FranchiseStack's FDD-based due diligence checklist covers 8 critical areas, drawn directly from the FTC Franchise Disclosure Document:

1. Item 1 — Franchisor History & Background
2. Item 3 — Litigation History
3. Item 5 — Fees (Initial & Ongoing)
4. Item 6 — Initial Investment Breakdown
5. Item 7 — Ongoing Fees (Royalties & Ad Fund)
6. Item 10 — Franchisee Support & Training
7. Item 11 — Franchisor Obligations
8. Item 19 — Financial Performance Representations

Use the interactive FDD Risk Analyzer to score each franchise across these dimensions.

Source: FranchiseStack FDD-sourced checklist. 8 FDD items tracked across the FranchiseStack franchise database. Updated July 2026.