Invest in franchises
Invest in real estate loans
Investments
$10
Groundfloor enables individuals to begin investing in real estate with a minimal initial requirement of only $10.
High Risk
4/5
Investing in FranShares involves risks such as market volatility, economic changes, and franchise-specific challenges. Despite efforts to mitigate risks, there's no guarantee of returns, and FranShares' financial health could impact investments.
Moderate Risk
3/5
Investing on Groundfloor involves credit risk from borrower default, market risk due to real estate market fluctuations, liquidity risk as investments are tied up until loan maturity without a secondary market for early exit, regulatory risk from changes in laws affecting real estate and crowdfunding, and platform risk related to operational disruptions or cybersecurity threats.
Minimum Liquidity
1/5
While liquidity isn't guaranteed, the platform is developing a secondary market for potential future liquidity opportunities.
Minimum Liquidity
1/5
On Groundfloor, liquidity is tied to the term of the real estate loans, which range from 6 to 18 months. Investors' funds are committed until the loan matures and the borrower repays.
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Moderate Return
20 %
FranShares' TNT Franchise Fund Inc., with 55 locations across major U.S. metros, historically generates returns of 20 to 28% EBITDA per location after 16-18 months.
Moderate Return
10.72 %
Groundfloor's loans are graded from A to G, with interest rates ranging from 5.5% to 25.5% annually, based on risk. A diversified portfolio across all repaid loans to date would have earned a 10.72% annualized net return.
Long-term Investment
5-15 years
Income portfolios target a 10-15 year hold; growth funds aim for a 5-7 year period before selling.
Short-term Investment
6+ months
Groundfloor investments have loan terms ranging from 6 to 18 months.
Who can invest
International
FranShares welcomes both accredited and non-accredited investors, focusing mainly on opportunities for non-accredited individuals. The platform also accepts international investors from many countries, depending on the specifics of each offering.
Who can invest
International
Groundfloor is accessible to investors both in the US and internationally. However, for non-US investors, a minimum transfer-in amount of $5,000 is required.
Moderate Volatility
3/5
Franchise investments are subject to volatility due to economic shifts, industry trends, and franchise performance. While some franchises may be more resilient, values can fluctuate, posing a risk to investment value in adverse conditions.
Moderate Volatility
3/5
The assets on Groundfloor, which are short-term real estate loans, generally exhibit lower volatility compared to stocks, as their value is more closely tied to specific real estate projects and less to daily market swings.
Regulation and audits
SEC Regulated
FranShares employs SEC regulations A+, D, and CF for its investment offerings, creating structures with a main investment vehicle and subsidiaries for each franchise brand, possibly including locations or groups of locations.
Regulation and audits
SEC Regulated
Groundfloor offers securities under Regulation A of the Securities Act of 1933, allowing it to sell securities to residents in states where it's qualified or announced its intent under Regulation A's Tier 1 or Tier 2.
Insurance
Yes
FranShares' insurance covers physical damages or losses to franchises but does not protect against market fluctuations, economic downturns, or fraud. Coverage limits may not fully reflect market values, meaning insurance does not eliminate all investment risks.
Insurance
No
Investments on Groundfloor are not insured by any government agency such as the FDIC or SIPC, nor are they guaranteed by Groundfloor. This means investors fully assume the risk of borrower default or project failure, without any insurance safety net.
Payouts
Dividends
FranShares plans to distribute excess cash flow to investors 12 to 18 months after each offering closes, with distributions expected quarterly. The frequency can vary (quarterly, semi-annual, or annual) based on the specific offering.
Payouts
Interest
Groundfloor pays interest on funded loans. Interest accrues from the investment date until the loan is repaid. Loans may have monthly or deferred payment terms, with monthly interest payments processed once a month and lump sum repayments for deferred loans.
Withdrawals
Investors in FranShares can receive their investment back through the sale of franchises, targeted within 5-15 years depending on the fund type. Upon sale, net proceeds are distributed to investors based on their fund ownership share.
Withdrawals
Investors on Groundfloor get their money back, including principal and accrued interest, once the borrower repays the loan, typically within 6 to 18 months. Repayments are processed within 7 days, with funds made available in the investor's dashboard for withdrawal or reinvestment.
Extra Fees
Yes
FranShares charges a 1% to 3% annual management fee and possibly a performance fee, detailed in each offering's documents. No management fees are charged for the "TNT Franchise Inc." offering.
Extra Fees
No
Investors on Groundfloor pay no fees. Instead, borrowers are charged an underwriting fee by Groundfloor, ranging from 2% to 4.5% of the loan's principal amount.
Taxes
Annual Statement
FranShares investors may owe capital gains taxes on profits from share sales and pay taxes on dividends, classified as ordinary or qualified based on holding periods and individual tax situations.
Taxes
Tax Form
Groundfloor provides tax support by issuing a 1099-INT form for interest income over $10, a 1099-B for principal losses, and a 1099-MISC for promotional credits over $600.