FRANCHISE·WATCH·DESK

FDD ITEM 20 · FISCAL 2023–2025

The Grout Doctor Item 20: outlets, exits & growth

In its latest FDD Item 20 (fiscal 2025, from the 2026 FDD), The Grout Doctor reported 78 franchised outlets at year end. 4 of 81 franchised outlets open at the start of the year left the system (exit rate 4.9%, fiscal 2025), while 1 new outlets opened. Systemwide units moved -2.4% over 2023–2025.

Item 20 · outlet status by yearas filed
Status (FTC)202320242025
Outlets at start868283
Opened631
Transfers311
Terminations432
Non-renewals200
Reacquired by franchisor010
Ceased — other reasons202
Outlets at end828380
Net change-4+1-3
How the exit count is computedfiscal 2025

2 terminations + 0 non-renewals + 2 ceased (other) = 4 exits ÷ 81 at start = 4.9%

These are the three FTC Item 20 statuses in which a franchised outlet left the system — including voluntary non-renewals and outlets that ceased for other reasons, which can include sales or absorption into another franchise. Transfers (1) are resales, not exits; reacquisitions by the franchisor (0) are tracked separately. There is no official “failure rate”, and not every exit is a closure or a failure; Item 20 does not say why any outlet left. On a small starting base, a single exit moves this rate sharply.

Franchised outlets by state · fiscal 202530 states/territories
StateFranchisedCompany-owned
FL14—
TX12—
AZ6—
OH5—
CA40
IL4—
CO3—
MI3—
NC3—
SC30
UT3—
VA3—
GA2—
MO2—
AK1—
HI1—
ID1—
IN1—
KY1—
NE1—
NJ1—
OK1—
TN1—
WA1—
WI1—
AL0—
LA0—
MN0—
NV01
NY01

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