This book teaches the honesty of what a franchise discloses, not how much you will earn. Not investment, legal, tax, or financial advice. Always review the complete FDD with an independent attorney and accountant.
Before You Sign
The questions franchise salespeople hope you do not ask.
The whole guide is free on this site, and honestly a little easier to read here, with the checkers built in. If you would rather keep a copy or print it, enter your email and we will send you the PDF.
Your copy is on the way. Here it is, too:
Download the PDF ↓
The franchises that ruin people looked the most profitable on paper. The truth is not in the pitch, it is in the disclosure document, and there are questions a salesperson hopes you never bring to your attorney. This book is those questions, in the order they matter.
What is inside
The eight FDD items that carry almost all of the risk, in reading order, most exposure first. Each chapter tells you what the item is, what an honest version looks like next to a dishonest one, how to read it, and the questions to ask.
- Item 19: the earnings claim
- Item 21: franchisor financial health
- Items 5, 6 and 7: what it really costs
- Item 20: who stayed, who quit
- Item 3: litigation history
- Item 9: the control you keep
- Item 11: support promised
- Item 12: territory protection
- A printable FDD review checklist
- A plain-English glossary
- How to find your FDD, free
- A link to a free check for every item
Every chapter links to a free, evidence-only checker on this site. Paste a clip of your own FDD item and it points out the single biggest issue, what is missing, and the exact questions to ask. No score, no guessing. Start with the Item 19 honesty check.
The whole guide is free to read
Everything in the PDF is free here, with the interactive checkers built in. Read it on the site, or scroll up to email yourself a copy to keep.
Read the full guide →