The questions people search before they call.

Item 19 is the section of a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) where a brand may — if it chooses — share a “financial performance representation”: real numbers about what existing locations earn. Here’s the key: it’s optional, and if a brand doesn’t include one, no one representing that brand (me included) is allowed to give you earnings figures. That’s not evasiveness — it’s the law protecting you. When a brand does have an Item 19, we read it together, carefully.

It depends on the brand, the size of the space, and your market — and any honest answer comes from that brand’s own disclosures, not a number I make up. What I can tell you is how the pieces work: build-out, equipment, licensing and medical-director requirements, working capital, and the reserve you’ll want on hand. On our call I’ll walk you through the real ranges for the specific brands that fit you, backed by their FDDs.

The reason so many beauty & wellness concepts are attractive is the membership: instead of chasing a new customer for every dollar, you build a base that pays monthly and comes back on a schedule. Massage, skincare, fitness, and body-work all lend themselves to it. Recurring revenue smooths the ups and downs and makes a business easier to plan around — but it only works if the client experience earns the renewal.

The single most expensive mistake in franchising is buying the wrong brand because it looked exciting. A great business that doesn’t fit your life, your skills, or your budget will make you miserable. That’s why this starts with a quiz and a conversation about you — not a catalog. The right fit is the whole game.