Painting with a Twist franchise
Painting with a Twist runs paint-and-sip studios where an artist leads groups step by step through a painting while guests bring or buy drinks. Studios host public classes, parties and corporate events. At the end of 2023 there were 220 Painting with a Twist locations in the US, 219 franchised and 1 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $119K–$256K
- Franchise fee
- $25,000
- Royalty
- 6%
- Locations, 2023
- 220−29 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Agreement length
- 7 years
- Financing
- None offered
From Painting with a Twist LLC’s 2024 filing.
How much a Painting with a Twist franchise costs
Opening a single Painting with a Twist studio costs an estimated $119,000 to $255,500. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Painting with a Twist LLC, 2024 filing, page 19
Painting with a Twist franchise fee
The franchise fee is $25,000, for a first studio. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Painting with a Twist LLC, 2024 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 6% of weekly gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | A 2% system advertising fee, paid weekly. |
Source: Painting with a Twist LLC, 2024 filing, page 15
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Painting with a Twist publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2023 gross sales for 191 franchised studios open at least 12 months. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Painting with a Twist LLC, 2024 filing, page 64
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 231 (−17) | 1 | 21 |
| 2022 | 219 (−12) | 1 | 14 |
| 2023 | 219 (0) | 1 | 5 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Painting with a Twist LLC, 2024 filing, page 67
How Painting with a Twist compares
Of the 6 entertainment franchises on this site, Painting with a Twist is the cheapest to open and the 2nd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Painting with a Twist | Typical entertainment |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $119K | $1.37M |
| Royalty | 6% | 6% |
| Closed or left per year | 5.6% | 4.1% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | −11.7% | +14.4% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 6 of 6 |
Typical is the median across the 6 brands in entertainment franchises.
Other entertainment franchises
Painting with a Twist franchise questions
Does Painting with a Twist help with financing?
No. Painting with a Twist does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
How long is a Painting with a Twist franchise agreement?
The initial term is 7 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Painting with a Twist growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 11 franchised locations opened and 40 closed or left, a net change of −11.7%. About 5.6% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 4.1% typical for entertainment franchises.
How does Painting with a Twist compare with other entertainment franchises?
Of the 6 entertainment franchises here, Painting with a Twist is the cheapest to open (low end $119K against a $1.37M median) and the 2nd largest by number of locations. Its 6% royalty is in line with the 6% median.
Does Painting with a Twist say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2023 gross sales for 191 franchised studios open at least 12 months. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.