Editorial Standards & Methodology

FranchiseInspect exists to make franchise due diligence easier to organize. People evaluating a franchise are weighing one of the biggest financial commitments of their lives, so we hold our content to a clear standard for sourcing, accuracy, and honesty. This page explains exactly how we work.

Last reviewed August 13, 2026. We review this policy at least twice a year.

Our commitment in one sentence

We organize and explain publicly available franchise disclosure rules and due diligence practices accurately, name the rule or regulator behind each requirement, and never invent an earnings figure, a fee, a statistic, a credential, or a person.

Where our information comes from

Franchise sales in the United States are governed by a federal disclosure rule and, in some states, by additional registration laws. When we describe a requirement or build a checklist, we work from the material that actually governs it:

The FTC Franchise Rule and the Federal Trade Commission's published guidance for prospective franchise buyers.
The Franchise Disclosure Document format itself, including the 23 disclosure items the rule requires franchisors to provide.
State franchise registration and relationship laws, and the state agencies that administer them in registration states.
The North American Securities Administrators Association's franchise resources, including published registration and disclosure guidelines.

Where a claim depends on an outside source, we favor official .gov and regulator pages so you can read the rule at its source and confirm it yourself.

How we handle facts that vary by state and by franchise

Registration requirements differ between states, and every franchise system's fees, obligations, and performance are specific to that franchisor's own disclosure documents. Rather than print a number that would be wrong somewhere, we describe the framework, point you to the exact FDD item or regulator where your answer lives, and treat calculator outputs as planning estimates. The only reliable source for a specific franchise's numbers is that franchisor's current FDD and your own verification of it.

Who writes and reviews our content

The core product and trust pages are maintained by the FranchiseInspect Editorial Team. A legacy programmatic library of articles, state guides, forms, glossary entries, and regulatory tools did not have adequate source-by-source or qualified-professional review evidence. On August 24, 2026, we removed that material from search, answer-engine feeds, and normal on-page display pending a documented review.

We are deliberate about what we are not. We are not attorneys, accountants, franchise brokers, or consultants, and we do not publish content under invented expert names or fabricated professional credentials. When a decision calls for licensed judgment, such as reviewing a franchise agreement before you sign, we say so and point you to a qualified franchise attorney and an accountant instead of pretending to be one.

How we keep content current

A page is eligible to return only after its claims are checked against resolving primary sources and the page records the reviewer, relevant qualification, review date, and correction history. Rules move faster than any publisher can track, so a review date never guarantees a rule has not changed. Always confirm current requirements with the regulator or the franchisor's current FDD before you act.

Corrections and feedback

If you spot something that looks out of date or wrong, tell us and we will check it against the source and fix it promptly. Accurate content is more valuable to us than being right the first time, and reader corrections make this resource better for the next buyer doing their homework.

Email corrections to team@franchiseinspect.com with the page URL and what you believe should change.

What we will never publish

Invented facts, made-up statistics, or citations to sources that do not say what we claim.
Earnings or performance figures for a specific franchise that do not come from that franchisor's own disclosure documents.
Promises that a franchise will be profitable, that a negotiation will succeed, or that any business outcome will follow from using our materials.
Content that suggests we audit a business for you, negotiate with a franchisor for you, or deal with any regulator on your behalf.
Fabricated operator testimonials, success stories, reviews, or ratings.

Independence and how we pay for this

FranchiseInspect is an independent information publisher. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Federal Trade Commission, any state regulator, or any franchisor, and we do not accept payment from franchisors or vendors in exchange for coverage or placement in our guides or directory. Our free calculators, checklists, and guides are supported by our paid $49 Franchise Due Diligence Packet, which organizes your own answers into a personalized set of working documents. Checkout preselects 30 included days of Diligence Watch, then $9.99 per month until canceled online; a packet-only option remains available. Buying either option is never required to use free material, and a purchase never changes what any franchisor discloses or any regulator requires.

Read more about who we are on our About page, review our full disclaimer, or view the current editorial review status.

Disclaimer: FranchiseInspect is a document-organization service for prospective franchise buyers. It is not a law firm, accountant, broker, regulator, or investment adviser and does not replace review by qualified professionals.