Which criteria make different franchise offers genuinely comparable?
Use one scorecard for investment, equity, fees, unit margin, owner workload, territory, location needs, training, support and exit. Compare the same maturity stage across systems.
What evidence should support an advertised break-even period?
Ask for contract documents, complete fee schedules, franchisee contacts, unit-opening and closure data, supplier conditions and evidence behind sales or break-even claims.
Why can the lowest franchise entry cost create the greatest funding risk?
Offer pages can look comparable while using different definitions of investment, revenue and support, making a low entry price a poor proxy for risk.
When should a candidate speak to existing franchisees?
Shortlist only concepts that fit the candidate's capital and role, then validate them through franchisee discussions and professional contract review.