Editorial policy

TrueFranchiseCost reports franchise startup costs, fee terms, disclosed financial performance and outlet movements from linked Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs).

Sources and missing information

FDD figures retain their PDF page references, definitions and qualifications. Liquid-capital and net-worth requirements may come from an official franchise website when the FDD does not state them; that source is identified. Missing information is left blank. Zero means the source states zero.

Review and publication

An authorized verifier compares each record with the source PDF. The verifier may be a human reviewer or an AI working under the owner's explicit delegation. Software checks startup totals, outlet movements and content rules. Passing those checks does not prove every figure or resolve contradictions in a filing.

A limited group was published by owner direction before source verification was completed. Those records have no completed verification date and display a provisional warning. Their disclosed conflicts remain visible.

AI assistance

AI can help locate document sections, extract tables, review sources and draft explanations. It is not a source for franchise figures. Brand analysis uses placeholders tied to the record so that displayed values stay consistent; placeholders cannot establish that the underlying record is correct.

Independence

Franchisors cannot pay for coverage, a higher directory position, removal of disclosures or favorable edits. Comparisons report disclosed terms and calculation limits without recommending an investment.

Updates and corrections

When a newer filing is identified, it requires source review before replacing the recorded figures. Verification dates reflect completed checks, and first-publication dates are retained. We do not promise a fixed monitoring or response schedule.

Send a source link, page reference and description of any discrepancy to contact@truefranchisecost.com. See our corrections policy and methodology.