📊 FDD Data — No Paywalls
2026 data Public-data reference. official source

Free Franchise Financial Data

Public-data reference. for PlainFranchise.

Parses 1,800+ 2024 FDDs to rank franchises by verified Item 19 earnings, lawsuit counts, and hidden fees — FTC data meets owner reality.

Research franchise investments with publicly available FDD data. Investment ranges, fees, royalties, unit counts, and Item 19 revenue for 223 franchise brands across 15 sectors.

223
Franchise Brands
15
Industry Sectors
110
Item 19 Disclosures
647K+
Total Locations

Franchise Investment Ranges by Sector

Total initial investment ranges from FDD Item 7 across 15 franchise sectors. Service franchises offer the lowest entry cost; real estate and food franchises require the most capital.

Franchise count by top 10 sectors

From FDD filings across 15 franchise sectors

1. 002. 003. 004. 005. 006. 007. 008. 009. 0010. 00

Total Initial Investment Range ($K, from FDD Item 7)

$20K$1500KReal Estate$150K – $1200KFood & Bev$100K – $1500KFitness$80K – $600KAutomotive$75K – $500KEducation$50K – $350KRetail$40K – $400KServices$20K – $250K
Total Initial Investment Range ($K, from FDD Item 7)

PlainFranchise helps prospective franchise buyers make informed investment decisions using publicly available data from Franchise Disclosure Documents. Every franchise brand in our database includes investment ranges, royalty rates, advertising fund contributions, unit counts, and — where disclosed — Item 19 financial performance data.

Franchise investing is one of the most significant financial decisions you can make, yet critical FDD data is scattered across state filings and paywalled databases. We aggregate and standardize this data so you can compare brands side by side, filter by investment level, and evaluate sector-level trends — all for free.

Whether you are evaluating your first franchise purchase or comparing expansion opportunities across sectors, our research guides can help you navigate the due diligence process. Learn about every fee in a franchise agreement, understand how to read an FDD, or explore multi-unit ownership strategies for scaling beyond your first location.

Our data covers 223 franchise brands across 15 industry sectors, with 110 brands disclosing Item 19 revenue data. All information is sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents and updated as new filings become available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What data does PlainFranchise provide?

PlainFranchise provides financial data from publicly available Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), including initial investment ranges, franchise fees, royalty rates, advertising fund rates, unit counts, net growth rates, and Item 19 financial performance representations where disclosed.

What is an FDD and why does it matter?

A Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a legal document that franchisors are required by the FTC to provide to prospective franchisees before any sale. It contains 23 items covering all aspects of the franchise relationship, including financial data. The FDD is your primary due diligence resource when evaluating any franchise opportunity.

What is Item 19 and why isn't it available for every franchise?

Item 19 is the financial performance representation section of the FDD. Franchisors are NOT required to disclose revenue or earnings data — many choose not to, either because their performance varies widely or for competitive reasons. When Item 19 is disclosed, it's typically average or median gross revenue (not profit) from franchise locations.

Is this financial advice?

No. PlainFranchise is an informational resource presenting publicly available FDD data. Nothing here constitutes financial, legal, or investment advice. Franchise investments involve significant risk. Always consult a franchise attorney, accountant, and speak to existing franchisees before making any investment decisions.