Franchise opportunities compared

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules vs The Alternative Board

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Initial investment · Item 7

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    $1,910,500 – $4,032,100

    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 36

    The Alternative Board

    $77,130 – $95,405

    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    Not available

    The Alternative Board

    $44,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Royalty · Item 6

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    5%

    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 27

    The Alternative Board

    $60,000

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    Before you compare

    • FDD 05/25 Different Rules figures come from its 2025 FDD and The Alternative Board figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (FDD 05/25 Different Rules: 4, The Alternative Board: 12). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    $1,910,500 – $4,032,100
    Total estimated initial investment
    2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 36

    The Alternative Board

    $77,130 – $95,405
    Total estimated initial investment range
    2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified

    The Alternative Board

    $44,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10
    Royalty (Item 6)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    5%
    Royalty rate
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 27

    The Alternative Board

    $60,000
    Royalty fee annual cap
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    5%
    Marketing fee — 5%
    2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 28

    The Alternative Board

    $2,500
    Marketing fee
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    2,190
    Outlets at end of 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 87

    The Alternative Board

    186
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    +10
    Calculated: 2,180 at end of 2022 → 2,190 at end of 2024

    The Alternative Board

    Not available
    Only one year reported
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Alternative Board

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Alternative Board

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Alternative Board

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised C-Store/Travel Plaza restaurants, 12 months ending Sep. 30, 2024
    $1,701,017
    other gross sales, C-Store/Travel Plaza, 2024
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 83
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised C-Store/Travel Plaza restaurants, 12 months ending Sep. 30, 2023
    $1,734,303
    other gross sales, C-Store/Travel Plaza, 2023
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 83
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Franchised Jack in the Box restaurants in Continental U.S., 12 months ending Se…
    $1,986,186
    other gross sales, traditional restaurants, 2024 total
    2025 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 83
    +1 more groups in the full report
    The Alternative Board
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — New TAB Members who paid a Business Assessment Fee
    $522
    other business assessment fee
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 45
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Standard TAB Members receiving board membership and coaching services — Bottom…
    $407
    other monthly membership dues
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Standard TAB Members receiving board membership and coaching services — Total g…
    $697
    other monthly membership dues
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    +9 more groups in the full report

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    FDD 05/25 Different Rules vs The Alternative Board: common questions

    Which costs less to open, FDD 05/25 Different Rules or The Alternative Board?
    FDD 05/25 Different Rules: $1,910,500 – $4,032,100 (2025 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 36); The Alternative Board: $77,130 – $95,405 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for The Alternative Board. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do FDD 05/25 Different Rules and The Alternative Board royalties compare?
    FDD 05/25 Different Rules: 5% (2025 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 27); The Alternative Board: $60,000 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, FDD 05/25 Different Rules or The Alternative Board?
    FDD 05/25 Different Rules: 2,190 (2025 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 87); The Alternative Board: 186 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do FDD 05/25 Different Rules and The Alternative Board disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    FDD 05/25 Different Rules has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 location groups; The Alternative Board has reviewed Item 19 figures for 12 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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