About PlainFranchise

Our Mission

PlainFranchise helps people researching franchise investments compare listed fees, investment ranges, unit counts, and related fields without paywalls, broker relationships, or sales pressure. Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) remain dense legal filings; our registry is a research aid that makes common fields easier to scan side by side.

Under the FTC Franchise Rule, franchisors must provide a current FDD before a sale or payment. That original document is the controlling source for any material decision. PlainFranchise does not replace it.

When prospective franchisees can quickly compare listed startup costs, royalty rates, and unit-count indicators across brands and sectors, they enter conversations with franchise sales teams better prepared to ask for the current FDD and independent advice.

Our Data Sources

PlainFranchise is currently an editorial comparison registry, not a filing archive. Its 223 records do not yet carry a direct FDD URL, document identifier, and retrieval date for each displayed value. We therefore do not represent a registry value as a verified copy of an FDD. Where the data comes from today is that editorial seed; the controlling document for any material decision remains the brand's current Franchise Disclosure Document.

Column names correspond to commonly used FDD disclosure categories so readers know what to look up in the original filing:

• Item 5, Initial Franchise Fee: The upfront fee paid to the franchisor for the right to operate under the brand
• Item 6, Other Fees: Ongoing royalty rates, advertising fund contributions, technology fees, and other recurring obligations
• Item 7, Estimated Initial Investment: Minimum and maximum total startup costs as estimated by the franchisor
• Item 19, Financial Performance Representations: Revenue markers where the registry notes a disclosure; Item 19 is voluntary
• Item 20, Outlets and Franchisee Information: Listed unit counts and related outlet fields

State franchise registration portals (for example Minnesota CARDS and California DFPI) remain useful places to obtain controlling documents. See our methodology for the verification path and current limits.

How We Organize the Registry

Brand profiles are organized into 15 industry sectors and classified by investment tier from the listed investment range. We do not estimate profitability or project returns. Where the registry marks that Item 19 is not disclosed, revenue averages exclude that brand rather than inventing a figure.

Unit-growth and closure indicators, where shown, are computed from the registry's outlet fields. They are research screens only until each record carries a cited FDD source map.

Data Currency

The registry year field is an editorial label, not proof that the current FDD has been retrieved or verified for that brand. FDDs are typically updated on each franchisor's renewal cycle; always request the current FDD directly from the franchisor before investing.

Before a record can be described as verified source data, it must link the exact FDD or official filing, the document year, and a retrieval date. That work is not complete in this release.

Not Affiliated

PlainFranchise is not affiliated with the International Franchise Association (IFA), any franchisor, franchise broker, franchise consultant, or government agency. We receive no compensation from franchise brands for being listed or for favorable placement. Our listings are organized alphabetically and by sector, there is no paid positioning.

Editorial Independence

Content on PlainFranchise is compiled by our editorial process. The current brand registry is a hand-maintained editorial seed, not a live government feed validated against each source filing before publication. The PlainFranchise editorial process is responsible for editorial standards, methodology, and corrections.

We do not accept payment, sponsorship, or promoted placement from any covered entity. Our only revenue source is contextual display advertising served by Google AdSense, advertisers do not influence which entities we cover or how we present data, and they do not receive preferential placement.

Limitations and Disclaimers

PlainFranchise is an informational resource, and users should understand several critical limitations of franchise disclosure data and our presentation of it.

FDD data is not a predictor of franchisee profitability. Revenue figures (where disclosed via Item 19) represent gross sales or revenue, not profit. Actual franchisee profitability depends on operating costs, location, management quality, market conditions, financing terms, and many other factors not captured in FDD disclosures. Many successful franchise systems have franchisees who lose money, and many franchisees in lower-performing systems do well.

Not all franchisors disclose financial performance. Item 19 financial performance representations are optional, roughly 60% of franchisors choose to provide them. The absence of Item 19 data does not indicate poor performance; it may reflect the franchisor's legal strategy or the diversity of outcomes across their system.

Investment ranges may not reflect your actual costs. Item 7 estimated initial investment ranges represent the franchisor's estimate and may not include all costs in your specific market, particularly real estate costs, which vary dramatically by location.

PlainFranchise provides an editorial comparison registry for informational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes financial, legal, or investment advice. Franchise investments involve significant risk, including possible loss of the entire investment. Always obtain the brand's current FDD and consult a qualified franchise attorney, CPA, and financial advisor before making any franchise investment decision. Past performance of any franchise system does not guarantee future results.

Contact

Questions, corrections, or feedback? We welcome hearing from prospective franchisees, franchise professionals, and researchers. Email us at hello@plainfranchise.com.

If you notice a data discrepancy in a brand profile, particularly in investment ranges, fee structures, or unit counts, please include the brand name and a link or citation to the controlling FDD or registry filing. We review reports against that evidence when provided.