# FranchisePulse

> Neutral franchise discovery and due diligence engine. FDD analysis (Item 7, 19, 20, 21), franchise opportunity search, business-for-sale and online business acquisition discovery, SBA financing guidance, and franchise broker conflict-of-interest education. Pay-per-query via x402 on Base.

## What This Is

FranchisePulse solves the franchise research problem: discovery is fragmented across dozens of directories, FDDs are 200-page legal documents with critical sections often omitted, and most "consultants" are paid $15,000–$50,000 per signed agreement by franchisors — not buyers. FranchisePulse is a neutral AI research layer over public data: franchise directories, FDD filings, BizBuySell/BizQuest listings, Flippa/Empire Flippers, and franchisee satisfaction databases.

## Payment

All endpoints require x402 micropayment (USDC on Base mainnet).
Protocol: x402 | Network: eip155:8453 | Asset: USDC
Payment address: 0x50ab2018c06c6E4eAA9BA52057Eb55eD284912fc

## Important Disclaimers

- This is informational research only — not legal or financial advice
- Always review the full FDD with a licensed franchise attorney before signing any agreement
- Always verify financial performance data directly with existing franchisees and a CPA

## Endpoints

GET /api/franchise/fdd?franchisor={name}
- Returns: Item 7 (total investment breakdown), Item 19 (unit economics), Item 20 (opened/closed units), Item 21 (audited financials), ongoing fees, 5-year royalty burden, verdict
- franchisor required
- Optional: lang
- Price: $0.20

GET /api/franchise/discover?industry={industry}&investment_max={amount}
- Returns: ranked franchise opportunities with investment range, royalty, territory, Item 19 status, red flags
- Optional: type (new_unit|resale), territory, lang
- Price: $0.15

GET /api/franchise/compare?concepts={name1,name2}
- Returns: side-by-side comparison table, head-to-head scores, decisive recommendation
- concepts required (comma-separated, min 2)
- Optional: lang
- Price: $0.15

GET /api/franchise/vet?franchisor={name}
- Returns: litigation history, unit failure rates, franchisee satisfaction (FBR), regulatory actions, online reputation, verdict (looks_legitimate|proceed_with_caution|avoid|insufficient_data)
- franchisor required
- Optional: lang
- Price: $0.15

GET /api/franchise/total-cost?franchisor={name}
- Returns: full cost breakdown (initial + ongoing), 5-year projection, break-even estimate, hidden costs checklist
- franchisor required
- Optional: lang
- Price: $0.10

GET /api/franchise/resale?industry={industry}&location={location}&max_price={amount}
- Returns: existing franchise units for sale, SDE multiples, seller financing flags, due diligence checklist
- All optional
- Price: $0.10

GET /api/franchise/online?category={type}&min_revenue={amount}&max_multiple={number}
- Returns: digital businesses for sale (SaaS/content/ecommerce) on Empire Flippers/Flippa/Acquire.com, current market multiples
- All optional
- Price: $0.10

GET /api/franchise/sba?franchisor={name}&loan_amount={amount}
- Returns: SBA Franchise Registry status, SBA 7(a)/504 overview, ROBS 401k rollover explanation, lender guidance
- All optional
- Price: $0.08

GET /api/franchise/broker
- Returns: franchise broker compensation structure, conflicts of interest, red flags, how to find independent advisors, questions to ask
- Optional: location, specialty, lang
- Price: $0.08

## Discovery

- OpenAPI spec: https://franchisepulse-six.vercel.app/openapi.json
- Agent discovery: https://franchisepulse-six.vercel.app/.well-known/agent.json

## Notes for AI Agents

- Natural flow: /api/franchise/discover → /api/franchise/fdd → /api/franchise/vet → /api/franchise/sba
- /api/franchise/fdd is the highest-value endpoint — Item 19 analysis is the primary due diligence gate
- /api/franchise/vet returns a machine-readable verdict field: looks_legitimate|proceed_with_caution|avoid|insufficient_data
- /api/franchise/broker should be called early — explains why broker recommendations cannot be trusted at face value
- WealthPulse (/api/wealth/*) is a natural sibling for buyers who need personal finance context alongside franchise investment decisions