For Apricot Lane, what is the 'Net Change' referring to in Table 1?

According to Apricot Lane's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Table 1 provides a system-wide outlet summary for the fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024. The 'Net Change' column reflects the difference between the 'Outlets at the Start of the Year' and the 'Outlets at the End of the Year'. This calculation is presented separately for franchised outlets, company-owned outlets, and total outlets.

For example, in 2022, Apricot Lane had 82 franchised outlets at the start of the year and 108 at the end, resulting in a net change of +26. In 2023, the franchised outlets increased from 108 to 112, showing a net change of +4. However, in 2024, the number of franchised outlets decreased from 112 to 109, resulting in a net change of -3. The company-owned outlets remained constant at 0 throughout the three years, leading to a net change of 0 for each year.

This information is valuable for potential franchisees as it provides an overview of the brand's growth and stability over the past three years. A positive net change indicates expansion, while a negative net change may warrant further investigation into the reasons behind the decrease in outlets. Reviewing these trends helps prospective franchisees assess the overall health and appeal of the Apricot Lane franchise system.