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AStrongest tier73/100FDD 2024

Grain & Berry: Litigation & Risk

Quick-Service Restaurants · FDD Items 3, 4 & 5

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Lower Risk

No litigation cases disclosed in FDD Items 3 and 4.

Source: FDD Items 3–5

FDD Items 3 & 4

Litigation Metrics

Cases disclosed
0
Total from FDD Items 3 and 4
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Verdict score
73 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite · higher is better
Rating
A
A / B / C / D / F verdict grade

7(a) FOIA data · FY2020–present

SBA Loan Performance

Aggregated from public SBA 7(a) loan disclosures. Charge-off rate is the share of loans that were charged off or settled for less than the full balance.

Total 7(a) loans
25
Government-backed loans issued
Charge-off rate
N/A
vs 16% franchise average
5-yr charge-off rate
N/A
Defaults
0 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted
Total loan volume
$9.6M
Avg loan size
$384K
Participating lenders
9

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
Not waived
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
FL
State whose law governs disputes. Relevant if you're not based there

Extracted from FDD Item 3

Litigation Detail

No litigation required to be disclosed.

What drove the 73/100 verdict

Risk Score Breakdown

  1. 01MEDNet Income not disclosed in Item 19 — unable to validate profitability claims against $1.16M average revenue
  2. 02MINORWide investment range ($258K–$673.5K) suggests high variability in unit economics and startup costs
  3. 03MINORRapid 40% YoY unit growth may indicate aggressive recruitment outpacing sustainable unit performance
  4. 04HIGHNo 'Going Concern' statement filed — potential financial stability questions at corporate level
  5. 05MED6% royalty on undisclosed net income creates opacity around actual franchisee take-home profitability

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.