The company was founded in the early 1980s by two Lansing brothers, Brig and Jon Sorber. Using an old '66 Ford pickup truck[citation needed], they performed moves to earn extra spending money. Their mother, Mary Ellen Sheets, drew the logo for their new company and that stick-figure logo still represents Two Men and a Truck today. Sheets took over the business when her sons left for college. In 1985, she purchased a 14-foot (4.3 m) truck for $350 and hired a pair of movers. This is the only money Sheets personally invested in the company. A fellow panelist at a university business seminar in 1988 suggested Sheets consider franchising. After further research, the first franchise was awarded in 1989.[citation needed]
The initial franchise fee is $50,000; there is also an ongoing royalty of 6% of revenue. As of 2021, there are 292 franchises in the United States, 28 in Canada, and 2 in the UK and Ireland.
Initial investment: Mini-market start-up costs typically run between $100k and $192k and standard market start-up costs run between $179k and $585k depending on several variables including authority fees which vary by state, store location and trucks.
Net worth requirements: Mini market minimum requirements are $80,000 in liquid assets and $160,000 in net worth. Standard marketing area capital requirement is $150,000 in liquid assets and $400,000 in net worth.
