4044 units closed in the most recent FDD period (2022 were forced terminations). Ask franchisees: what actually drove those closures — was it market conditions, operations, or franchisor decisions?

Franchisees who left voluntarily vs. those terminated. Any pattern by region, years in system, or franchisee profile.

The agreement requires mandatory arbitration. Ask: have you ever had a dispute with the franchisor — how was it handled? Did you feel you had recourse?

Franchisees who've been through disputes. Understand if the arbitration process felt fair or heavily stacked toward the franchisor.

The agreement includes a 2-year, 25-mile post-termination non-compete. Ask franchisees: did you fully understand this when you signed — and do you feel it's fair?

Whether franchisees feel trapped. High non-compete terms reduce exit flexibility.

Cure period is only 10 days. Ask: have you ever received a default notice? How did the franchisor handle it — were they reasonable?

A short cure period combined with aggressive enforcement is a serious risk. Look for franchisees who feel supported vs. managed by threat.

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.

The FDD does not include audited financial statements. Ask: do you have any visibility into the franchisor's financial health? Have you ever been concerned about the company's stability?

Even anecdotal signals — changes in leadership, delays in royalty statement processing, reduced marketing fund activity.