Winmark Corporation filings document disclosures for a public resale franchisor with established franchise brands and a related leasing business. Recent Form 8-K reports cover operating results, financial condition, cash dividends, franchise-system metrics, system-wide sales, point-of-sale software fee matters and the Plato’s Closet North American Ad Fund.
The company’s regulatory record also includes governance and shareholder-vote disclosures. Proxy and annual-meeting filings address board composition, director elections, advisory executive-compensation votes, auditor ratification, stock option plan matters and committee assignments, while material-event reports record board changes and related equity awards.
Winmark Corporation is introducing two new franchisee fees tied to its technology and marketing programs. Starting on September 1, 2026, it will charge a monthly Software Fee of $295 plus taxes per store, which it estimates at about $400,000 per month in total. These proceeds will fund support, management, and modernization of its point-of-sale system, including personnel, vendors, and technology infrastructure.
For its Plato’s Closet brand, Winmark is also launching a North American Ad Fund, requiring contributions equal to 2% of sales beginning July 1, 2026. This increases required marketing spend for Plato’s Closet franchisees from 5% to 6% of sales, with 2% flowing into the Ad Fund. If this fund had existed in fiscal 2025, it would have been about $13.5 million. Winmark expects both changes to raise revenues with a corresponding rise in expenses and has added a new risk factor noting that higher fees and system initiatives could strain franchisee relationships and system performance.
Winmark Corp director Jenele C Grassle reported an open-market sale of common stock. On 2026-03-04, she sold 3,900 shares of Winmark common stock at a price of $475.8000 per share, leaving her with direct ownership of 2,500 common shares.
The filing also lists multiple holdings of Non-Employee Stock Options (right to buy), all held directly, with various share amounts remaining as of 2026-03-04. A footnote states that these options vest at a rate of 25% per year for four years.
Winmark Corporation is asking shareholders to vote at its April 22, 2026 annual meeting on four items: setting the Board size at seven directors, electing seven nominees for one-year terms, approving an advisory vote on executive compensation, and ratifying Grant Thornton LLP as independent auditor for 2026.
Shareholders of record on March 2, 2026, when 3,577,421 common shares were outstanding, are entitled to one vote per share. The Board recommends voting FOR all four proposals.
The proxy describes a long-standing pay program for executives built on base salary, an annual bonus capped at 100% of salary, and stock options roughly equal to salary, emphasizing long-term ownership. For 2025, CEO total compensation was $2,108,124, resulting in a CEO pay ratio of 21.9 to 1, and management highlights strong historical total shareholder return.
Winmark Corp director Percy C. Tomlinson Jr. reported an open-market sale of 1,660 shares of common stock at $460.52 per share. After this transaction, he directly holds 800 Winmark common shares.
In addition to common stock, he continues to hold several non-employee stock options, including one grant covering 5,400 shares, with a noted vesting schedule of 25% per year for four years.
Winmark Corp lists a proposed disposition of common stock in a Form 144 filing. The filing names UBS Financial Services Inc. as broker and shows transactions tied to stock option exercises dated 12/14/2021 and 06/01/2022
The excerpt includes quantities of 1,600 and 60 shares linked to those exercises and a filing-related date of 03/03/2026. The notice describes proposed sales; cash‑flow treatment and timing details are not included in the excerpt.
Winmark Corp director Percy C. Tomlinson Jr. reported exercising non-employee stock options to acquire additional common shares. On February 26, 2026, he exercised options for 1,600 shares at $242.58 per share and 60 shares at $197.80 per share.
These option exercises resulted in corresponding acquisitions of Winmark common stock, leaving him with 2,460 common shares held directly after the transactions.
Winmark Corp director Jenele C. Grassle reported exercising several non-employee stock options into common stock on February 25, 2026. She acquired a total of 3,900 shares of common stock through option exercises at strike prices ranging from $134.25 to $176.20 per share, bringing her direct common stock holdings to 6,400 shares.
Winmark Corporation reports steady growth for 2025, driven by its resale franchising model. Revenue rose to $86.1 million from $81.3 million, with royalties up 5.8% to $76.4 million as franchise retail sales and store count increased.
Net income grew to $41.7 million, with diluted EPS of $11.30. Selling, general and administrative expenses rose 13.7% to $28.4 million, mainly from higher compensation and a one-time software cost. The franchising segment contributed $52.1 million of operating income, while the runoff leasing segment added $2.5 million, largely from litigation settlement.
Winmark ended 2025 with 1,378 franchised stores and a 98% renewal rate on expiring franchises, underscoring franchise stability. Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash totaled $10.5 million, against long-term debt of about $60 million. The company returned substantial capital, paying $49.1 million in dividends, including a $10.00 per share special dividend, and repurchasing 7,944 shares.
Winmark Corporation reported higher results for the year ended December 27, 2025. Net income rose to $41,654,100, or $11.30 per diluted share, compared with $39,954,200, or $10.89 per diluted share, in 2024. Revenue increased to $86,055,700 from $81,289,100, driven mainly by higher royalties and leasing income.
Fourth-quarter 2025 net income was $9,959,900 ($2.69 diluted EPS), up from $9,583,100 ($2.60 diluted EPS) a year earlier. Net cash provided by operating activities was $44,896,800, while dividends paid totaled $49,112,700. At December 27, 2025, Winmark had 1,378 franchises in operation and over 2,800 available territories.