Franchise FDD Database

searcher profile

August 30, 2024

by a searcher from University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School in Philadelphia, PA, USA

Is there a good website / way to source these to do some desktop research across various franchises?

1
20
151
Replies
20
commentor profile
Reply by a searcher
from University of Notre Dame in Charlotte, NC 28277, USA
Personally, I would not invest time in researching franchises via FDDs as the information in those is often inaccurate. As they each state on their cover page, "no governmental agency has verified the information contained in this document". Some franchisors will provide accurate information in the FDD, and others will provide whatever information they want (nobody audits FDDs for accuracy/truthfulness). I would recommend contacting current and former franchisees to ask their first-hand experience about costs, earnings, etc. I bought and sold multiple units of a franchise 10+ years ago (with a franchisor whose FDD was inaccurate) and am surprised that still today when I contact existing franchisees they will tell me they've never come close to the earnings in the FDD or the new products/programs touted by the franchisor have never worked, or similar horror stories. There will always be disgruntled franchisees, which is why you need to talk with a few franchisees - but if you hear the same thing (good or bad) from 5-6 franchisees, it's probably true.
commentor profile
Reply by a searcher
from Yeshiva University in Boca Raton, FL, USA
FDD is a good place to start, as others have already linked to state sites. I personally usually go to MN first, then IN.

But like others have also said, that info is through rose colored glasses, to say the least. So speak with as many franchisees as you can. Some will be difficult to get in touch with, and others will ignore. When you get through, you'll usually find franchisees who (1) drink the coolade, (2) stay in their own lane, or (3) are bitter about something. Just like anything :)

Feel free to reach out if you have additional questions.
commentor profile
+18 more replies.
Join the discussion