About The Open Franchise

A franchise sells you a system: a startup budget, a forecast, a step-by-step playbook, suppliers, and training. Then it charges you fees and royalties for as long as you run the business.

We think much of that system can be open to everyone. The Open Franchise gives you the same kinds of tools for businesses you start and own yourself, with no franchise fees and no royalties.

Who it's for

People weighing a franchise against starting on their own, often after a layoff or an early retirement, who want real numbers before they commit their savings.

How we work

• Every number has a source, a confidence tier, and a date we last checked it.
• Totals are calculated from line items, never typed in by hand.
• We show ranges, not single numbers, and forecasts start conservative.
• We list what a franchise genuinely gives you (brand, training, support), not only what it costs.
• No fake reviews, no “most popular” badges, no countdown timers.

Who's behind it

Read how we make money and where our numbers come from.