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B55/100FDD 2025

Puddle Pool Services — Litigation & Risk

Other · 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)
Franchisor or officer bankruptcy
Overall risk score
55 / 100
FranchiseVerdict composite
Rating
MODERATE
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
13
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
$2.4M
Avg loan size
$182K
Participating lenders
6

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

What drove the 55/100 rating

Risk Score Breakdown

  1. 01MINOROnly 2 units in system with unknown growth trajectory suggests early-stage or stalled expansion
  2. 02HIGHGoing Concern flag (False status) indicates potential financial instability or reporting issues at franchisor level
  3. 03MEDNo Item 19 (Financial Performance Representations) disclosed — cannot independently verify $700K average revenue claims
  4. 04MINORRoyalty structure ($600/month minimum) represents 10.3% of claimed average net income, creating cash flow pressure
  5. 05MINORHigh franchise fee ($49,500) relative to tiny unit count raises sustainability concerns for franchisor support infrastructure
  6. 06MINORProtected territory language vague — unclear how exclusivity is defined or enforced with only 2 locations

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.