Terms of Service
Last updated: September 22, 2026
1. Definitions
In these Terms of Service (“Terms”), the following definitions apply:
- “Service” means the Franchise Sonar website, platform, tools, APIs, and all related services operated by Franchise Sonar LLC (“Company,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
- “Reports” means all output generated by the Service, including but not limited to Murk Scores, risk assessments, red flag analyses, PDF reports, data summaries, comparison analyses, and consultation summaries.
- “Murk Score” means our proprietary transparency metric that measures disclosure completeness within a Franchise Disclosure Document. The Murk Score is not a quality rating, investment recommendation, or predictor of franchise performance.
- “FDD” means a Franchise Disclosure Document, a legal document required by the Federal Trade Commission to be provided by franchisors to prospective franchisees.
- “User,” “you,” or “your” means any individual or entity that accesses or uses the Service.
- “Content” means all text, data, graphics, reports, scores, and other materials available through the Service.
- “Proprietary Methodology” means the Company’s algorithms, scoring systems, check definitions, weight calibrations, extraction pipelines, and all related intellectual property used to generate Reports.
2. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using the Service — including browsing the website, creating an account, or purchasing a Report — you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.
You represent that you are at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, whichever is greater. If you are accepting these Terms on behalf of an entity (such as a corporation, partnership, or LLC), you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.
3. Description of Service
Franchise Sonar is a data analysis platform that provides automated forensic analysis of Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs). The Service includes automated document extraction, risk scoring via the Murk Score, red flag identification, report generation, franchise comparison tools, and related features.
The Service is offered in multiple paid tiers, which may include Essential Scan, Complete Report, and Deep Dive Package options. The Deep Dive Package may include an informational consultation. We reserve the right to modify, add, or remove features, tiers, and pricing at any time with reasonable notice.
4. NOT LEGAL, FINANCIAL, OR INVESTMENT ADVICE
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.
The information provided by Franchise Sonar, including all Reports, Murk Scores, red flag analyses, comparison data, and any consultation discussions, is for informational and educational purposes only.
Franchise Sonar is not a law firm, accounting firm, financial advisory firm, investment adviser, broker-dealer, or franchise broker. No fiduciary duty, attorney-client relationship, or advisory relationship is created between Franchise Sonar and any User by virtue of your use of the Service or purchase of any Report.
The Murk Score is a transparency metric measuring disclosure completeness. It is not a franchise quality rating, investment recommendation, endorsement, or predictor of future performance. A high or low Murk Score does not indicate that a franchise is a good or bad investment.
Any consultation included with the Deep Dive Package is an informational discussion only and does not constitute professional advice of any kind.
Franchise Sonar does not recommend for or against any franchise investment. Any reliance you place on our Reports or Content is strictly at your own risk.
You must consult with a qualified franchise attorney, certified public accountant, and/or licensed financial advisor before making any franchise investment decision. A franchise investment typically involves $100,000 to $500,000 or more. Do not rely solely on any Report from Franchise Sonar when making such a significant financial decision.
5. DATA SOURCES AND ACCURACY DISCLAIMER
FDDs analyzed by Franchise Sonar are sourced from publicly available state franchise registration filings. FDDs are prepared by franchisors and their attorneys — Franchise Sonar has no control over the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the source documents.
Data is extracted from FDDs using automated artificial intelligence and machine learning pipelines. These automated systems are not manually verified line-by-line. Extraction errors may occur: AI systems may misinterpret, omit, or incorrectly parse data from source documents.
Franchise Sonar does not independently verify the accuracy of information contained in any FDD. We do not audit franchisors’ financial statements, validate litigation records, or confirm territory claims.
Historical data in Reports reflects the FDD filing date and may not reflect current conditions. Franchise systems change over time — fees, litigation, territory availability, and financial performance may differ materially from what is reflected in any analyzed FDD.
The Murk Score and all red flag assessments are approximate assessments based on our Proprietary Methodology, not guarantees of any kind.
Users should cross-reference all data in Reports with original FDD documents and independent professional analysis. Franchise Sonar makes no representation that its database is complete or covers all franchise systems.
6. User Accounts and Security
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to or use of your account.
Each account is for a single individual. You may not share account credentials or allow multiple individuals to access the Service under a single account. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms without prior notice.
7. Payment, Pricing, and Billing
All prices are stated in United States Dollars (USD). Payment is processed securely through Stripe, Inc. By making a purchase, you also agree to Stripe’s terms of service.
We may offer upgrade pricing for Users who have already purchased a lower-tier Report for the same franchise brand. Prices are subject to change with reasonable notice. Any applicable taxes, duties, or government-imposed fees are your responsibility.
8. Refund Policy
Paid Reports come with a 30-day money-back guarantee from the date of purchase. To request a refund, email us at founder@franchisesonar.com within 30 days of purchase.
The following conditions apply to refunds:
- Refunds are limited to one refund per User per franchise brand.
- If a Deep Dive consultation has already been conducted, the consultation portion is non-refundable. You may receive a partial refund for the report portion only.
- Upon refund, your access to the paid Report content will be revoked.
- Refunds are processed to the original payment method via Stripe and may take 5–10 business days to appear.
- We reserve the right to deny refund requests that demonstrate a pattern of abuse, including but not limited to purchasing and requesting refunds for multiple brands in succession.
9. Intellectual Property Rights
All Content, Reports, the Murk Score, the Proprietary Methodology, scoring algorithms, extraction pipelines, source code, trade secrets, trademarks, and other intellectual property are owned by Franchise Sonar LLC or its licensors and are protected by United States and international intellectual property laws.
The Murk Score methodology, including check definitions, weight calibrations, and scoring thresholds, is proprietary and protected as a trade secret.
Reports are licensed to you for personal, non-commercial use only. You may share excerpts of your purchased Report with your personal advisors (such as your franchise attorney or CPA) for the sole purpose of evaluating a specific franchise investment. You may not:
- Redistribute, resell, sublicense, or publish any Report in whole or in part
- Create derivative works based on any Report or Content
- Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to discover the Proprietary Methodology
- Use any automated means to scrape, extract, or collect Content from the Service
- Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or proprietary notices
10. User Content and Uploaded Documents
You may upload FDD documents or other materials to the Service for analysis. By uploading, you represent and warrant that you have the legal right to upload and submit the document for processing.
You retain ownership of documents you upload. By uploading, you grant the Company a limited, non-exclusive license to process, store, and analyze your uploaded documents solely for the purpose of delivering the Service to you.
We may use anonymized, aggregated data derived from uploaded documents and Service usage to improve our algorithms, enhance the Service, and generate industry benchmarks. Such aggregated data will not identify you or any specific document.
11. Prohibited Uses
You agree not to:
- Use any automated means (including bots, scrapers, or crawlers) to access, collect, or extract data from the Service
- Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or derive the Proprietary Methodology or any portion of the Murk Score algorithm
- Resell, redistribute, syndicate, or commercially exploit Reports or Content
- Use the Service to develop or operate a competing product or service
- Upload malicious files, viruses, or any content intended to disrupt the Service
- Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity
- Circumvent any access controls, authentication mechanisms, or payment requirements
- Use Reports or Content to defame, harass, or threaten any franchisor, franchise system, or individual
- Systematically download or retrieve Reports for purposes other than your personal franchise evaluation
12. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
THE SERVICE, ALL REPORTS, MURK SCORES, CONTENT, AND ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED THROUGH THE SERVICE ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE COMPANY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, AND UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION.
THE COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT: (A) THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS; (B) REPORTS OR MURK SCORES WILL BE ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR FREE FROM ERRORS; (C) ANY RED FLAGS OR RISK ASSESSMENTS IDENTIFIED IN REPORTS ARE EXHAUSTIVE OR COMPLETE; (D) THE SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME OR LOCATION; OR (E) ANY DEFECTS OR ERRORS WILL BE CORRECTED.
YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT REPORTS ARE GENERATED USING AUTOMATED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS THAT MAY PRODUCE INACCURATE, INCOMPLETE, OR MISLEADING RESULTS. YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE AND RELIANCE ON ANY REPORTS IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, DATA, OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
- INVESTMENT LOSSES OR FINANCIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM FRANCHISE INVESTMENT DECISIONS MADE USING OR INFLUENCED BY REPORTS OR CONTENT
- DAMAGES ARISING FROM ERRORS IN AI-EXTRACTED DATA OR AUTOMATED ANALYSIS
- DAMAGES ARISING FROM ACTIONS OR OMISSIONS OF ANY FRANCHISOR, FRANCHISE SYSTEM, OR THIRD PARTY
- COST OF PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES
- ANY MATTER BEYOND THE COMPANY’S REASONABLE CONTROL
IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY’S TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID BY YOU TO THE COMPANY IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM.
THE LIMITATIONS IN THIS SECTION APPLY REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND EVEN IF THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. In such jurisdictions, the Company’s liability shall be limited to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law.
14. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Franchise Sonar LLC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to:
- Your use of the Service or any Report
- Any franchise investment decision you make, whether or not influenced by a Report
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your uploaded content or documents
- Any third-party claim arising from your reliance on, distribution of, or reference to any Report or Content
- Any claim by a franchisor, franchise broker, or other third party related to your use of the Service
The Company shall have the right to control the defense of any indemnified claim at your expense. You agree to cooperate fully with the Company in the defense of any such claim.
15. BINDING ARBITRATION
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN COURT.
Agreement to Arbitrate. You and the Company agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Service, any Report, or the relationship between you and the Company (collectively, “Disputes”) shall be resolved exclusively through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, as modified by these Terms.
Pre-Arbitration Dispute Resolution. Before initiating arbitration, you must send a written notice describing the Dispute to the Company at 5534 Saint Joe Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46835, USA (a “Dispute Notice”). The parties shall attempt to resolve the Dispute through good-faith negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days from receipt of the Dispute Notice. If the Dispute is not resolved within this period, either party may initiate arbitration.
Arbitration Location. All arbitration proceedings shall be conducted in Indiana, the state in which the Company is incorporated. For claims under $25,000, you may elect to participate by telephone or video conference.
Arbitrator Selection. Disputes involving claims under $75,000 shall be decided by a single arbitrator. Disputes involving claims of $75,000 or more shall be decided by a panel of three arbitrators. The arbitrator(s) shall have expertise in technology or commercial disputes.
Arbitrator Authority. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute regarding the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of this arbitration agreement, including any claim that all or part of this agreement is void or voidable. The arbitrator may award any remedy that would be available in court, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 13 (Limitation of Liability).
Confidentiality. All arbitration proceedings, including the existence of the arbitration, all documents exchanged, testimony given, and the arbitration award, shall be kept confidential by both parties except as required by law or to enforce the arbitration award.
Small Claims Exception. Notwithstanding the above, either party may bring an individual action in small claims court for Disputes within the jurisdiction of such court.
Judgment. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
16. CLASS ACTION WAIVER
YOU AND THE COMPANY AGREE THAT EACH PARTY MAY BRING DISPUTES AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR PROCEEDING.
UNLESS BOTH YOU AND THE COMPANY AGREE OTHERWISE IN WRITING, THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE OR JOIN MORE THAN ONE PERSON’S OR PARTY’S CLAIMS AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A CONSOLIDATED, REPRESENTATIVE, OR CLASS PROCEEDING.
YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT YOU ARE WAIVING YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR CLASS-WIDE ARBITRATION.
If any court or arbitrator determines that the class action waiver set forth in this Section is void or unenforceable for any reason, or that an arbitration can proceed on a class basis, then the arbitration provisions set forth in Section 15 shall be deemed null and void in their entirety and the parties shall be deemed to have not agreed to arbitrate Disputes.
17. PREVAILING PARTY FEES AND COSTS
In any arbitration proceeding, court action to enforce an arbitration award, or any permitted small claims court action arising out of or related to these Terms, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees, arbitration costs, expert witness fees, and other expenses from the non-prevailing party.
For purposes of this Section, “prevailing party” means the party who substantially obtains the relief sought, whether by judgment, award, settlement, or dismissal. If neither party substantially prevails, each party shall bear its own costs and fees.
18. Governing Law
These Terms and any Dispute arising out of or related to these Terms or the Service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
The Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16) shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of the arbitration provisions in Section 15.
To the extent that any court proceedings are permitted under these Terms (including actions for injunctive relief or enforcement of arbitration awards), you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Marion County, Indiana, and waive any objection to venue in such courts.
19. Termination
You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us. We may suspend or terminate your account and access to the Service at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice, including for violation of these Terms.
Upon termination, your right to access the Service ceases immediately. The following provisions survive termination: Sections 4 (Not Advice), 5 (Data Accuracy), 9 (Intellectual Property), 12 (Warranties), 13 (Liability), 14 (Indemnification), 15 (Arbitration), 16 (Class Action Waiver), 17 (Prevailing Party Fees), 18 (Governing Law), and 21 (Miscellaneous).
20. Changes to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. For material changes, we will provide at least thirty (30) days’ notice via email to the address associated with your account or by prominent notice on the Service.
Your continued use of the Service after the effective date of any modification constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Service and may request termination of your account.
21. Miscellaneous
- Severability. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
- Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Company regarding the Service and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.
- No Waiver. The Company’s failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or the right to enforce it at a later time.
- Assignment. The Company may assign these Terms or any rights hereunder without restriction. You may not assign or transfer these Terms or any rights hereunder without the Company’s prior written consent.
- Force Majeure. The Company shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemic, government actions, AI or cloud service provider outages, internet disruptions, power failures, or cyberattacks.
- Electronic Communications. By using the Service, you consent to receiving electronic communications from us. You agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications we provide electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.
- No Third-Party Beneficiaries. These Terms do not confer any rights, remedies, or benefits upon any third party, including but not limited to any franchisor, franchise broker, franchise attorney, or other entity referenced in any Report.
- Statute of Limitations. You agree that any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to these Terms or the Service must be filed within one (1) year after such claim or cause of action arose, or be forever barred.
- Relationship of the Parties. Nothing in these Terms shall be construed as creating a joint venture, partnership, employment relationship, or agency relationship between you and the Company.
- Headings. Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Terms.
22. Contact Information
For questions about these Terms, legal notices, or arbitration demands, contact us at: