Author & Founder
Dru Carpenito
Dru Carpenito is the founder of Verified Franchise Resales and has spent 20 years in the franchise industry. He hosts the Franchise Masters podcast and has worked with franchise owners, buyers, and franchisor teams on existing-franchise transfers.
About Dru
Dru Carpenito has spent 20 years inside franchising. Over that time he has been on every side of an existing-franchise transfer: the owner preparing a business for sale, the buyer evaluating one, and the franchisor team reviewing the approval.
He founded Verified Franchise Resales after watching buyers waste time on ghost listings and new-franchise ads disguised as resales. VFR reviews listings before they publish to screen out new-franchise ads posing as resales. VFR does not verify financial or other information supplied by sellers.
Dru also hosts the Franchise Masters podcast, where he interviews franchise founders, operators, and industry experts about what actually works in franchising.
The guides on this site reflect that hands-on experience. They are written for people who are about to put real money into an existing franchise or who are about to sell one, and they are reviewed periodically.
Editorial approach
Every guide in the VFR resource library is written by Dru, reviewed before publishing, and dated so readers can see when it was last updated. Content is educational and does not constitute legal, tax, valuation, lending, or financial advice; VFR is an advertising and listing platform and does not participate in the purchase or sale of any business. If you spot something outdated or incorrect, let us know.
Guides by Dru: buying an existing franchise
01 · START HERE
How to Buy an Existing Franchise
A step-by-step guide to searching, evaluating, financing, negotiating, and closing on a franchise resale.
Read guide →02
What Is a Franchise Resale? Buying an Existing Franchise vs. Starting New
Understand how buying an existing franchise differs from opening a new franchise location from scratch.
Read article →03
How to Find Existing Franchises for Sale Near You
Search more effectively by metro area, industry, franchise brand, broker relationships, and resale availability.
Read article →04
Franchise Resale Due Diligence Checklist for Buyers
Review the financial, legal, operational, lease, asset, employee, and franchise-system issues buyers should investigate.
Read article →05
Questions to Ask Before Buying an Existing Franchise
Know what to ask about the seller, revenue, cash flow, owner role, franchisor, lease, assets, and transfer process.
Read article →06
How to Review Financials When Buying an Existing Franchise
Learn how to evaluate revenue trends, cash flow definitions, add-backs, franchise fees, payroll, rent, and normalized earnings.
Read article →07
How to Value an Existing Franchise Business Before You Buy
Understand the role of normalized earnings, valuation multiples, assets, lease terms, brand strength, and post-closing investment.
Read article →08
SBA Loans for Buying an Existing Franchise Resale
See what lenders may review and why buyer strength, business cash flow, franchise documents, and deal structure matter.
Read article →09
How Franchisor Approval Works When Buying a Franchise Resale
Learn about buyer qualifications, transfer approval, training, agreements, required upgrades, and timing.
Read article →10
Buying an Existing Franchise Location: Pros, Cons, and Common Risks
Compare the advantages of operating history and existing infrastructure with the risks that can come with a resale.
Read article →11
What to Know About Franchise Transfer Fees Before Buying a Resale
Understand transfer fees, training expenses, remodel requirements, technology changes, and other costs that can affect a resale.
Read article →12
How to Compare Franchise Resale Listings by Cash Flow, Asking Price, and Location
Compare opportunities using asking price, reported cash flow, revenue, location, owner role, lease terms, and other key factors.
Read article →Guides by Dru: selling an existing franchise
13 · START HERE
How to Sell an Existing Franchise
A step-by-step guide to preparing, pricing, marketing, screening buyers, managing approvals, and closing a franchise resale.
Read guide →14
How to Value an Existing Franchise Before You Sell
Learn how cash flow, assets, lease terms, local performance, brand strength, buyer demand, and transfer requirements can affect value.
Read article →15
How to Prepare Your Franchise Business for Sale
Organize financials, documents, operations, lease information, assets, and transfer details before going to market.
Read article →16
What Documents Do You Need to Sell a Franchise?
Build a cleaner sale process with the financial, legal, lease, franchise, equipment, and operational documents buyers may request.
Read article →17
How to Price an Existing Franchise for Sale
Set a more supportable asking price by considering normalized cash flow, market multiples, assets, lease terms, financing, and buyer demand.
Read article →18
Should You Use a Business Broker to Sell a Franchise Resale?
Compare selling directly with hiring a broker to help with valuation, confidential marketing, buyer screening, negotiation, and coordination.
Read article →19
How to Write a Franchise Resale Listing That Attracts Buyers
Create a clear, credible listing that gives serious buyers enough information without exposing sensitive details too early.
Read article →20
How Franchisor Approval Works When Selling Your Franchise
Understand buyer qualifications, approval timing, transfer fees, training, required updates, and the franchisor’s role in the sale.
Read article →21
Franchise Resale Transfer Process: What Sellers Should Expect
See how buyer screening, due diligence, financing, franchisor approval, lease assignment, and closing often move in parallel.
Read article →22
Selling a Franchise Location vs. Selling an Independent Business
Understand the added role of franchisor approval, franchise agreements, transfer fees, brand standards, and buyer qualifications.
Read article →23
Common Mistakes Franchise Owners Make When Selling a Franchise
Avoid problems such as overpricing, weak financial preparation, poor buyer screening, premature disclosure, and ignoring transfer requirements.
Read article →24
How to Sell a Franchise Without Sharing Confidential Information Too Early
Use staged disclosure, buyer screening, confidentiality agreements, and careful public listing details to protect the business during a sale.
Read article →Ready to take the next step?
Move from research to the marketplace.
Browse existing franchises currently for sale, or list an existing franchise business you’re ready to sell.
Verified Franchise Resales is an advertising and listing platform. It is not a valuation firm, broker, law firm, lender, accounting firm, or financial advisor and does not participate in the purchase or sale of any business. Buyers and sellers should independently verify information and work with qualified legal, tax, accounting, valuation, lending, and franchise professionals before making transaction decisions.