The agreement includes a 2-year, 8-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.

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.

The Item 2 business experience section doesn't show prior franchise system experience in leadership. Ask: how does the corporate team support franchisees who are struggling operationally?

Whether they have franchise-specific field support, franchise advisory councils, or prior experience navigating the franchisor-franchisee relationship.

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.