Franchise Guides

Free educational guides on franchise research, FDD analysis, and investment evaluation.

Registry extrema · 2024 FDD vintage

According to the 2024 FDD vintage in this registry, 223 brands list a median Item 7 low of $194K, and 110 of them include an Item 19 financial-performance representation.

223
Brands in the comparison registry
$194K
Median listed Item 7 low
110
Item 19 disclosures (49%)
66
Brands with Item 7 low under $100K

These are registry values, not a quote. Verify a material figure in the current FDD.

Download the compiled FDD summary extract: franchise-fdd-summary.csv (same extract as /statistics).

How Much Does a Franchise Cost? FDD Item 7 Data

How to read the full startup-cost range in FDD Item 7, with filing-backed investment tiers and essential caveats.

How to Evaluate a Franchise Before Buying

A comprehensive step-by-step guide to evaluating any franchise opportunity, from reading the FDD to speaking with existing franchisees.

Understanding Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs)

What's inside a Franchise Disclosure Document, what each of the 23 items means, and what red flags to watch for before signing anything.

Franchises Under $100K: Lowest-Investment Options

20 lower-investment franchise opportunities, sorted by minimum initial investment (FDD Item 7). Investment size alone doesn't indicate quality or profitability.

Franchise Failure Rates: What the Data Shows

What do FDD Item 20 disclosures reveal about franchise termination and non-renewal rates? What the data shows, and what it doesn't.

Franchise vs Independent Business: Pros and Cons

A side-by-side comparison of buying a franchise versus starting an independent business, costs, risk, control, income potential, and when each makes sense.

Methodology

Our franchise data and guides are based on publicly available Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) and FTC filings. We do not accept payment for listings or recommendations. Full methodology →

About These Franchise Guides

Plain Franchise's guides are written by editors who have read FDDs in production for years, validated against FTC Franchise Rule guidance, and updated when material disclosure regulation changes. We do not accept payment from franchisors for guide placement, and we do not earn commissions on franchise sales. Every guide cites primary FDD items rather than secondary sources where the disclosure data is the authoritative answer. Guides are intended for prospective franchisees during the cooling-off period, journalists covering franchise topics, and small-business advisors evaluating opportunities for clients. Nothing on this site is investment, legal, or tax advice, every franchise commitment requires independent counsel from a qualified franchise attorney and a CPA familiar with the specific franchise structure and the operator's financial position.

Related

Figures come from PlainFranchise's editorial comparison registry; not a verified FDD extract. The FTC Franchise Rule (16 CFR Part 436) still requires franchisors to provide a current FDD before a sale.

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.