FDD-based analysis. Item-level data. No franchisor input.
Miracle-Ear franchises retail hearing aid centers, called Miracle-Ear Centers, that sell a complete line of hearing aids manufactured for Miracle-Ear along with related products and presale and post-sale services to hearing-impaired consumers. Miracle-Ear arranges for the design and manufacture of its hearing aid products and administers the franchise system, while each Center operates as a freestanding store or within an approved third-party retail environment and is required to develop multiple Centers within an assigned Territory. The brand serves a hearing-impaired population in the United States estimated at more than 38 million people and competes with independent hearing aid dealers, large general retailers, audiologists, audiology clinics, and dispensing physicians.
Source: Entrepreneur 2026 ranking/profile data and Franchise Disclosure Document, rewritten by Zorzee
Every value here comes straight from the FDD; anything not yet source-verified stays blank rather than estimated. The Pro figures and full interpretation unlock with a Pro membership.
Every data point Zorzee tracks for this brand, in FDD Item order. Missing source data stays blank; Pro-only interpretation remains locked.
| Item | Data Point | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 3 | Litigation Actions (total) | 4 actions disclosed | FDD Item 3 |
| Item 5 | Initial Franchise Fee | The Initial Franchise Fee is a $20,000 License Fee plus a Territory Fee of $4,000 per 100,000 of population, with a minimum Territory Fee of $10,000 for a Territory with a population of up to 250,000 (Item 5, p.15). | FDD Item 5 |
| Item 5 | Development Fee | No separate development fee disclosed. Initial Inventory of hearing aid products/accessories from Miracle-Ear runs $5,000-$10,000 per Center (if not converting an existing business or acquiring inventory from the prior franchisee). | FDD Item 5 |
| Item 6 | Royalty Fee | Per-unit Royalty, NOT a percent of sales: $48.80 for each Miracle-Ear hearing aid and $30.15 for each AudioTone Pro, due when payment is due for the hearing aid. | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | National Media Fund | Pro | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | Corporate Ad & Development Fund | Pro | FDD Item 6 |
| Item 6 | Total Ongoing Fee Burden | Pro | Calculated (Item 6) |
| Item 7 | Total Investment (low) | $120,000 | FDD Item 7 |
| Item 7 | Total Investment (high) | $402,500 | FDD Item 7 |
| Item 8 | Required Purchases (food/supplies) | Pro | FDD Item 8 |
| Item 11 | Franchisor Assistance | Pro | FDD Item 11 |
| Item 12 | Exclusive Territory | Pro | FDD Item 12 |
| Item 12 | Territory Size | Pro | FDD Item 12 |
| Item 15 | Operating Participation | Pro | FDD Item 15 |
| Item 17 | Initial Term Length | Pro | FDD Item 17(a) |
| Item 17 | Renewal Terms | Pro | FDD Item 17(b)-(c) |
| Item 17 | Required Remodel at Renewal | Pro | FDD Item 17(c) |
| Item 17 | Termination Triggers | Pro | FDD Item 17(f)-(h) |
| Item 17 | Transfer Fee | Pro | FDD Item 17(m), Item 6 |
| Item 17 | ROFR Provisions | Pro | FDD Item 17(n) |
| Item 17 | Post-Termination Non-Compete | Pro | FDD Item 17(r) |
| Item 19 | Revenue Metric Disclosed | Yes: Average Unit Metric $427,980 / Median Unit Metric $368,034 | FDD Item 19 |
| Item 20 | Total Franchised Units (2025) | 1,183 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Company-Owned Units (2025) | 412 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Total System Net Unit Growth (YoY) | +7 | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Terminations | Pro | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 20 | Agreements Signed, Not Yet Open | Pro | FDD Item 20 |
| Item 21 | Audited Financials | Pro | FDD Item 21 |
Each signal turns one part of the filing into a read a buyer can act on. Strength means the disclosed data is favorable. In Line means it is typical for the category. Deal-Specific means the term is populated but you still have to model it against your own deal. Concern means the disclosed data is a real risk. The read is free. The reasoning behind it is the Pro read.
Item 19 earnings data is disclosed for Miracle-Ear. The full disclosure is free below; Zorzee's read of what it means stays in Pro.
Miracle-Ear trajectory is shown only where source-backed. Missing Item 20 fields stay blank inside the locked layout instead of removing the section.
Source: FDD Item 20 where present. Total system units, franchised plus company-owned. Not financial advice.
4 actions disclosed in FDD Item 3. Case-level detail remains locked in Pro.
Zorzee editorial. Independent analysis. No franchisor review or approval. Not financial advice.
The filing tells you what Miracle-Ear costs to open. Pro adds the read on whether the numbers work for you, in your market, and whether this brand is a business or a job you bought.
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A Miracle-Ear franchise costs $120,000 to $402,500 to open, disclosed in FDD Item 7 of the 2026 filing, covering the franchise fee, buildout, equipment, and working capital to breakeven. No commissions, no franchisor revenue, independent analysis only.
Miracle-Ear uses a Variable fee model fee structure, disclosed in FDD Item 6.
Item 19 for Miracle-Ear discloses an average unit volume of $427,980 (median $368,034) in the 2026 FDD. The figure is gross sales, not profit. Zorzee's read of what it excludes is in the Pro dossier.
Miracle-Ear's average unit volume is $427,980 (median $368,034) in the 2026 FDD. The figure is gross sales, not profit. Zorzee's read of what it excludes is in the Pro dossier.
Miracle-Ear's FDD Item 3 discloses 4 legal actions. A raw count means little without scale and time, so weigh it against the system's 1,595 units and the years covered. The case-level detail is the Pro read.
Zorzee does not rate franchises good or bad; it reports what the filing discloses so you can judge fit. Miracle-Ear shows Deal-Specific reads on Fee Structure, Operator Validation, and Term & Exit Terms, Strength on Unit Economics, In Line on Litigation History. Whether it fits depends on your capital, your market, and your operating style. Independent analysis, no franchisor revenue.