Identify the perfect franchise for you! Take our short quiz Take our free franchise quiz!
Identify the perfect franchise for you! Take our short quiz Take our free franchise quiz!
Identify the perfect franchise for you! Take our short quiz Take our free franchise quiz!

Franchisee Resource Center

Your headquarters for guidance and information on researching, finding, and launching a franchise.

Whether you are just starting to look into franchise ownership or are ready to figure out financing options our courses will give you the information you need to be ready to become a franchise owner.

We'll help you quickly build your franchise ownership profile, then present you with a personalized list of franchises you can open - based on your goals, investment budget, interests, and more!

Most Recent

Franchise Disclosure Document for Dummies – Part 5

As a preliminary matter, it is important to understand the distinctions between trademarks, copyrights, patents and proprietary information.

Franchise Disclosure Document for Dummies – Part 4

One key aspect of Item 12 is establishing how franchisees’ territories will be defined. This may be by zip code, population, population with certain demographics, or geographic or political markers (i.e. streets or county lines). For franchises with population-based territories, a franchisee in a busy downtown urban area may have a territory of only a few blocks, while a rural franchisee’s territory could reach for miles.

Getting in on the Ground Floor with an Emerging Franchise Company

In addition to the due diligence that should be performed, be sure that you and your advisors focus attention on:

Franchise Disclosure Document for Dummies – Part 3

In Item 8 of the FDD, franchisors are required to disclose designated and approved suppliers, franchisees’ mandatory purchases, and any rebates they receive from vendors as a result of franchisee purchases.

Before Buying a Franchise Identify Your TRUE Investment

Your approach as a potential franchise buyer is to identify the real investment dollars you’ll need to get the franchise to profitability. The initial source of this information is Item 7 in the FDD. Item 7 is a schedule that details the estimated investment in the franchise. This schedule includes the cost of various items, including: the initial franchise fee, training related expenses, rent, insurance, professional fees for legal and accounting services, supplies, equipment, licenses and permits and additional working capital. Depending upon the specific franchise, there may be added categories. When reviewing the Item 7 schedule it’s important to know that franchisors are not required to list every type of fee or expense that might be part of the investment in the franchise but rather the likely investment needed to start the franchise. As you work to establish your investment number keep in mind the words “estimated” and “typical.” Item 7 is a guide, and as such, you should use this information accordingly.

Franchise Disclosure Document for Dummies – Part 2

If a franchisor does not offer refunds or installment terms (which is not unusual), it should include a “negative disclosure” to this effect in Item 5 (i.e. “We do not offer full or partial refunds under any circumstances.”).

18 Perfect Businesses for The Modern Day Man

The Krystal Klear Water franchise specializes in providing clean, mineral-rich drinking water to their customers through specialized water filtration systems. Franchisees provide water contamination testing, preventive maintenance, and in-home, naturally purified water. The health and fitness nut will love this franchise because Krystal Klear's water systems have less pollutants than the competition. The systems are also low maintenance and do not add salt to the water like other water softening systems. This residential water filtration supplier targets an annual market size of approximately $2.6 billion, with sales growth projected to grow at rates of 6-8% per year. Sounds like the same amount some gym rats spend at GNC each month.