The questions to ask existing franchisees before you buy
Franchisees are the one source the franchisor cannot script. The disclosure document must give you their contacts, this is how to use those calls well.
Why franchisee calls matter most
Go in with a plan. The best questions are specific, hard to spin, and asked the same way to everyone so you can compare answers.
Questions about the money
- What did the site actually cost you all-in, versus what you were told?
- How long until you were cash-flow positive, and how much working capital did you really need?
- What do you take home now, and is it what you expected?
- Which costs surprised you?
Questions about the work
- How many hours a week do you actually work, and how many did you expect?
- What does a normal day look like?
- How hard was it to find and keep staff?
Questions about the franchisor
- How good is the training and ongoing support, really?
- How does the franchisor behave when there is a problem or a dispute?
- Is the marketing levy well spent, and do you see the accounts?
- Have the fees or rules changed since you signed, and how was that handled?
The two questions that matter most
End every call with these:
- Knowing what you know now, would you buy this franchise again?
- What do you wish someone had told you before you signed?
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get the contact details of a franchise's franchisees?
They are in the disclosure document. Under the Franchising Code of Conduct 2025 the franchisor must list current and former franchisees and their contacts, so you can approach them independently, not only the references the franchisor hand-picks.
How many franchisees should I talk to?
At least three current and two former franchisees. A larger, mixed sample, including people who left, gives you a far more honest picture than one or two franchisor-chosen references.
What is the single best question to ask a franchisee?
“Knowing what you know now, would you buy this franchise again?” It cuts through the detail and, asked to several franchisees, quickly reveals how the network really feels about the system.