Free Franchise Guides
Practical, no-fluff PDFs written by senior franchise consultants. Enter your info once to unlock all three.
The 2026 Franchise Buyer's Checklist
47 questions to ask before you sign anything
The exact due-diligence checklist we use with private clients. Covers FDD red flags, validation call scripts, royalty math, and the 12 questions most candidates forget to ask.
- FDD red-flag checklist (Items 7, 19, 20, 21)
- Validation call script with 14 questions
- Royalty math worksheet — model your real take-home
- 12 questions most buyers forget to ask
How to Read an FDD in 90 Minutes
A senior consultant's order-of-operations for the 200-page document
The FDD is intimidating, but you don't need to read it cover to cover. This guide walks you through the only 5 items that decide whether a brand is worth pursuing — in the order to read them.
- The 5 FDD items that matter (and 18 that don't, on a first pass)
- How to spot a hidden earnings claim
- The territory clause loopholes to watch for
- What a 'good' Item 19 actually looks like
Funding Your Franchise: 7 Options Compared
SBA, ROBS, HELOCs, partnerships, and more — costs and tradeoffs
Side-by-side comparison of every realistic funding path for a franchise purchase. Includes monthly payment math, qualification thresholds, and the hidden costs nobody mentions on the sales call.
- SBA 7(a) — full process timeline + true cost
- ROBS — using your 401(k) without penalty
- HELOC, portfolio loans, partnerships compared
- Monthly payment calculator template
The Franchise Buyer's Glossary
Every term in the FDD, decoded in plain English
FDD, AUV, ROBS, Item 19, encroachment, royalty stacking — the franchise world is full of jargon that hides what's really being sold. This glossary defines every term you'll hit during discovery, in plain language with examples.
- 100+ terms covering FDD, financing, legal, and operations
- Plain-English definitions with real-world examples
- Red-flag terms to watch for in agreements
- Quick-reference format — searchable PDF
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