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| Feature | Hosted Franchise | 1099 ISO Partner | 1099 Referrer Partner | Traditional W2 Payroll Sales Job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independence | High | High | High | Low |
| Upside | Highest | High | Somewhat High | Limited, short-term |
| You control pricing | Yes | Yes | No — Journey sets the price | No |
| Revenue model | Keep 100% of income after hard costs, a 5% franchisee fee and a 2.25% marketing fee, for as long as the client stays on Journey’s service. | Earn 50% to 60% of the margin above cost, for as long as the client stays on Journey’s service. | Earn 10% to 25% of the margin above cost, for as long as the client stays on Journey’s service. | Fixed salary plus commission. |
| Average profit / payout | Approximately 33% average net profit — varies and is not guaranteed. | Approximately 15%–25% average profit — varies and is not guaranteed. | Approximately 10%–25% depending on referral conversion volume — varies and is not guaranteed. | No residual income or equity. |
| Health benefits | None — you are a business owner, not an employee. | None — independent 1099 contractor. | None — independent 1099 contractor. | Typically yes. |
| Equity / buyout option | Full equity. Can sell the franchise to an approved buyer at any time. | Can sell qualifying clients to Journey once per year if in good standing, for up to 18x monthly revenue. | Can sell qualifying clients to Journey once per year if in good standing, for up to 12x monthly revenue. | None. |
| Non-compete | Yes — cannot sell another payroll service. | No — may sell other payroll services. A non-solicit protects Journey clients. | No — may sell other payroll services. A non-solicit protects Journey clients. | Varies by employer. |
| Daily role | Sell, build client relationships and print physical checks locally when required. | Market and sell. Journey handles implementation and processing. | Refer interested businesses. Journey handles the selling and client servicing. | Sell and operate within an employer-managed sales structure. |
| Client retention | 98% average — varies by client quality. | 98% average — varies by client quality. | 98% average — varies by client quality. | N/A |
| Best for | Entrepreneurs who want to go all-in and build a sellable business. | Experienced sales professionals who want high upside and flexibility. | People who want to earn from warm introductions without doing the selling. | Someone looking for a traditional managed employment role. |
Three Ways to Build With Journey
Compare Journey’s three opportunity models side by side to understand the differences in independence, earning structure, ownership, responsibilities, and day-to-day involvement.
Earnings, percentages, averages and buyout values shown above are estimates or current program terms and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results vary. See our Disclaimer for additional information.