Privacy Policy

FranchiseOverview.com is a franchise discovery platform that provides publicly available information about franchise opportunities, including data sourced from publicly filed Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) obtained from state franchise registries. We connect prospective franchise buyers with franchise information and, where requested, with franchisors and franchise consultants.

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• All visitors to www.franchiseoverview.com regardless of how they access the Site
• All users who submit information through any form, modal, or interactive feature on the Site
• Franchisors and their representatives who claim or interact with franchise profiles
• Subscribers to our email communications

This Privacy Policy does not apply to the privacy practices of third-party franchisors, brokers, consultants, or other parties to whom we may share your information with your consent, or to any third-party websites linked from our Site. Each such third party operates under its own privacy policy.

This Site is intended for residents of the United States only. If you are located outside the United States, please do not use this Site or submit any personal information through it.

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you use our Site, including when you:

When you visit our Site, we automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• Log data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, time and date of visit, time spent on pages
• Device information: Device type, screen resolution, device identifiers
• Usage data: Search queries, franchise profiles viewed, filters used, FDD download activity, form interactions
• Location data: General geographic location derived from IP address (city/state level only — we do not collect precise GPS location)
• Cookie and tracking data: As described in Section 7 below

We may receive information about you from third-party sources including:

• Analytics providers (such as Google Analytics)
• Advertising partners and remarketing platforms
• Franchise brokers or consultants who refer you to our platform
• Public records and databases used to verify franchise profile information

We may combine information received from third parties with information we collect directly from you. All such combined information is treated as personal information under this policy.

FranchiseOverview.com publishes franchise profile information derived from Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) that are publicly filed with state franchise regulatory agencies, including but not limited to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, the Maryland Office of the Attorney General, the Washington Department of Financial Institutions, and the Minnesota Department of Commerce, as well as filings available through the NASAA Electronic Filing Depository (NASAA EFD) and the SEC's EDGAR system.

Franchise profile pages may include the names of franchising executives, registered agents, and other individuals as disclosed in publicly filed FDDs. This information is published as part of the public record and is not subject to removal requests on privacy grounds, except as required by applicable law.

Franchisor personnel and representatives who have their information published as part of a public FDD filing do not have a right to demand removal of that information from our platform. If you believe information published about you is factually inaccurate, please contact us at info@franchiseoverview.com and we will review the claim.

Our AI-generated summaries, transparency scores, risk assessments, and plain-English analyses of FDD content are proprietary work product of FranchiseOverview.com and are protected by copyright. They represent our interpretation and analysis of public documents and are provided for informational purposes only — not as legal or financial advice.

• Delivering FDD downloads and AI-generated analyses you request
• Generating personalized franchise match recommendations
• Connecting you with franchisors, franchise consultants, and brokers based on your expressed interest
• Maintaining and improving franchise profile pages
• Processing franchisor account registrations and profile claims

• Sending the FDD and analysis you requested via email
• Sending franchise opportunity newsletters and updates (only if you opt in)
• Responding to your inquiries and support requests
• Notifying you of changes to this Privacy Policy or our Terms of Use
• Sending transactional emails related to your account or requests

• Scoring and qualifying leads based on your stated investment criteria
• Routing your contact information to relevant franchisors, franchise development representatives, or franchise brokers/consultants whose opportunities you expressed interest in
• Selling or licensing qualified lead information to franchisors and franchise brokers as described in Section 5 below
• Analytics to understand how our Site is used and improve our services
• Preventing fraud and ensuring the security of our platform

• Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Enforcing our Terms of Use and other agreements
• Protecting the rights, property, and safety of FranchiseOverview.com, our users, and the public

FranchiseOverview.com operates as a franchise lead generation platform. By submitting any form on our Site — including FDD download requests, “Get More Info” submissions, AI match quiz completions, or any other inquiry form — you expressly consent to the following:

• Your name, email address, phone number, investment budget, timeline, and any other information you submit may be shared with one or more franchisors, franchise development representatives, franchise brokers, or franchise consultants whose opportunities are relevant to your stated interests.
• You may be contacted by telephone, email, and/or SMS/text message by FranchiseOverview.com and/or by third-party franchisors or brokers to whom your information is shared, even if your number is on a state or federal Do Not Call registry.
• Your contact information may be purchased by franchisors or brokers as a “franchise lead” — meaning FranchiseOverview.com may receive compensation for sharing your information with these parties.
• Sharing your information with franchisors or brokers does not constitute an endorsement of any franchise opportunity by FranchiseOverview.com.

You are not obligated to purchase or invest in any franchise as a result of submitting information on our Site. The sharing of your information is solely for the purpose of connecting you with franchise opportunities that may match your interests and qualifications.

You may withdraw your consent to future communications from FranchiseOverview.com at any time by contacting us at info@franchiseoverview.com. However, we cannot withdraw consent on your behalf from franchisors or brokers to whom your information has already been delivered. You must contact those parties directly to opt out of their communications.

We do not sell your information to data brokers, mailing list companies, or any party unrelated to franchise development and investment. We do not share your financial information (if collected) outside of our secure platform.

Franchisor Account Data. When a franchisor claims a profile on FranchiseOverview.com, we collect personal and business information including the representative’s name, email address, phone number, job title, and company details. This data is used to verify profile ownership, manage the franchisor’s account, process payments, and communicate about their listing.

Franchisor-Submitted Content. Franchisors who upgrade to a Premium Profile may submit content including descriptions, photographs, videos, testimonials, team member information, highlights, and awards. This content is stored on our servers and displayed publicly on the franchisor’s profile page. Franchisors may update or request removal of their submitted content at any time by contacting us or using the franchisor portal.

Lead Data Sharing with Premium Franchisors. When a user submits a contact form, booking request, or inquiry on a Premium Profile page, the information provided (including name, email, phone number, and message content) is shared directly with the claiming franchisor or their designated franchise development representative. By submitting an inquiry on a Premium Profile, users consent to having their contact information shared with that franchisor.

FDD Download Requests. When a user requests an FDD download for a franchise with a claimed Premium Profile, the requesting user’s contact information may be shared with that franchisor so they can fulfill the request and follow up regarding their franchise opportunity.

We share personal information with the following categories of third parties:

If FranchiseOverview.com is acquired, merges with another company, or sells all or a portion of its assets, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our Site of any such change and any material changes to how your information will be used. The acquiring party will be bound by this Privacy Policy unless you are notified otherwise and given an opportunity to opt out.

We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in the good-faith belief that such action is necessary to: (a) comply with a legal obligation or government request; (b) protect and defend the rights or property of FranchiseOverview.com; (c) prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Site; (d) protect the personal safety of users of the Site or the public; or (e) protect against legal liability.

We use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar tracking technologies to collect and store information about your interactions with our Site. By using our Site, you consent to our use of these technologies as described below.

• Essential cookies: Required for the Site to function properly. Cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our Site (e.g., Google Analytics, Plausible). You can opt out via browser settings or the Google Analytics opt-out tool.
• Preference cookies: Remember your settings and preferences to improve your experience.
• Marketing cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertising and track the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns. May include retargeting pixels from Google, Meta, and similar platforms.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies, delete existing cookies, or be notified when a new cookie is set. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our Site.

Our Site does not currently respond to “Do Not Track” (DNT) browser signals. If an industry standard for DNT is established and we are required to honor it, we will update this policy accordingly. California residents have additional rights under the CCPA — see Section 11.

We implement commercially reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• SSL/TLS encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers
• Encrypted storage of sensitive data in our database
• Access controls limiting employee and contractor access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security assessments of our systems and third-party providers

If we become aware of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you as required by applicable law, including California law (Cal. Civ. Code § 1798.82). Notifications will be sent via email to the address you provided or posted prominently on our Site.

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Our general retention practices are:

When personal information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it. Anonymized, aggregated data (which cannot identify you) may be retained indefinitely for business analytics and reporting purposes.

To request deletion of your personal information, see Section 12 (Your Rights) below.

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provides you with specific rights regarding your personal information. This section describes those rights and how to exercise them.

In the preceding 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information as defined under the CCPA:

• Identifiers: Name, email address, phone number, IP address
• Personal information (Cal. Civ. Code §1798.80): Name, telephone number, financial information (investment budget ranges — not financial account numbers)
• Internet or network activity: Browsing history on our Site, search queries, pages viewed, download activity
• Geolocation data: General location derived from IP address (city/state level)
• Inferences: Lead scores and franchise match scores derived from information you provide

• Right to Know: You have the right to request that we disclose what personal information we have collected about you, the sources, the purposes, and the third parties with whom we share it.
• Right to Delete: You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (legal compliance, fraud prevention, etc.).
• Right to Correct: You have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information we hold about you.
• Right to Opt Out of Sale/Sharing: We may “sell” or “share” your personal information as those terms are defined under the CCPA/CPRA (including sharing lead data with franchisors and brokers). You have the right to opt out of this activity.
• Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: We do not collect sensitive personal information as defined under the CPRA beyond what is necessary for our services.
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA/CPRA rights.

Submit a verifiable consumer request by emailing us at info@franchiseoverview.com with “CCPA Request” in the subject line. We will respond to verified requests within 45 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

To opt out of the sale/sharing of your personal information, email info@franchiseoverview.com with “Do Not Sell My Information” in the subject line. You may also use a browser with a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal enabled, which we will honor.

Regardless of your location, you have the following rights with respect to your personal information:

• Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
• Correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate information about you.
• Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information. We will honor deletion requests subject to legal retention requirements and fraud prevention needs.
• Opt out of marketing: You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking “unsubscribe” in any email. To opt out of SMS communications, reply STOP to any text message.
• Withdraw consent: Where we process your information based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time by contacting us. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing before the withdrawal.
• Portability: You may request a copy of your personal information in a structured, machine-readable format.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@franchiseoverview.com. We will respond within 30 days. We may require identity verification before processing requests.

Please note: Deleting your personal information from our systems will not delete information that has already been shared with franchisors, brokers, or consultants pursuant to your prior consent. You must contact those parties directly.

FranchiseOverview.com is not directed to children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years of age. Franchise investment is a substantial financial decision intended only for adults of legal contracting age.

If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take immediate steps to delete that information from our systems. If you believe we may have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately at info@franchiseoverview.com.

Users represent and warrant that they are at least 18 years of age. By using our Site, you confirm that you meet this age requirement.

FranchiseOverview.com provides this Site and its services “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We make no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or fitness for a particular purpose of any information on the Site, including franchise profile data derived from publicly filed FDDs.

Nothing on FranchiseOverview.com constitutes legal, financial, tax, or investment advice. All franchise profile data, FDD summaries, transparency scores, risk assessments, and AI-generated analyses are provided for informational and research purposes only. You should consult with a qualified franchise attorney, financial advisor, and accountant before making any franchise investment decision.

FranchiseOverview.com is not a franchisor, franchise broker, or franchise consultant. We are an information platform. We do not endorse, recommend, or guarantee any franchise opportunity listed on our Site. We are not responsible for the conduct, representations, or actions of any franchisor, broker, or consultant to whom your information is shared. Any disputes arising from your interactions with franchisors or brokers must be resolved directly with those parties.

While we make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of franchise profile data, FDD information may be outdated, incomplete, or contain errors. FDDs are updated annually; the information on our Site reflects the most recent publicly available filing at the time of extraction, which may not reflect the franchisor's current offering. Always obtain and review the current FDD directly from the franchisor before making any investment decision.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FRANCHISEOVERVIEW.COM, ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE SITE, YOUR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE SITE, OR YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH ANY FRANCHISOR, BROKER, OR CONSULTANT IDENTIFIED THROUGH THE SITE, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to this Privacy Policy or your use of the Site shall not exceed $20.

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless FranchiseOverview.com and its owners, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) your use of the Site; (b) your submission of false or inaccurate information; (c) your violation of this Privacy Policy or our Terms of Use; or (d) your violation of any third-party rights.

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, including franchisor websites, broker websites, state regulatory portals, and other resources. These links are provided for your convenience. We have no control over the content or privacy practices of these third-party sites and accept no responsibility for them. When you click a link to a third-party site, you leave our Site and are subject to that site's privacy policy.

We encourage you to review the privacy policy of every website you visit. Our Privacy Policy applies only to information collected on www.franchiseoverview.com.

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. We will post the updated policy on this page with a new “Last Updated” date. For material changes that significantly reduce your rights or change how we use your personal information, we will provide additional notice, which may include:

• A prominent banner or notification on our Site
• An email notification to the address you have provided

Your continued use of the Site after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the updated policy, you must stop using the Site and may request deletion of your personal information as described in Section 12.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us through one of the following: