Ongoing Franchisor Calls – How to Get Real Answers

Let’s Dig In

You’ll be chatting weekly with your franchisor, and you can (and should!) email them anytime with questions. Everything is fair game except detailed earnings info—only franchisees can share personal earnings beyond what's listed in the FDD.

If you don’t get a clear answer, don't settle! Politely insist they ask someone else on their team or connect you with the right expert. Remember, this is your money and future on the line. It's okay to push for clarity!

Quick tip:

Franchise salespeople typically disappear after the sale. Operations people are your long-term partners. So, if your salesperson seems a bit disconnected, don’t sweat it. Focus your attention on the operations folks—these are your trainers and mentors. You won’t be allowed to speak with them right away because they want to know you are serious. Get as many questions answered as possible by the sales person and then ask to speak with any trainers, support staff, or franchise business coaches to get the rest of the questions answered. You will also get a ton of questions answered by franchisees once you start validation.

Non-FDD vs. FDD Calls

You've got plenty of questions, and the app has tons of them listed. Before asking the franchisor, first try answering them yourself through online research. Save the precious call time for questions you can't answer yourself or to clear up confusing points.

Want to dive deep into the FDD? Schedule a separate call dedicated entirely to FDD questions. It keeps things clear and focused.

Send Questions Early

Got important questions lined up? Great—send them via email a few days before the call. This gives the franchisor time to prepare good answers and sets a clear agenda. Quick answers usually come right back via email, leaving your call open for deeper, detailed discussion.

Record Your Calls

Use an AI recorder like Fathom or Krisp to record and transcribe calls. This way, you won’t miss anything important. Later, you can easily pull notes from these transcripts and input them directly into the app.

If the franchisor says "no" to recording, take notes during the call, then immediately send these notes back to confirm accuracy. It keeps everyone accountable.

What's Next: Funding and Financial Modeling

After these initial calls, you'll start talking to bankers or loan brokers to verify your funding options. Plus, you'll begin creating your financial model to ensure the franchise aligns with your financial goals. Exciting stuff!

These articles are simple overviews of the franchise research process to know what to mentally prepare for as you begin the journey. If you want a guide that will give you the right questions to ask, at the right time, to the right person, you need to work with a Tracer Franchising broker. 

Click here to schedule a 30 minute intro call to begin your franchise research process. Our services are free since we are paid by the franchises. 

If you prefer to do the research solo, you can use the free Tracer Franchise Research app

All Steps in the Franchise Research Process

1. Franchise Education

2. Intro Call with Broker

3. Take the Matching Quiz and Follow up Interview

4. Franchise Presentation

5. Initial Call with Franchisors

6. Initial Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) Research

7. Non-FDD Focused Calls

8. Start Funding Discussions

9. Financial Modeling

10. Speak to Franchisees (Validation)

11. FDD Deep Dive

12. FDD Review Call with Franchisor

13. Outside Research

14. Finalize Your Financial Model

15. Final Validation

16. Attorney and Accountant Review

17. Meet the Franchisor in Person (Discovery Day)

18. Making Your Decision- The Franchise Checklist