How Franchismo builds franchise owner data
Franchismo is a derivative dataset built from primary regulatory filings, state registrations, operator entity records, and direct human verification. This page documents where each field comes from, how often it's refreshed, and the limits of what we publish.
Last updated June 1, 2026 · Maintained by Franchismo Research, a unit of AwareGTM.
Brand-level data: FDD Item 20
Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDDs) are required filings under FTC Rule 436. Item 20 tables disclose unit counts (opened, closed, transferred) for the prior three years and list every franchisee of record at filing time. We ingest the most recent FDD for each brand we cover, monthly.
Location-level data: state filings + public records
We layer state franchise registrations (CA, IL, MD, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI), county business registrations, and operator entity records to map specific physical locations back to the franchisee entity that owns them.
Owner-level contacts: verified, not scraped
Franchisee contact records (name, role, email, phone) are sourced from operator websites, LinkedIn, and industry registries, then put through a multi-step verification pipeline (deliverability checks, role validation, and human spot-checks on a sample).
Refresh cadence
Brand records: refreshed monthly from the latest FDD. Location records: refreshed quarterly. Owner contacts: re-verified on a rolling 90-day cycle. Each record carries a last_verified timestamp visible to subscribers.
What we do not publish
We don't publish personal mobile numbers, home addresses, or any data sourced from data-broker resale. Removal requests from individual franchisees are honored within 7 business days; contact privacy@awaregtm.com.
Franchismo Index figures
Statistics labeled "Franchismo Index" on brand pages and reports are directional estimates synthesized from the sources above by Franchismo Research analysts. Where we publish a precise figure (e.g. unit counts), it traces to a single primary source. Where we publish a ratio or trend, methodology is summarized inline.
Known limitations
- FDD Item 20 reflects franchisee-of-record at filing date. Operator entities can change between filings; we close the gap with state filings, but the dataset is never instantaneous.
- Some master franchisees own through nested LLCs. We collapse to the operating entity where possible and flag uncertainty in the record.
- Coverage is United States; Canada is coming soon. International franchisees are out of scope for now.
- Phone coverage is materially lower than email coverage by design — we publish only phones we believe are reachable.
Questions about a specific record, or a correction to file? Email research@awaregtm.com or read more about Franchismo.
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