Buy the franchise your numbers can carry.
See what you can afford, compare 75 franchise categories on typical cost, royalty and owner role, then get a personal match report — free, brand-neutral, and built for people about to sign a very large cheque.
- 75 franchise categories profiled
- 6 franchise finance calculators
- 12 in-depth buyer guides
- $0 cost to buyers
Browse franchise categories by industry
Each category shows the typical total investment band, franchise fee, royalty and how hands-on the owner has to be.
The franchise buying path, in the order it happens
Most expensive mistakes come from doing these out of order — signing before validating, or shopping before knowing your number.
Know your number
Liquid capital, net worth, and the monthly income you need while the business ramps. Affordability check
Shortlist categories
Pick two or three industries that fit your budget, skills and the hours you want to work. Explorer
Read the FDD
Items 7, 19, 20 and 21 tell you cost, earnings, closures and franchisor health. FDD guide
Call franchisees
Validation calls with current and former owners are the best data you will get. 50 questions
Line up financing
SBA 7(a), ROBS, home equity or franchisor programs — and the cash you must inject. Financing guide
Sign with counsel
A franchise attorney reviews the agreement; the FTC requires 14 calendar days with the FDD first. Full walkthrough
Calculators that answer the questions lenders will ask
No sign-up. Change any number and the verdict updates instantly.
Affordability check
Can your liquid capital cover a typical 25% cash injection and still leave a living reserve?
Total investment estimator
Build an Item 7-style budget: fee, build-out, equipment, opening inventory, working capital.
SBA loan payment
Monthly payment, total interest and the cash flow needed to pass a 1.15x coverage test.
Break-even & payback
Monthly profit, break-even revenue, and how many years until you earn your money back.
True cost of royalties
Royalties, ad fund and tech fees over the full franchise term, with sales growth built in.
Multi-unit cash curve
Peak cash needed to open several units in sequence — the number your financing must cover.
Get a free franchise match report
Tell us your budget, timeline and the kind of owner you want to be. You get a ranked shortlist of franchise categories, the financing math for your budget, and introductions to vetted franchisors and advisors only if you ask for them.
- Free for buyers. Franchisors pay to reach qualified buyers, never the other way round.
- Brand-neutral first: categories and economics before sales pitches.
- Your details are never sold to unrelated marketers. Unsubscribe any time.
Source: International Franchise Association & FRANdata, 2026 Franchising Economic Outlook (Feb 2026).
Quick match in 30 seconds
Want a deeper report? The full 7-question match takes two minutes.
Guides buyers read first
How to buy a franchise: the 10-step process
14 minFrom self-assessment to opening day, with the timeline most buyers actually experience.
The FDD explained, all 23 items
16 minWhat each item means and the four that deserve your closest reading.
How to finance a franchise
13 minSBA 7(a) and 504, ROBS, home equity, franchisor programs and equipment leasing compared.
What a franchise really costs
11 minInitial fee, build-out, royalties, ad funds, tech fees, renewal and transfer fees.
18 red flags before you sign
10 minWarning signs in the FDD, the sales process and the franchisee network.
Watch before you buy
Short explainers from franchise attorneys, consultants and owners. Videos load only when you press play.
How to buy a franchise in 9 steps
A franchise owner walks through the process.
Understanding the FDD
A franchise attorney on the items that matter.
Getting an SBA 7(a) loan for a franchise
Step-by-step financing walkthrough.
Selling franchises? Meet buyers who have already done the math.
Every lead arrives with stated liquid capital, timeline, location and owner role — plus the categories they matched. List your brand for free, then upgrade to featured placement or a pay-per-qualified-lead program.
What franchisors get
- Pre-qualified buyer leads with capital and timeline fields
- Placement in category pages, match reports and the monthly Market Pulse newsletter
- Sponsored guides and video features, clearly labelled
- Monthly lead and click reporting
Common questions
Is FranchiseConnection.com free for franchise buyers?
Yes. The tools, guides and match report are free. We earn from advertising, from franchisors who pay to reach qualified buyers, and from optional reader support. That never changes the category data, which is brand-neutral.
Are you a franchise broker?
No. We are an independent information and matching service. If you ask for introductions, we may connect you with franchisors or with franchise consultants and lenders. We will tell you when a partner pays us for an introduction.
Where do the investment ranges come from?
They are typical bands observed across Item 7 of published Franchise Disclosure Documents for each category. Individual brands sit above or below. Always use the specific brand's current FDD. Read our editorial policy.
How much money do I need to buy a franchise?
Lenders usually expect you to inject 20–30% of the total project in cash, keep a personal reserve, and have a net worth well above the loan. Home-based service franchises can start under $100,000 all-in; food and fitness formats often run $300,000 to well over $1 million. Try the affordability check.
Do you cover Canada, the UK and Australia?
Yes. Category economics are shown in US dollars, and our international law guide covers the FTC Rule, Canadian provincial franchise acts, the UK's self-regulation and Australia's Franchising Code.