Start Here
The only franchise site that reads the contract for the buyer and is paid by nobody on the selling side.
What this is and who is behind it
Franchise Fine Print is an AI-assisted newsroom built to give franchise buyers the raw data they need. Every guide you find on Google is ultimately paid by the franchisors or the brokers selling the businesses. We believe buyers need their own side of the table.
The site has a named human owner, Justin Brooke, who edits and is accountable for every piece published here. You can reach him anytime at justin@adskills.com.
What we cover
- Teardowns: Famous franchise brands, taken apart line by line.
- The Money Trail: Who gets paid when you sign.
- Red Flags: The warning signs buried in franchise agreements.
- The Exit Files: What happens when owners want out.
- Real Numbers: Loan default rates and closure counts.
- Buyer Toolbox: Scripts and checklists you can use this week.
Franchise Red Flags
21 warning signs hiding in their FDDs, and how to spot them.
Our checklist shows you right where each flag lives (Item 8 supplier rebates, the optional Item 19, Item 20 closure laundering, Item 17 non-competes and termination traps, territory carve-outs), what the innocent-looking language actually says, and what it costs when it goes wrong.
You're on the list.
How we make money
Our readers pay us. That is the whole model. The articles on this site are free and always will be. Our paid product is a weekly teardown of one franchise brand's disclosure document, delivered by email for $79 a year, plus a $99 one-time option that unlocks every back issue.
We take no money from franchisors, brokers, consultants, or portals. No sponsorships, no ads, no lead selling, and no affiliate commissions from anyone who profits when you sign a franchise agreement. When the people being reviewed cannot pay the reviewer, you can trust the review.
Read about the weekly teardown here.
How we work
We read the primary sources so you do not have to. We pull Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs), state portal filings, SBA loan data, and court records. Every article lists its sources at the bottom so you can check our work.
Corrections policy
When we get something wrong, we correct it directly on the page, add a note explaining what changed, and reply to the email that pointed it out. If you spot an error, please email us.
We take no money from franchisors or brokers.