A tabbed spiral-bound report, folded reading glasses, and a blue ceramic vessel on a walnut office desk in window light.

Research a franchise before you sign.

Plain-English explanations of the 23 FDD items, the 13 registration states, fee and royalty comparisons, litigation history, and buyer-side checklists. We do not sell, broker, or recommend franchises.

Live at: franchisebusinesses.com
Discipline: Franchise research publishing
Built and run in: Seattle, WA

Independent franchise research. We do not sell, broker, or recommend franchises.

Most franchise guidance is published by the people selling franchises. Brokers are paid by franchisors, so the advice a buyer meets first is advice someone was paid to give.

Franchise Businesses reads the disclosure documents and publishes what is in them. No brokerage, no referral fees, no sponsored placements.

How It Operates

6 System Phases

Decode the 23 FDD items

Plain-English explanations of every item in the disclosure document.

Track the 13 registration states

Where franchises must register, and what that means for you.

Browse by industry or investment

Brands by sector, by investment level, or by FDD item.

Compare the money

Initial fees, royalties, and territory rules, side by side.

Review the history

Litigation and dispute records before you sign.

Work the checklists

Buyer-side checklists for the decision.

Core Capabilities

The 23 FDD items in plain English

Every item in the disclosure document, explained without the legal register.

Registration state tracking

The 13 states that require registration, and what that means for a buyer.

Fee and royalty comparisons

Initial fees, royalties, and territory rules, side by side across brands.

Litigation on the record

Dispute and litigation history surfaced before the signature, not after it.

Independent research for people who want to buy a franchise.

We do not sell, broker, or recommend franchises.

Who It Is Built For

Prospective franchisees doing their own due diligence.

Exclusions

Who It Is Not For

—A broker. Brokers are paid by franchisors; we are paid by readers.
—Featured placements, sponsored posts, review fees, or commissions.

Extended Documentation

Franchise Businesses is an independent research site for people considering buying a franchise. You read plain-English explanations of the 23 FDD items, track the 13 registration states, browse brands by industry, investment level, or FDD item, compare initial fees, royalties, and territory rules, review litigation history, and work through buyer-side checklists before you sign.

We do not sell, broker, or recommend franchises and take no payment from franchisors. We are paid by readers through the newsletter and by disclosed general business-service affiliates.

Designed, built, and run in-house.