12 Questions to Ask Existing Franchisees as part of Due Diligence

Start-Up Reality

1. "What did your total startup costs actually end up being?"
2. "What costs surprised you after signing?"

Revenue & Profitability

1. "How long did it take to break even?"
2. "What monthly sales level did you need before you felt stable?"
3. "What are your biggest ongoing expenses besides royalties?"

Support Quality (Real World)

1. "How good was training and what was missing?"
2. "How responsive is the franchisor when problems come up?"
3. "Do you feel supported now, or are you mostly on your own?"

Owner Role & Lifestyle

1. "What does a typical week look like for you as the owner?"
2. "If you could go back, would you buy this franchise again?"

Honest Rating

1. "What are the top 2 things you love and top 2 things you dislike?"
2. "What type of person should NOT buy this franchise?"