What is a franchise discovery day?
The discovery day is your chance to assess a franchisor in person, if you treat it as due diligence rather than a courtship.
What is a franchise discovery day?
What to look for
- The quality and depth of the support team you would actually rely on.
- How openly they answer hard questions about costs, closures and franchisee earnings.
- Whether they encourage you to talk to existing franchisees, a good sign.
- Any pressure to commit or pay quickly, a warning sign.
Questions to ask
Use the day to ask what the brochure will not tell you: how many units have closed and why, what a typical franchisee really earns and how you can verify it, what ongoing support actually looks like, and which existing franchisees you can call. Vague or defensive answers are as informative as clear ones.
Keep it a two-way assessment
It is easy to leave a well-run discovery day excited and ready to sign. Do not. It is one input into your due diligence, not the end of it. Follow it with the disclosure document, franchisee calls, an accountant's model and a lawyer's review, and use the full disclosure period before committing.
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Frequently asked questions
What happens at a franchise discovery day?
You visit the franchisor to learn about the system, meet the support team and be assessed for fit. It is a real chance to see the operation and ask questions, but it is also a sales occasion, so treat it as two-way due diligence.
What questions should I ask at a discovery day?
Ask how many units have closed and why, what a typical franchisee earns and how to verify it, what ongoing support actually involves, and which existing franchisees you can call. Judge the openness of the answers as much as the answers themselves.
Should I sign after a franchise discovery day?
No. A discovery day is one input, not the end of due diligence. Follow it with the disclosure document, franchisee calls, an accountant's model and a lawyer's review, and use the full 14-day disclosure period before committing.
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