Moderate — Review
1 case disclosed in FDD Items 3 and 4.
Source: FDD Items 3–5
FDD Items 3 & 4
Litigation Metrics
Cases disclosed
1
Total from FDD Items 3 and 4
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
—
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Overall risk score
49 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite
Rating
STRONG
STRONG / MODERATE / CAUTION / AVOID
7(a) FOIA data · FY2020–present
SBA Loan Performance
Aggregated from public SBA 7(a) loan disclosures. Default rate is the share of loans that were charged off or settled for less than the full balance.
Total 7(a) loans
1
Government-backed loans issued
Default rate
—
vs <3% typical · system-wide
5-yr default rate
—
Defaults
0 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted
Total loan volume
$24K
Avg loan size
$24K
Participating lenders
1
FDD Items 5, 6 & 17 — what you give up
Contract Risk Indicators
Mandatory arbitration
Required
Disputes resolved outside court — limits your legal options
Jury trial waiver
Waived
You give up the right to a jury trial
Non-compete
2 yrs
Post-termination restriction on similar businesses
Franchisor can compete
Yes
Franchisor can open competing locations in or near your territory
Right of first refusal
Yes
Franchisor can match any purchase offer when you try to sell
Governing law
Washington
State whose law governs disputes — relevant if you're not based there
What drove the 49/100 rating
Risk Score Breakdown
- 01HIGHActive litigation alleging fraud and FDD non-disclosure creates legal and credibility risk
- 02MEDNet income not disclosed in Item 19 prevents accurate ROI analysis and profitability validation
- 03MINORRoyalty structure heavily back-loaded ($600 Y1 vs $1,600 Y2+) may mask true ongoing costs
- 04MINOR165-unit system with 20.7% YoY growth is modest for lawn care; growth rate sustainability unclear
- 05MINORHigh investment range ($49.5K-$150K) with low franchise fee ($24K) suggests significant working capital requirement
- 06MINORProtected territory claim unverified; no detail on territory size, density, or exclusivity enforcement
Severity inferred from FDD text — not a regulatory or legal classification
Litigation data from FDD Items 3, 4, and 5. SBA data from public 7(a) FOIA records (FY2020–present). Not legal advice — consult a franchise attorney before signing any franchise agreement.