Free tools & calculators

Franchise Affordability Calculator

Enter your liquid capital and down payment to see the total franchise investment you can realistically finance.

Coffee Shop Startup Cost Calculator

Pick your format and market for an itemized startup-cost range built from sourced 2026 industry data.

Franchise Royalty Calculator

See what a royalty and ad-fund rate actually cost per year, and across a ten-year agreement.

Franchise ROI Calculator

Turn your own investment and profit estimates into ROI percent and payback years, with a conservative-to-optimistic range.

Franchise Down Payment Calculator

See the equity injection required under SBA 7(a), SBA 504, and a conventional bank loan, side by side, from current 2026 rules.

Franchise Fee vs Total Investment Calculator

Enter the franchise fee and Item 7 range to see what percent the fee really is, and how much goes to buildout, equipment, and working capital.

Cafe Buildout Cost Calculator

Estimate coffee shop construction cost per square foot by finish tier and market, with an itemized breakdown from sourced 2026 data.

Coffee Shop Menu Pricing Calculator

Turn an item's ingredient cost and a target food-cost percentage into a suggested menu price, gross profit, and margin.

Franchise Loan Payment Calculator

Enter the amount, down payment, rate, and term to see the monthly payment, total interest, and an amortization snapshot for an SBA 7(a) or franchise loan.

Franchise Net Worth Requirement Calculator

See the net worth and liquid capital franchisors typically want for a given investment, and whether your current assets clear the bar.

Coffee Shop Staffing Calculator

Estimate peak and off-peak barista headcount and weekly labor hours from your daily transactions, peak share, and hours of operation.

Franchise Opportunity Finder

Not sure where to start? Six questions route you to the guides that fit your budget, involvement, and interest, from coffee to low-cost to semi-absentee to veteran paths.

Which Food Franchise Concept Quiz

Six questions on budget, involvement, and format point you to the food-franchise concept category that tends to fit, with the guides to dig in.

Which Coffee Franchise Quiz

Drive-thru, kiosk, cafe, or mobile? Six questions point you to the coffee franchise format that fits your budget and plans.

Franchise vs Independent Decision Tool

Slide the trade-offs that matter to you, from control to support to cost, and see whether your answers lean toward a franchise or going independent.

Franchise Agreement Red Flags Checklist

A printable, section-by-section list of the franchise agreement clauses to scrutinize before you sign, framed as questions for your attorney.

Franchise Due Diligence Checklist

A printable, ten-step checklist for vetting a franchise before signing, from reading the full FDD to attorney and accountant sign-off.

First-Time Franchise Buyer Checklist

A beginner's printable checklist for buying a first franchise, from a readiness check through financing, the FDD, and the mistakes first-timers make.

Franchise Startup Cost Worksheet

A printable, fill-in-your-own-numbers worksheet built on the FDD Item 7 categories that totals the real cash needed to open.

Franchise Business Plan Template (SBA)

A lender-ready outline following the SBA's business-plan format, with the franchise-specific sections a 7(a) underwriter expects. Fill in your own numbers.

Coffee Shop Business Plan Template

A printable, fill-in-your-own outline for a cafe business plan, from concept and menu through trade-area analysis, buildout, staffing, and projections.

Franchise Comparison Spreadsheet Template

A downloadable CSV to score franchise brands side by side on investment, royalties, Item 19, unit churn, and territory, all from each brand's own FDD.

Franchisee Validation Call Script

A printable question bank for validation calls with current and former franchisees, on revenue reality, support, and regrets, with a write-in line under each question.

Franchise Discovery Day Checklist

A printable checklist of what to ask and verify at a franchisor's Discovery Day, from territory and the ad fund to franchisee turnover and the red flags to watch for.

What to Negotiate in a Franchise Agreement

A printable checklist of the terms attorneys most often describe as negotiable, framed as questions to raise with your own franchise attorney.

How to Open a Coffee Shop Checklist

A printable, phase-by-phase checklist for opening a coffee shop, from concept and financing through permits, buildout, and hiring to the final 90-day launch sprint.

Coffee Shop Monthly Budget Template

A printable, fill-in-your-own monthly budget for a cafe, with sourced benchmark percentages for COGS, labor, rent, and fees and a live share-of-sales for each.

Drive-Thru vs Cafe Cost Comparison Tool

Toggle the market tier to compare an independent drive-thru stand against a sit-down cafe on startup cost, footprint, staffing, capacity, and speed to open.

Coffee Cart vs Kiosk vs Coffee Shop

Compare a mobile cart, a kiosk, and a full cafe on startup cost, footprint, staffing, and capacity, with the core equipment each format needs.