Should prospective franchisees be aware that not all Brain Balance franchisees may be able to communicate with them due to restrictions?

According to Brain Balance's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, prospective franchisees should be aware that their ability to communicate with current and former franchisees may be restricted. Some franchisees have signed provisions that limit their ability to speak openly about their experiences with Brain Balance. This means that while a prospective franchisee may wish to gather information by speaking with current and former franchisees, not all of them will be able to communicate freely due to these confidentiality clauses. During the last three years, some franchisees have signed confidentiality clauses.

This is a crucial consideration for anyone looking to invest in a Brain Balance franchise. The inability to have open and candid conversations with current and former franchisees could hinder a prospective franchisee's ability to conduct thorough due diligence. Franchisees can offer valuable insights into the day-to-day realities of running the business, the challenges they have faced, and the level of support they have received from the franchisor.

It is common practice in the franchise industry for franchisors to provide prospective franchisees with a list of current and former franchisees to contact. However, the presence of confidentiality clauses, as noted in the Brain Balance FDD, can limit the usefulness of this list. A prospective franchisee should inquire about the nature and scope of these confidentiality clauses and consider how this might affect their ability to gather comprehensive information about the franchise opportunity. They may also want to seek information from other sources, such as industry experts or franchise consultants, to supplement their research.