Disclaimer
Effective 16 October 2026. FranchiseLens reports are a starting point for research, not a basis for an investment decision on their own.
Where the figures come from
Figures come from 2026 Franchise Disclosure Documents filed with a US state franchise regulator. They reflect each franchisor's prior fiscal year and the documents as filed. Franchisors update their FDDs every year, and costs, fees and unit counts may have changed since. Figures were read from long documents using automated extraction and checked selectively, so some may be wrong or missing. Always check against the franchisor's current FDD.
What the figures mean
- Investment ranges (FDD Item 7) are the franchisor's national estimates. Your actual cost depends on your location, premises and timing.
- Owner involvement (FDD Item 15) shows whether the franchisor allows a manager to run the business. It doesn't say how much of your time the business will actually need.
- Unit counts (FDD Item 20) show system size, not franchisee success or profitability.
- Fees (FDD Item 6) are shown as disclosed. Some franchisors charge fees in ways that are hard to compare, such as fixed fees or product mark-ups.
No earnings claims
FranchiseLens makes no claim or prediction about what any franchise will earn. Where a report mentions a figure from a franchisor's FDD Item 19 (financial performance representation), it is quoted as the franchisor disclosed it, for the units, period and exclusions the franchisor defined. It is not a projection for any individual unit. Many franchisors publish no Item 19 at all; that alone is not evidence of weak or strong results.
What the score does and doesn't measure
The composite score ranks brands against the answers you gave, using the same weighted method for every brand: capital fit, semi-absentee viability, fee burden, system maturity and sector fit. It does not measure territory availability, local competition, franchisor quality, franchisee satisfaction or likely returns. A higher score is not a recommendation.
Independence
No franchisor pays to appear in, rank within, or be left out of a FranchiseLens report. FranchiseLens may be paid by an independent franchise consultant when, with your consent, it introduces you to them. That payment has no effect on which brands appear or how they are scored.
Not advice
Nothing on this site or in a report is legal, financial, tax or investment advice, or an offer to sell a franchise. Read the franchisor's current FDD in full, speak with current and former franchisees, and use a franchise attorney and a qualified financial adviser before you sign anything.
Trademarks and brand names belong to their owners and are used only to identify the franchises described.