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Editorial policy and methodology
How we research, what we will and won't publish, and how money does and doesn't touch our content.
Category data
Each of the 75 franchise categories in the explorer shows a typical total initial investment band, a common franchise-fee range, a common royalty structure, the owner roles the model usually allows and the main risk to check. Bands reflect ranges observed across Item 5, 6 and 7 disclosures in published Franchise Disclosure Documents for brands in that category. They are deliberately broad. Individual brands sit inside, above or below them, and local real estate and labor costs move the figure significantly. We review the bands at least annually and whenever readers or franchisors send verifiable corrections.
Calculators
Calculator assumptions are stated on the page — for example, a 25% cash injection in the affordability check and a 1.15x debt-service coverage benchmark in the loan calculator. They are educational estimates and not lending, tax or investment advice.
Guides
Guides are written by our editorial team from primary sources: the FTC Franchise Rule, state and provincial statutes, Small Business Administration procedures, and industry research such as the IFA/FRANdata Franchising Economic Outlook. Each guide lists its sources and the date it was last reviewed.
Independence and sponsored content
- Brands cannot pay to change category data, calculator logic or guide conclusions.
- Featured placements and sponsored stories are labelled "Featured" or "Sponsored".
- We do not publish financial performance claims that do not appear in a franchisor's Item 19.
- Display ads are served by Google AdSense; we do not choose individual advertisers and ads are not endorsements.
- When we receive referral fees from consultants or lenders, we disclose that at the point of introduction.
Corrections
If you spot an error, tell us with a source. We correct factual errors promptly and note significant corrections on the page.
AI assistance
We use software tools, including AI, to help draft, structure and check content. Every page is reviewed by an editor before publishing, and facts are checked against the sources listed.