The home inspection report for franchise investments
Don't invest $250K blind.
Professional FDD risk analysis. Every item scored. Plain English. 24 hours. Under $500.
67% of franchise buyers never get their FDD professionally reviewed. Most find out about the red flags after they've signed.
Most popular: FDD Deep Dive — $797 · Entry tier from $497
The Problem
You don't need a $3,000 attorney to understand your FDD. You need a clear risk report.
You've done the research. You've been to Discovery Day. Now there's a 200+ page legal document in your inbox and the FTC gives you 14 days to review it before you can sign.
The franchise broker wants you to move fast. The attorney wants $3,000 and two weeks you don't have. And you're staring at clauses about territory rights, non-competes, and renewal terms written in language designed for lawyers — not for the person writing the check.
67% of franchise buyers never get their FDD professionally reviewed. They sign based on gut feeling and a franchisor's sales pitch. The ones who regret it all say the same thing: “I wish I'd known what was in there before I signed.”
14 days. Clock's ticking.
The FTC review window is short. Attorneys take 1–2 weeks. By the time they finish, your window may be closed — or your territory taken.
$3,000+ just to understand the risks
Franchise attorneys charge $2K–$5K for a full review. That's a lot to spend when you're still in the “exploring” phase.
200+ pages of legal language
The items that determine your success — territory, fees, turnover, financial performance — are buried in legalese designed to protect the franchisor, not you.
The Solution
Think of it as a home inspection — for your franchise investment.
You wouldn't buy a $250K house without an inspection. Why would you invest $250K+ in a franchise without one?
Our analysts review your entire FDD against a purpose-built 23-item rubric, flag everything outside industry norms, and deliver a plain-English risk report in 24 hours. You go into your next conversation — with the franchisor, your attorney, or your spouse — knowing exactly what you're signing.
Every Item Scored
All 23 FDD items analyzed and rated Green, Yellow, or Red against industry norms. Nothing skipped. Nothing glossed over. You see the full risk picture.
Fee Burden & Unit Economics
Your actual combined fee burden — royalties, ad fund, tech fees — calculated as a percentage of revenue. Plus a breakeven model when Item 19 data is available.
Professional PDF Report
A 15–40 page branded report you can hand to your spouse, accountant, or attorney. Every finding cited by FDD item and page number. No jargon.
10 Questions to Ask Before Signing
Custom questions specific to YOUR FDD — the ones that separate informed buyers from those who sign and regret it. Take these into your franchisor call.
Not a replacement for your attorney. The step before.
Most clients use ClearFDD first, then hire an attorney for the 2–3 items that need legal review. You'll save time and money because your attorney won't need to re-explain the entire FDD.
Get Your Risk Report — $497See Before You Buy
Not a score. Not a summary. A professional risk report.
Here's what an actual ClearFDD report looks like — the same deliverable our analysts produce for every client. Every finding cited by item and page number. Every risk explained in plain English.
Franchisor does not provide Item 19 financial performance representations. Without this data, you cannot evaluate expected revenue or build a reliable breakeven model before investing...
Outlet count declined from 574 to 529 over the reporting period. Net loss of 45 units (7.8%) suggests systemic underperformance and franchisee dissatisfaction...
Territory is “protected” but includes internet sales carve-outs allowing the franchisor to fulfill online orders within your territory without compensation...
Real analysis. Real findings. See exactly what you'll receive.
Sample FDD Risk Analysis
AAMCO Transmissions 2024
Overall Risk Score
Moderate RiskItem 5 — Fees
Royalty 8% + 2% ad fund sits above median for QSR
Item 12 — Territory
Non-exclusive territory with online sales carve-out
Item 19 — Financials
Item 19 provided — median AUV $687K, small sample (n=34)
Item 20 — Turnover
18% franchisee turnover in 2023, above 12% industry avg
Item 21 — Franchisor Health
Positive net worth, audited financials, no material losses
Free Download: The 7 FDD Red Flags That Kill Franchise Deals
The checklist 3,400+ prospective franchise buyers use before signing anything.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
How It Works
Three steps. 24 hours. Complete clarity.
Upload Your FDD
Select your tier, complete payment, and upload your FDD as a PDF. Your document is encrypted in transit and at rest. Takes about 2 minutes.
Our Team Analyzes It
Our analysts review all 23 items against our purpose-built rubric, flag anything outside industry norms, calculate your fee burden, and build a breakeven model from your specific numbers.
Get Your Risk Report
A professional PDF delivered to your inbox within 24 hours. Every finding cited by item and page number. Share it with your spouse, your accountant, or your attorney.
Your 14-day review window is running. Get answers in 24 hours.
How We Compare
Professional FDD analysis at 1/6th the attorney cost.
| ClearFDD | Franchise Attorney | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $497–$997 one-time | $2,000–$5,000 |
| Turnaround | 24–48 hours | 1–2 weeks |
| All 23 FDD Items Scored | ✅ | ✅ |
| Plain-English Summary | ✅ | ❌ (legal memo) |
| Professional PDF Report | ✅ | Sometimes |
| Franchise Agreement Review | ✅ Tier 2+ | ✅ |
| Independent / No Commissions | ✅ | ✅ |
| Legal Advice | ❌ | ✅ |
| Legal Representation | ❌ | ✅ |
ClearFDD does not provide legal advice or representation. For negotiations, use our report alongside a qualified franchise attorney.
Why Buyers Trust ClearFDD
Independent analysis. No conflicts of interest. No commissions.
The Step Before Your Attorney
ClearFDD is not legal advice — it's risk intelligence. We tell you what your FDD says in plain English. Many clients use our report to identify the 2–3 items that actually need attorney review, saving thousands in legal fees.
100% Independent
No affiliation with any franchisor, broker, or franchise sales organization. We don't earn commissions. We don't sell franchises. Our analysis is based entirely on what your FDD actually says.
Purpose-Built Rubric
Our 23-item analysis framework maps directly to the FTC's Franchise Rule disclosure requirements. Every item the FTC requires franchisors to disclose is an item our team analyzes — in the same order, against industry benchmarks.
Who We Are
Built by people who take franchise due diligence seriously.
ClearFDD was founded after watching too many smart people invest their life savings into franchise deals with major red flags buried in the fine print. Our analysts developed a purpose-built rubric that scores all 23 FDD items against industry benchmarks — the same framework franchise attorneys use, at a fraction of the cost. We are not brokers. We do not earn commissions. We have no financial relationship with any franchisor. Our only job is to tell you what your FDD actually says.
★★★★★ Independent. Unaffiliated. In your corner.
The 14-Day Window
Federal law gives you 14 days to review your FDD before signing. Don't waste them.
That window exists because the FDD is complex and consequential. Most buyers don't use it. ClearFDD delivers your analysis in 24 hours — so you have 13 days left to act on what we find.
Simple Pricing
$497 to protect a $250K+ investment.
Franchise attorneys charge $3,000–$5,000 and take two weeks. Our team delivers a scored risk analysis in 24 hours — at a fraction of the cost.
FDD Complete Analysis
Complete 23-item FDD analysis
Delivered in 24 hours
- Full 23-item analysis with Green / Yellow / Red ratings
- Red Flag Summary — top concerns ranked by severity
- Fee burden calculation (royalty + ad fund + tech fees)
- Franchisee turnover analysis (Item 20 trends)
- Litigation summary by case type and pattern
- Financial health snapshot (Item 21)
- 10 custom questions to ask the franchisor before signing
- Professional PDF report, 15–25 pages
FDD Deep Dive
For buyers ready to make a decision
Delivered in 48 hours
Everything in the Complete Analysis, plus:
- Full Franchise Agreement clause analysis — termination, non-compete, transfer, renewal, personal guarantee
- Territory risk assessment — exclusive vs. protected vs. unprotected, encroachment and online sales carve-outs
- Item 19 deep-dive — median vs. mean revenue, quartile distribution, breakeven model, estimated payback period
- Negotiation Opportunity Matrix — which clauses franchisors typically bend on, with suggested language
- Supplier restriction assessment — captive purchasing analysis and cost impact
Deep Dive + Advisory
Full support through your decision
48-hour report + 14-day Q&A access
Everything in the Deep Dive, plus:
- 14-day Q&A portal — unlimited follow-up questions about your specific FDD and Franchise Agreement
- Franchise comparison — provide a second FDD and we compare both side-by-side
- Franchisor background research — news, BBB complaints, franchisee reviews, regulatory history
- Personalized due diligence checklist — exactly who to call, what to request, and what to ask
⚡ Rush Delivery — Add $200 to any tier for same-day delivery (8 business hours)
No subscriptions. No hidden fees. One FDD, one report, one price.
Questions before ordering? Email us — we respond within a few hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before ordering your analysis.
You have 14 days. The clock started when you got your FDD.
$250K+ is on the line. A $497 risk report is the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy.
Every day you wait is a day you could be reviewing findings, asking better questions, and making a decision you won't regret. Our analysts deliver your report in 24 hours.
Get Your FDD Analyzed — $49724-hour delivery · Professional PDF · All 23 items scored · Plain English