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Don't Sign That.

The franchise investigation series that asks the questions your broker won't.

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13
Episodes Season 1
23
FDD Items Investigated
5
Characters
Free
Always

The Cast

Five perspectives. One deal on the table.

Every character in Don't Sign That represents a real voice in the franchise buying process. Some are trying to help Maya. Some are not.

Franchesca
Franchise Investigator
Host and guide. She lost real money on a franchise investment. Now she makes sure Maya reads what she did not.
Maya
Franchise Buyer
Aspiring business owner with her savings on the line. Three days from signing. Just found out the FDD is 300 pages.
Chad
Franchise Broker
Polished. Confident. His commission depends on Maya signing. Not the villain, but not exactly neutral.
Marcus
Franchisor
The other side of the table. He built a franchise system. He knows what the FDD says and what it does not say.
Sam
Independent Owner
Chose the independent path. Provides the comparison Maya was never offered. No fees, no royalties, no Item 21 surprises.

Season 1

The investigation.

Thirteen episodes. Maya goes from deposit to decision, reading every item in the FDD that her broker told her to skip.

01
Meet the Deal
Maya is three days from signing. Nobody told her about Item 19.
The series pilot. Meet all five characters. Franchesca asks the question that costs Chad a sale.
Watch
02
Opening the FDD
Item 19 does not say what Chad's pitch deck said.
Franchesca and Maya open the disclosure document together. The gap between average and median is not a rounding error.
Coming Wed
03
The Broker's Math
How the average unit volume calculation actually works.
Chad is not lying. He is using the math the way it was designed to be used. That is the problem.
Week 3
04
Item 21: The Franchisor's Books
If the franchisor is losing money, who is paying the franchise fees?
Marcus explains why his audited financials are in the FDD. Sam explains why most buyers never read them.
Week 4
05
Items 3 and 4: The Litigation Record
How to read a franchise's legal history without a law degree.
One lawsuit is a nuisance. Fourteen is a pattern. Franchesca walks through the difference.
Week 5
06
The Real Cost of Ownership
Item 7 says $150,000 to open. The actual number is different.
The initial investment table is a starting point, not a ceiling. Franchesca builds the real model.
Week 6
07
The Validation Call
Chad arranged calls with three franchisees. Franchesca arranged five more.
How to use Item 20 to find franchisees your broker did not select. What to ask when nobody is listening.
Week 7
08
The Break-Even Model
How long until Maya gets her money back? Chad's answer and Franchesca's answer are not the same.
Building a realistic break-even calculation using Item 19 data, real operating costs, and royalty structure.
Week 8
09
The Franchise vs. Independent Comparison
Sam built a comparable business for 40% less. Here is how.
Applying the same financial model to the independent path. Not the right answer for everyone. Worth doing the math.
Week 9
10
Territory and Competition
Maya's territory is exclusive. Until the agreement defines what exclusive means.
Items 1 and 12: territory rights, encroachment, and the definition of "protected" in franchise agreements.
Week 10
11
The Exit Clause
What happens when Maya wants out in year three.
Transfer restrictions, resale limitations, and what the franchise agreement says about Maya's right to leave.
Week 11
12
The Expert Review
Franchesca walks the full deal with Maya before the deadline.
A structured review of every red flag found across the investigation. Is this franchise worth signing?
Week 12
13
The Decision
Maya decides. With full information. For the first time.
Season finale. The decision most franchise buyers never get to make: one based on what the deal actually says.
Week 13

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Free Tools

Analysis tools used in the show.

These are the actual tools Franchesca uses on Maya's FDD. Free to use before you sign anything.

Free
FDD Analyzer
Upload your Franchise Disclosure Document. AI analysis of all 23 items in under 60 seconds. Identifies red flags, validates financial claims, and summarizes what the FDD actually says.
Analyze Your FDD
Free
FDD Red Flag Quiz
Answer 10 questions about your franchise opportunity. Get a risk score and a prioritized list of items to investigate before you talk to your broker again.
Take the Quiz
$297
Franchise Decision Kit
Comparing two or three franchise opportunities? The Franchise Decision Kit runs a side-by-side structured analysis using your actual numbers. Used in Episode 4.
Compare Opportunities

This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Franchise investments involve significant financial risk. Results and experiences vary widely among franchise owners. Consult qualified legal and financial professionals before making any franchise investment decision. Franchise-Grade Systems LLC is not a law firm, financial advisory firm, or franchise broker. All FDD analysis tools are analytical aids and do not replace professional legal review. © 2026 Franchise-Grade Systems LLC. All rights reserved.