Please stop asking AI/ChatGPT to “find me the best franchise.” Because ChatGPT is not a human. It’s a robot. A smart one, but it’s not perfect. And it doesn’t “know” you. Please don’t pretend it does. Key Takeaways on Using ChatGPT to “Find Me the Best Franchise” Most franchise buyers are already using AI to […]

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Quick answer: Using AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini to help you buy a franchise can be done. But you need human input. That’s because while AI is great at helping today’s franchise buyers organize information and can help translate complex franchise legal language into plain English, it’s not perfect. Or human. What AI […]

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Maryland lawmakers passed the biggest update to the state’s franchise rules in more than 40 years. The Franchise Reform Act (Senate Bill 415 and House Bill 730) cleared the General Assembly by wide margins. Governor approval followed, and the new provisions take effect October 1, 2026. This is the first significant change to the Maryland […]

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You found a brand you like. The unit economics look solid. The franchisor’s rep is friendly and responsive. Now comes the part most buyers rush: picking a franchise territory. Fact: A five-year lease at $4,000 a month adds up to $240,000. Most of that commitment gets signed with a personal guaranty attached to it. That’s […]

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Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is facing a new problem that prospective franchise buyers should pay close attention to. California regulators say the franchise company failed to accurately report the number of franchise locations that had stopped operating. More specifically, The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) has ordered Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. (a franchise […]

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You’re Already Using AI to Research Franchises. Are You Using It Right? Admit it. You’ve probably already typed “best franchise to buy” or “should I buy a [brand name] franchise” into ChatGPT. You got an answer back. It sounded confident. It was also almost certainly incomplete, and possibly wrong in ways you had no way […]

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This post is about starting a franchise vs. starting your own business-and the costs involved in both. Every year, several people ask me the same question in a different outfit. “Wouldn’t it just be cheaper to start my own thing?” Hey-it’s a fair question. Franchise fees look scary on paper. Royalty payments feel like rent […]

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Florida continues to attract franchise expansion. Now, a major Crunch Fitness franchisee is adding another location to its growing footprint in the state. CR Fitness Holdings LLC is preparing to open Crunch Maitland. The new club will bring the franchise group closer to 65 Crunch Fitness locations in Florida. The opening is scheduled for August […]

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I’ve been in the franchise business for over 25 years. I’ve seen brands grow the right way. I’ve seen brands grow the wrong way. I’ve seen franchisees win big and lose everything. But now, with the introduction of private equity in franchising, I’m starting to think about the potential for franchisees to get screwed. That […]

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A Go-To Firm for Franchisees Who Need Legal Guidance in Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Virginia, and Michigan. Cantrell Schuette is a nationwide go-to law firm for franchise legal matters. The firm primarily represents franchisees. Its franchisor representation is limited to a select few franchisors, and only in dispute […]

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