---
title: "Compare Franchise Opportunities With This Game-Changing Free Tool"
description: "Watch this video to learn how to use the free Franchise Grade tool Compare that help you choose the right franchise before you buy, with clearer data and…"
url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/learn/academy/franchise-basics/free-tool-compare-franchises"
canonical: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/learn/academy/franchise-basics/free-tool-compare-franchises"
markdown_url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/learn/academy/franchise-basics/free-tool-compare-franchises.md"
type: "Video"
topic: "Franchise Basics"
duration: "1:36"
published: "2026-08-05"
watch_url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/learn/academy/franchise-basics/free-tool-compare-franchises"
video_url: "https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/2jl-pfGCQDc"
---

# Compare Franchise Opportunities With This Game-Changing Free Tool

## Video details

- **Runtime:** 1:36
- **Presented by:** Franchise Grade Research Team
- **Video:** https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/2jl-pfGCQDc
- **Watch page:** https://www.franchisegrade.com/learn/academy/franchise-basics/free-tool-compare-franchises

## Key takeaways

- Comparison is only meaningful when the same FDD fields are shown for every brand.
- Compare the Item 7 high estimate, not the advertised low figure.
- Weigh the full Item 6 fee load as a percentage of realistic revenue, not the headline royalty.
- Three-year unit churn from Item 20 is the closest thing to an outcome measure.
- Shortlist three to five brands; more rarely survives real due diligence.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I compare franchise opportunities side by side?

Compare identical fields from the same source for every brand: Item 7 total investment, the complete Item 6 fee schedule, Item 19 scope and figures, and Item 20 three-year openings against closures. Franchise Grade's compare tool puts those fields next to each other for up to ten brands at once, free and without a sign-up.

### What should I compare besides investment cost?

The full recurring fee load as a percentage of realistic revenue, whether an Item 19 exists and what subset of units it covers, unit churn over three years, territory definition and what rights the franchisor reserves inside your area, and the operating model against the hours you can give. Entry price alone predicts very little.

### How many franchises should I compare at once?

Narrow to three to five that clear your financial minimums and fit your intended involvement. Fewer than three gives no basis for comparison; more than five rarely survives validation calls and legal review. Use a comparison tool to get to that shortlist quickly, then go deep on each.

### Is comparing franchises on investment alone enough?

No. Two brands with the same Item 7 can differ sharply in ongoing fees, disclosed performance, territory rights and how many owners stay. A lower entry price paired with a heavier fee load and steady closures is a worse purchase than a costlier system that retains its franchisees.

---

*Source: [FranchiseGrade](https://www.franchisegrade.com) — independent, FDD-derived franchise research.*
*Cite this page as: https://www.franchisegrade.com/learn/academy/franchise-basics/free-tool-compare-franchises*
*Training, indexing and quotation are permitted — please attribute and link to the source URL above. Full-text reproduction of the whole page is not. Licensing: privacy@franchisegrade.com*