Terms & Conditions

Last updated: June 22, 2026

These Terms & Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the website and franchise-matching service (the "Service") provided by The Franchise Shortlist ("The Franchise Shortlist," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

1. What the Service is — and is not

The Franchise Shortlist is a free informational and matching service. We help people exploring franchise ownership get connected with independent franchise advisors who can share information and help them build a shortlist of opportunities.

We are not a franchisor or a franchise broker, and we do not sell, offer, or solicit the sale of any franchise. We do not endorse, recommend, or guarantee any particular franchise, advisor, or opportunity. Any decision to investigate, contact, or purchase a franchise is yours alone.

2. No income, earnings, or performance representations

Any franchise "match count" or similar figure shown on the Service is an estimate provided for illustration only and is not a promise of availability, suitability, or results. Any financial performance information you receive is provided by the franchisor in its own Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and discussed with you by a qualified advisor — not by us. Results vary from person to person, and no particular outcome is promised or implied. Buying and operating a franchise involves risk, including the risk of losing your investment.

3. Not professional advice

The Service and any information provided through it are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute legal, financial, tax, accounting, or investment advice. You should consult your own qualified attorney, accountant, and financial advisor, and carefully review the franchisor's FDD, before making any decision to purchase or operate a franchise.

4. Independent advisors and franchisors

The franchise advisors and franchisors you may be connected with are independent third parties. They are not our employees, agents, partners, or representatives, and we do not control them. We are not responsible or liable for the acts, omissions, advice, recommendations, communications, products, services, or agreements of any advisor or franchisor. Any relationship, agreement, or transaction you enter into with an advisor or franchisor is solely between you and them.

5. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a binding contract to use the Service. By using the Service, you represent that you meet these requirements.

6. Your responsibilities

• You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information when you use the Service.
• You acknowledge that, by submitting your information and providing consent, you authorize us and the advisor we match you with to contact you by phone, text, and email as described in our Privacy Policy.
• You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and your own genuine interest in franchise ownership.

7. How we are compensated

The Service is free to you. We may be compensated by franchise advisors, advisor networks, or franchisors when we refer a prospective candidate or when a match results in a transaction. This compensation does not add any cost to you and does not constitute an endorsement of any particular opportunity.

8. Acceptable use

You agree not to: submit false, misleading, or another person's information without authorization; use the Service to harass, spam, or defraud; attempt to disrupt, reverse engineer, scrape, or gain unauthorized access to the Service; or use the Service in violation of any applicable law.

9. Intellectual property

The Service, including its content, design, text, graphics, logos, and the name and mark "The Franchise Shortlist," are owned by us or our licensors and protected by intellectual-property laws. We grant you a limited, personal, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the Service for its intended purpose. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from the Service without our written permission.

10. Disclaimer of warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranties of any kind, whether express or implied, including any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, or non-infringement. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure, or that any information provided through it is accurate, complete, or current.

11. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, in no event will The Franchise Shortlist or its owners, officers, employees, or agents be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, revenues, data, business opportunities, or investment, arising out of or relating to your use of the Service, your interactions with any advisor or franchisor, or any franchise decision — even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages. To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim relating to the Service will not exceed $100 U.S. dollars.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Franchise Shortlist and its owners, officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your dealings with any advisor or franchisor.

13. Third-party links and content

The Service may contain links to third-party websites and resources, including those of advisors and franchisors. We do not control and are not responsible for their content, policies, or practices, and the inclusion of any link does not imply our endorsement.

14. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. Any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Connecticut, and you consent to their jurisdiction — unless you and we agree in writing to resolve the dispute through binding arbitration.

15. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date above and post the new version on this page. Your continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated Terms.

16. Contact us

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at: info@thefranchiseshortlist.com