Question 1

What is the Franchise Agreement Risk Scanner?

Accepted Answer

The Risk Scanner is an AI-powered tool that analyzes Franchise Agreements and Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) to identify potential risks in five key areas: financial, territorial, exit, control, and earnings claims. It provides plain-English explanations of complex terms and helps you understand what you're agreeing to before you sign.

Question 2

Is this a legal review?

Accepted Answer

No. The Risk Scanner is an educational tool designed to help you identify potential risks before consulting with a qualified franchise attorney. It does not constitute legal advice and should not replace professional legal counsel.

Question 3

Who should use this service?

Accepted Answer

The Risk Scanner is designed for prospective franchise buyers—including first-time franchisees and experienced investors—who want to understand potential risks in their franchise agreements before committing significant capital or paying for full legal reviews.

Question 4

Do I still need a franchise attorney?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We strongly recommend consulting with a qualified franchise attorney before signing any agreement. Our Risk Scanner helps you identify issues to discuss with your attorney and makes your legal consultation more efficient and focused.

Question 5

What documents can I upload?

Accepted Answer

You can upload Franchise Agreements and Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs). We accept PDF format.

Question 6

How long does a scan take?

Accepted Answer

Most scans are completed within minutes of upload. You'll receive an email notification when your Risk Map is ready to download.

Question 7

What's included in my Risk Map?

Accepted Answer

Your Risk Map includes: risk identification across five categories, plain-English explanations of flagged clauses, direct references to specific contract sections, business impact assessments, and recommended questions to ask your franchise attorney.

Question 8

Can I scan multiple documents?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can purchase single scans or multi-scan bundles. Each document requires one credit. Bundles offer significant savings if you're comparing multiple franchise opportunities.

Question 9

What if my document is hundreds of pages long?

Accepted Answer

No problem. Our AI is designed to handle complete FDDs (which are often 200+ pages) as well as standalone Franchise Agreements.

Question 10

What happens if my document fails to process?

Accepted Answer

If processing fails, your credit is not deducted—we only charge for successfully completed analyses. You can retry the upload from your dashboard. If problems persist, contact support and we'll help resolve the issue.

Question 11

My FDD is over 200 pages. Will it all be analyzed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our system is specifically designed to handle long FDDs. For documents over 200 pages, our AI intelligently prioritizes critical disclosure Items (5, 6, 7, 17, 19, 20, 21) while maintaining full context. Your report may include a note indicating if content was prioritized, but all key risk areas are thoroughly analyzed.

Question 12

How does credit-based pricing work?

Accepted Answer

Each document scan requires one credit. You can purchase single scans or multi-scan bundles. Bundle credits are valid for 12 months from purchase date.

Question 13

Do credits expire?

Accepted Answer

Bundle credits are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Single scans are used immediately upon purchase.

Question 14

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

Due to the immediate delivery of AI analysis, all sales are final once a scan is initiated. However, if you experience technical issues preventing scan completion, please contact support.

Question 15

Do you offer discounts for multiple scans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our 3-scan and 5-scan bundles offer significant per-scan savings compared to individual purchases.

Question 16

How do I check my remaining credits?

Accepted Answer

Your credit balance is displayed at the top of your Dashboard after you log in. You can also view your complete transaction history showing all credit purchases and usage.

Question 17

Can I delete a report from my dashboard?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each report has a Delete button. When you delete a report, you have 5 seconds to undo the action. Deleted reports are removed from your dashboard but the original document remains stored securely.

Question 18

Why is my report still showing as 'processing'?

Accepted Answer

Most reports complete within 3-5 minutes. If your report has been processing for more than 10 minutes, it may have encountered an issue. You can mark it as 'stuck' from your dashboard and contact support. We'll investigate and ensure you receive your analysis or a credit refund.

Question 19

What are the risk categories?

Accepted Answer

We analyze five critical risk areas: Financial Reality Risk (hidden fees, royalty structures, cost obligations), Earnings Claims Risk (Item 19 disclosures), Territory & Growth Risk (exclusivity, competition, expansion limits), Exit & Failure Risk (transfer restrictions, termination clauses, non-compete), and Power Imbalance Indicators (unilateral amendments, arbitration, franchisor authority).

Question 20

How do I know which risks are most important?

Accepted Answer

Each identified risk includes a severity indicator (Very Low, Low, Medium, High, Critical) and business impact explanation. Your Risk Map helps you prioritize issues to discuss with your attorney based on your specific situation and goals.

Question 21

What should I do after receiving my Risk Map?

Accepted Answer

Review the report carefully, note areas of concern, and use the provided attorney questions when consulting with a qualified franchise lawyer. Share the Risk Map with your legal counsel to make your consultation more efficient.

Question 22

What if I don't understand something in my report?

Accepted Answer

Contact our support team with specific questions about your report. While we can't provide legal advice, we can clarify how to interpret the information in your Risk Map.

Question 23

How is the Risk Score calculated?

Accepted Answer

Your Risk Score is a weighted average from 0.00 to 5.00, calculated across all five risk categories. Each category's severity (Very Low, Low, Medium, High, Critical) contributes to the final score. Categories with more or higher-severity findings increase your score. The score helps you quickly compare risk levels and prioritize your attorney consultation.

Question 24

Does the report include actual language from my document?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each finding includes a verbatim 'Clause Text' pulled directly from your document, along with the section reference. This allows you to verify findings, locate the exact language in your agreement, and share specific clauses with your attorney.

Question 25

Is my document kept confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We take document security seriously. Your uploaded agreements are encrypted, processed securely, and not shared with third parties. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Question 26

What happens to my document after scanning?

Accepted Answer

Documents are securely stored only as long as necessary to complete analysis and deliver your report. You control your data and can request deletion at any time.

Question 27

Who sees my Franchise Agreement or FDD?

Accepted Answer

Only our secure AI system processes your document. No human reviewers access your agreements unless you specifically request technical support assistance.

Question 28

How long are my reports stored?

Accepted Answer

Your reports remain available in your dashboard for as long as your account is active. You can download the PDF version at any time. If you delete a report, it's removed from your view but securely archived for our records.

Question 29

What file formats do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We currently accept PDF files only. Most Franchise Agreements and FDDs are provided in PDF format.

Question 30

Is there a file size limit?

Accepted Answer

We accept documents up to 50MB. This accommodates even the longest FDDs. If your file exceeds this limit, contact support.

Question 31

What if my scan fails or has errors?

Accepted Answer

If you experience technical issues, contact our support team immediately. We'll resolve the issue and ensure you receive your Risk Map.

Question 32

Can I access my report later if I lose it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All purchased reports remain available in your account dashboard. You can download them again anytime.

Question 33

Which browser works best for large documents?

Accepted Answer

We recommend Chrome or Microsoft Edge for the best experience, especially with large FDDs (200+ pages). These browsers handle our text extraction process most reliably. Safari and Firefox work well for smaller documents.

Question 34

What's the difference between a Franchise Agreement and an FDD?

Accepted Answer

A Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is a comprehensive document the franchisor must provide before you sign anything. It includes financial performance data, fee structures, and the Franchise Agreement itself. The Franchise Agreement is the binding contract. We can scan either document.

Question 35

Should I scan the FDD or the Franchise Agreement?

Accepted Answer

If you have both, start with the FDD since it contains the Franchise Agreement plus additional disclosure information. If you only have one document, scan whichever you've received.

Question 36

Can you scan agreements for any franchise brand?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our framework applies to franchise agreements across all industries and brands—from fast food to fitness, retail to service businesses.

Question 37

What if my franchise is in a specific state with unique laws?

Accepted Answer

Our scanner identifies risks based on the agreement language itself. State-specific franchise laws may provide additional protections or requirements—another reason to consult with a franchise attorney licensed in your state.

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