Franchise fee

Franchise fee — the one-time upfront payment for the right to use a franchisor’s brand, system, and supply chain. It is the number on the poster and typically the smallest third of all-in capital, which is why the course’s detection pattern is named after it: the advertised fee triples all-in. What the fee buys varies wildly — from real systems and site support down to a logo and a mandatory supplier — and the franchise agreement’s fee schedule (not the FAQ, not the promo video) is the only document that says which.

First used in: 4.1 · Semi-passive businesses: the honest tier