Jackson Hewitt Tax Service vs Realty ONE Group: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Retail & Services Real Estate Real Data Not Investment Advice
JH

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service

Retail & Services
$50K – $250K
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VS
RO

Realty ONE Group

Real Estate
$22K – $243K
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Realty ONE Group wins on investment range ($7K less) vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.
Fee Burden
Realty ONE Group wins on royalty rate (7.0% lower) vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.
Unit Count
Realty ONE Group wins on total units (14,200 more) vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.
Satisfaction
Realty ONE Group wins on franchisee satisfaction vs Jackson Hewitt Tax Service.

Detailed Analysis: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service vs Realty ONE Group

Choosing between Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and Realty ONE Group comes down to your investment capacity, risk tolerance, and operational preferences. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service operates in Retail & Services while Realty ONE Group is in Real Estate. Cross-industry comparisons are valuable when you're evaluating which business model best fits your skills and lifestyle.

From a capital perspective, Realty ONE Group has a lower entry point. However, initial investment alone doesn't determine ROI — ongoing royalties, revenue potential, and failure rates all factor into long-term returns. Realty ONE Group charges a lower royalty rate, which means more of your gross revenue stays in your pocket.

Franchisee satisfaction is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success. Realty ONE Group leads with a 78/100 satisfaction score, indicating that existing owners are more positive about their decision. Before committing to either franchise, we recommend running both through our Financial Model tool to project personalized 5-year P&L scenarios. You should also review each franchise's complete Franchise Disclosure Document using our FDD Checker to understand litigation history, termination rates, and territory restrictions.

Investment & Fees

Metric Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Realty ONE Group
Min Investment $50K $22K
Max Investment $250K $243K
Franchise Fee $15K $13K
Royalty Rate 12.0% 5.0%
Ad Fund Rate N/A N/A

Unit Economics

Metric Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Realty ONE Group
Avg Unit Revenue $100K N/A
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Realty ONE Group
Total Units 5,800 20,000
Annual Growth -50.0% N/A
Failure Rate N/A N/A

Franchisee Performance

Metric Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Realty ONE Group
Franchisee Satisfaction 58/100 78/100

Track Record

Metric Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Realty ONE Group
Years in Business N/A N/A
Years Franchising N/A N/A

Financial Requirements

Metric Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Realty ONE Group
Min Net Worth Required N/A N/A
Liquid Capital Required N/A N/A

Operations

Metric Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Realty ONE Group
Avg Employees N/A N/A
Training Weeks N/A N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jackson Hewitt Tax Service or Realty ONE Group a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has 5,800 total units and a 58/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Realty ONE Group has 20,000 total units and a 78/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a Jackson Hewitt Tax Service franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Jackson Hewitt Tax Service franchise requires an initial investment of $50K – $250K. The franchise fee is $15K, with ongoing royalties of 12.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a Realty ONE Group franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Realty ONE Group franchise requires an initial investment of $22K – $243K. The franchise fee is $13K, with ongoing royalties of 5.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for Jackson Hewitt Tax Service vs Realty ONE Group?

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service's royalty rate is 12.0%. Realty ONE Group's royalty rate is 5.0%. That means Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — Jackson Hewitt Tax Service or Realty ONE Group?

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service has 5,800 total units. Realty ONE Group has 20,000 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is Jackson Hewitt Tax Service or Realty ONE Group semi-absentee friendly?

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service is typically run as a owner-operator model. Realty ONE Group is typically run as a owner-operator model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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