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$146,950–$512,450 to open a Metro Market, then 6% of every dollar (with minimums), forever. Here's the real math.
Two Men and a Truck is the largest franchised moving company in the United States, and unlike a lot of home-service franchises, its numbers hold up: per its 2026 FDD, single Metro Market franchises averaged roughly $2.38 million in 2025 gross sales. This is a serious, well-run system — we'll give it that up front.
But "well-run system" and "the best way for you to own a moving business" are two different questions. A Metro Market franchise costs $146,950–$512,450 to open (2026 FDD Item 7), and you pay 6% of gross sales in royalties — subject to escalating minimums — for the entire life of the agreement.
This article breaks down what a Two Men and a Truck franchise actually costs, acknowledges what it does well, and shows how the numbers compare to building an independent moving company with professional systems.
Two Men and a Truck is a local moving franchise founded in 1985 and headquartered in Lansing, Michigan. It is the largest franchised mover in the U.S., ranked No. 184 on Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500. Franchisees operate local moving and junk-removal services under two formats: the full Metro Market ($146,950–$512,450 total investment) and the smaller Mod Market ($92,100–$251,500). All franchisees pay a 6% royalty on gross sales plus required marketing contributions, with minimum royalties that increase over the first several years.
Moving is a strong home-service category: high average tickets, steady demand, and repeat/referral business from real-estate cycles. Two Men and a Truck has built a genuine brand and a mature operating system on top of that demand. Credit where due — this isn't a weak franchise. The question is whether the brand and system are worth handing over 6% of a multi-million-dollar revenue stream indefinitely.
Per the 2026 FDD (Item 7), a Metro Market franchise requires a total initial investment of $146,950–$512,450, including a $50,000–$165,000 franchise fee. The smaller Mod Market format runs $92,100–$251,500 with a $30,000–$40,000 franchise fee. Ongoing royalties are 6% of gross sales, plus required marketing contributions, with Metro Market minimum royalties of roughly $24,000 (year 1), $33,000 (year 2), $39,000 (year 3), and $45,000 (year 4 and beyond).
| Initial investment (mid-range Metro entry) | $330,000 |
| Royalties (6% on $900K/yr × 4 yrs post-ramp) | $216,000 |
| Marketing, tech & brand-standard fees (est.) | $40,000 |
| Total 5-Year Cost | ~$586,000 |
Note: Entry varies from $146,950–$512,450 per the 2026 FDD; this model uses a mid-range Metro entry and a $900,000/year operation — well below the ~$2.38M single-unit average reported in Item 19, so it is conservative. Royalty is calculated on years 2–5 at target revenue. Actual figures are disclosed in the current FDD.
Even on conservative revenue, the franchise route runs well into six figures over five years — and at the reported average of $2.38 million/year, the 6% royalty alone is roughly $143,000 per year. That's the real price of the brand: a permanent percentage of a large revenue stream.
HomePro gives you the systems to run a professional moving or home-service business — without a six-figure franchise fee and without a royalty on every dollar you earn.
Start Free Today See Pricing →Two Men and a Truck franchisees get one of the strongest brands in moving, a mature operating system, national marketing, established software and logistics tools, training, and territory rights. For someone entering the capital-intensive moving business, that infrastructure is real and it shortens the path to scale. This is the genuine value you're paying for.
In moving — a trust-and-reliability purchase for stressed customers — brand recognition is worth something. Two Men and a Truck's name and reputation help win jobs, particularly against fragmented local competitors.
Dispatch, estimating, fleet management, hiring, and customer-service processes are all built and battle-tested. Moving is operationally complex; a proven system reduces the number of expensive mistakes a new owner makes.
Unlike many franchises, Two Men and a Truck publishes detailed Item 19 performance data — average sales, expense breakdowns, and EBITDA. That transparency is a real credit and makes due diligence easier.
A Two Men and a Truck Metro Market franchise costs $146,950–$512,450 to enter and 6% of gross sales (with minimums) forever. HomePro Systems costs $79/month (Sage included) with no franchise fee, no royalties, no territory restrictions, and no franchise agreement. Over 5 years, a conservatively-sized franchise pays roughly $586,000 in combined entry and ongoing costs; HomePro costs roughly $7,940.
| Factor | Two Men and a Truck (Metro) | HomePro Systems (Independent) |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | $50,000–$165,000 | $0 |
| Total Initial Investment | $146,950–$512,450 | $0 (free to start) |
| Ongoing Cost | 6% of gross + minimums + marketing | $79/mo flat (Sage included) |
| At $900K/yr Revenue | ~$54,000/yr to corporate forever | $948/yr total |
| Brand | Two Men and a Truck's brand | Your own brand |
| Territory | Granted territory | No restrictions |
| Operating Systems / SOPs | ✅ Mature, included | ✅ Included in Pro ($79/mo) |
| AI Coaching | No | Sage AI (voice, EN/ES) |
| Minimum Royalty | Yes — up to ~$45K/yr | None |
| Exit | Franchise agreement terms apply | Cancel anytime |
| 5-Year Total Cost | ~$586,000 (conservative) | ~$7,940 |
HomePro Systems gives independent home-service operators — including movers — the same kind of operational backbone a franchise provides, without the franchise fee, the royalty, or the loss of brand ownership.
Two Men and a Truck makes sense for a well-capitalized owner who wants a proven, high-volume moving system and a national brand, and who is comfortable paying a large entry cost plus 6% of a multi-million-dollar revenue stream for it. If you have the capital and value a mature, documented system over cost efficiency and full ownership, it's one of the stronger franchise options in home services.
Consider Two Men and a Truck if:
HomePro is the right choice for movers and home-service owners who want professional systems while keeping their money and their brand:
At $900,000/year in moving revenue — conservative for an established local mover:
| Two Men and a Truck (Metro) | HomePro Systems |
| Entry (mid-range): $330,000 | Entry: $0 |
| Royalties (6% × $900K × 4 yr): $216,000 | Subscription (5 yr): $4,740–$5,940 |
| Marketing/tech/brand fees: ~$40,000 | Equipment/LLC/insurance: your own |
| Total: ~$586,000 | Total: ~$7,940 (systems only) |
A moving business carries real operating costs either way (trucks, crew, fuel, insurance). This comparison isolates the franchise premium — the fee and royalties you pay purely for the brand and system. That premium alone runs into the hundreds of thousands over five years.
Per the 2026 FDD (Item 7), a Metro Market franchise costs $146,950–$512,450 total, including a $50,000–$165,000 franchise fee. The smaller Mod Market runs $92,100–$251,500. All franchisees pay 6% royalties with annual minimums. Always request the current FDD before investing.
Per the 2026 FDD Item 19, single Metro Market franchises averaged about $2.38 million in 2025 gross sales with roughly 14.4% EBITDA (about $342,000). Results vary widely by market and tenure, and owner take-home is reduced by the 6% royalty, marketing fees, and debt service on the entry cost.
By franchise standards, yes — it has a dominant brand, mature systems, and transparent, strong Item 19 numbers. The tradeoff is a large capital requirement and 6% of gross forever. Whether it's "good for you" depends on whether you'd rather pay that premium or build independently and keep it.
Alternatives include other moving franchises (College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, All My Sons) or building an independent moving company with professional systems. HomePro Systems provides franchise-grade operations, pricing, marketing, and hiring systems for $79/month with no franchise fee and no royalties. See our study on the real cost of a home-service franchise.
If you have substantial capital and want the safety of a dominant, proven system, Two Men and a Truck is a defensible choice — it's one of the better franchises in home services. But if you can run crews and win jobs, building independently with professional systems lets you keep the 6% royalty and the franchise fee, and own the brand you build. For experienced operators, that's hundreds of thousands of dollars and a sellable asset difference over time.
Moving is won on reliability, careful handling, and professional communication. Those come from good systems and good people — not from a franchise license. HomePro Systems provides that operational backbone for $79/month (Sage included).
See also: The Franchise Math Calculator — run your own numbers and see exactly what royalties cost you over 10 years.
Get the operational infrastructure of a franchise — SOPs, scripts, pricing tools, AI coaching — without a six-figure entry fee or a percentage of your revenue leaving every month.
Start Free Today See Full Pricing →Disclaimer: Franchise cost and performance figures are based on publicly available Franchise Disclosure Documents, FDD analyses, and industry research current as of 2026 (Two Men and a Truck's 2026 FDD). Item 19 performance representations reflect specific reported groups and are not a guarantee of your results. Actual costs vary by market and format. Always request and review the current FDD before making any investment decision. HomePro Systems is not affiliated with Two Men and a Truck or any franchise system.
Our FDD analysis of major home-service franchises — the operator pays $170K–$275K in royalties and fees over 10 years.
Read the Study →Run the numbers for any franchise royalty rate and see exactly what you're paying over time.
See the Math →Another home-service franchise with a six-figure entry and 7% royalties. See how the numbers compare.
Read Article →Real pricing sheets, follow-up scripts, and the franchise-grade systems independent operators use to book more jobs — and stop leaving money on the table. Straight to your inbox, free.