Franchise vs independent comparison worksheet
By Scott McKenzie, founder of Home Care Agency Blueprint · Updated
Name up to two franchise options and your independent plan, set how much each of ten criteria matters to you, and rate only what the documents and conversations actually show. You get a score for each, labeled partial until every row is rated, plus a warning when a must-have is rated Weak.
Free. No signup. Runs in your browser; nothing you enter is sent to us.
How to use the worksheet
Rate each option only on what you have read or been told clearly. Leave a row blank if you do not know yet; blanks are never counted as zero, and the score stays labeled partial until every applicable row is rated.
- Name up to two franchise options you are looking at, plus your independent plan.
- Set how important each criterion is to you, from Not applicable to Must-have.
- Rate each option Strong, Unclear or Weak, using only what the FDD, the agreement, owners you spoke with, or your own written budget actually show.
- Leave a row blank until you have read the relevant FDD item; blanks never count as zero.
- Review any must-have gaps first, then compare scores only when every option is rated on the same criteria.
- Print the worksheet or download a CSV, and take it to your franchise attorney and accountant.
How the score works
Each rating is multiplied by the importance you chose, and the score is the share of points earned out of points possible on the rows you rated. A score is a thinking aid, not a measure of whether any franchise is good.
- Importance: Not applicable = skipped, Nice to have = 1, Important = 2 (default), Must-have = 3.
- Ratings: Strong = 2, Unclear = 1, Weak = 0. Not rated is left out.
- Score = sum(importance × rating) ÷ sum(2 × importance), over rated rows, as a whole percent.
- A highest score is named only when the options were rated on the same number of criteria, at least five. Ties name no leader.
- A Must-have rated Weak is a gap, whatever the overall score.
Printable blank worksheet (works without JavaScript)
Print this section, or use it as a paper form. Importance: N/A, 1, 2 or 3. Ratings: 2 = Strong, 1 = Unclear, 0 = Weak, blank = not rated.
| Criterion | Where to look | Importance | Franchise option 1 | Franchise option 2 | Independent plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total upfront cost you can document | Franchise: FDD Item 5 (Initial Fees) and Item 7 (Estimated Initial Investment). Independent: your own written budget, including licensing, insurance and working capital. | ||||
| Ongoing fees | Franchise: FDD Item 6 (Other Fees), where recurring fees such as royalties or marketing contributions are listed. Independent: the software, insurance and services you would pay for either way. | ||||
| Training and launch support | Franchise: FDD Item 11 (Franchisor’s Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training). Independent: the courses, advisors or mentors you would actually use. | ||||
| Territory | Franchise: FDD Item 12 (Territory), including what is not protected. Independent: no franchise territory; you serve where your license and capacity allow. | ||||
| Brand recognition where you live | Franchise: FDD Item 13 (Trademarks), plus how well families and referral sources near you actually know the name. Independent: the brand you would build yourself. | ||||
| Control over services, pricing and vendors | Franchise: FDD Items 8 (Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services), 9 (Franchisee’s Obligations) and 16 (Restrictions on What the Franchisee May Sell). Independent: you decide, within state rules. | ||||
| Exit: renewal, transfer and termination | Franchise: FDD Item 17 (Renewal, Termination, Transfer, and Dispute Resolution). Independent: your own contracts, lease and state rules govern a sale or closure. | ||||
| Performance information you can verify | Franchise: FDD Item 19 (Financial Performance Representations) and Item 21 (Financial Statements). Independent: your own projections, clearly labeled as estimates. | ||||
| What current and former owners tell you | Franchise: FDD Item 20 (Outlets and Franchisee Information) lists franchisees you can contact. Independent: talk with independent owners near you. | ||||
| Fit with your time, money and experience | How much you can invest and afford to lose, the hours you can work, and whether you want a franchisor setting the rules. |
Score for each option = sum of (importance × rating) ÷ sum of (2 × importance), over the rows you rated.
Worked example (hypothetical)
These ratings are made up. Suppose the first, second and sixth criteria are must-haves, and an imaginary franchise and an imaginary independent plan are rated on the same 6 of 10 criteria. Example franchise X scores 93% with 0 must-have gaps. Example independent plan scores 50% and has 1 must-have gap, a Weak rating on control. Both stay labeled partial because 4 criteria are not rated yet. “Load hypothetical example” shows the same numbers; neither is a real franchise or business, and your own worksheet is kept separately.
Where your entries are stored
Your entries are saved only in this browser on this device so you can come back to them. They are never sent to us. Printing and CSV download happen on your device, CSV cells are protected against spreadsheet formulas, and Reset erases only this worksheet’s saved entries.
Frequently asked questions
Why are all ratings blank?
Pre-filled ratings would be guesses about franchises we have not seen. You can load a clearly labeled hypothetical example to see how scoring works, and it will not touch your own entries.
Why does the score say partial?
A score is labeled partial until every applicable criterion is rated for that option. Blank rows are left out of the arithmetic, not counted as zero.
Where do I find the information to rate a franchise?
In its Franchise Disclosure Document. Each criterion names the FDD item to read. Talk with the franchisees listed in Item 20 as well.
Want to talk through your options?
A free 15-minute clarity call with Home Care Agency Blueprint. It helps people start independent agencies, so expect that perspective. You do not need to finish the worksheet first.
Book a free 15-minute clarity call