on 2022 FDD filing. FDDIQ Editorial Team · Methodology

Total Investment Range$56K$167K
MinMid: $112KMax

Key Metrics

Franchise Fee
$45K
Royalty Rate
8%
Ad Fund Rate
1%
Total Burden
9.0%
Royalty + ad fund
Units (2023)
-
Net Unit Growth
-
Year over year
Cash-on-Cash Return
~8–15%
Annual estimated return
Payback Period
~5–12 yrs
Break-even timeline
SBA Default Rate
~3–8%
Fewer than 50 loans on record
Median Revenue
~$800K–$2M
Item 19 disclosed
Red Flags Assessment
LOW: Single-year corpus
LOW ×1
Premium Data

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CoC ReturnPayback PeriodSBA Default RateMedian RevenueEbitda MarginRisk Score
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Estimated using sector-average margins. Actual franchise economics vary by location, operator, and market conditions.

Chess at Three vs. Education/Tutoring Average

MetricChess at ThreeEducation/Tutoring Avg
SBA Default Rate - 7.2%
Cash-on-Cash Return - 15.5%
Total Investment$112K$250K

Industry averages based on FranchiseIQ corpus benchmarks. ▲ = better than avg, ▼ = worse.

Compare

Chess at Three vs Arthur MurrayChess at Three vs America’s Music School LLCChess at Three vs Mad Science

Similar Franchises · Education/Tutoring

Arthur Murray
Limited Data
$71K$253K
America’s Music School LLC
$255K$545K
Mad Science
Revenue Only
$132K$192K
Arthur Murray
$71K – $253K
America’s Music School LLC
$255K – $545K
Mad Science
$132K – $192K
CodeFu
$22K – $25K

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Questions to Ask Before You Sign

5 data-driven questions every Chess at Three franchise buyer should ask.

  1. 1.What is Chess at Three's SBA default rate compared to its competitors?Learn more →
  2. 2.Does Chess at Three disclose Item 19 financial performance representations?Learn more →
  3. 3.What is the net unit growth trend over the past 3 years?Learn more →
  4. 4.What is the franchisee termination and transfer rate per Item 20?Learn more →
  5. 5.What do the FDD litigation disclosures (Item 3) reveal about franchisor legal history?Learn more →
Generate attorney questions for Chess at ThreeValidation call guide →
Data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) submitted to state franchise regulators. SBA loan data from public SBA 7(a) records. Information reflects the most recent FDD filing in our database and may not reflect current terms. Always verify with the franchisor's current FDD before making any investment decision. Not legal or financial advice.

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