How responsive is your franchisor rep — do they actually help when you have a problem, or are they just checking boxes?

Specific stories (not just vague positives). Ask about a time they needed help urgently — response time matters.

If you decided to sell your franchise tomorrow, how easy would that be? Has the franchisor ever blocked or delayed a transfer you wanted?

Transfer fee surprises, right-of-first-refusal complications, or franchisor demanding upgrades before approving a sale.

Item 2 lists very few senior executives. Ask: what happens to franchisee support if a key person leaves? Is there a succession plan?

Key-person risk is highest at early-stage or family-run franchisors. Look for documented processes vs. personality-driven operations.

What did your revenue look like in year 1 vs. year 2 vs. now? When did you reach breakeven?

Year 1 revenue is typically well below Item 19 averages (which often exclude ramp-up units). Expect 12-24 months to reach average.

What did the training actually cover vs. what you needed on day 1? What do you wish you'd learned before opening?

Gap between training content and operational reality. New franchisees often report the training covered theory but not real-world situations.

Knowing everything you know now, would you sign this franchise agreement again? What would you negotiate differently?

This is the single highest-signal question. Listen for hesitation. Franchisees rarely criticize their decision publicly; even mild reservations are meaningful.