FranchiseVerdict
Melt Shop logo
D72/100FDD 2022

Melt Shop — Litigation & Risk

Food & Beverage - Full Service · FDD Items 3, 4 & 5

Back to overview

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)
—
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Overall risk score
72 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite
Rating
CAUTION
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
129
Government-backed loans issued
Default rate
0.0%
vs <3% typical · system-wide
5-yr default rate
—
Defaults
0 loans
Loans charged off or defaulted

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
New York
State whose law governs disputes — relevant if you're not based there

What drove the 72/100 rating

Risk Score Breakdown

  1. 01HIGHGoing concern warning indicates franchisor financial distress or viability uncertainty
  2. 02MINOROnly 13 units with unknown growth trajectory suggests stagnant or declining system
  3. 03MINORNo Item 19 financial performance data (avg revenue/net income) prevents ROI validation
  4. 04MINORUnprotected territory creates direct competition risk from other franchisees in same market
  5. 05MEDHigh investment range ($426k-$767k) with no disclosed average unit economics creates payback uncertainty
  6. 06MINORMinimal franchise fee ($35k) relative to total investment suggests thin franchisor support model
  7. 07MINOR10-year term locks capital with no clear exit strategy given small unit count

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.