How many franchised Red Wagon Club outlets were operating at the end of 2023?

According to Red Wagon Club's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document, there were zero franchised outlets operating at the end of 2023. The provided table regarding the status of franchised outlets for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023 indicates that the number of franchised outlets at the end of each of those years was zero. This suggests that Red Wagon Club is a relatively new franchise system or that its growth has been primarily through company-owned outlets.

For a prospective franchisee, this information is crucial in assessing the maturity and stability of the franchise system. A lack of existing franchised outlets could mean there is less operational data and franchisee experience to draw upon. It may also indicate a higher risk, as the business model's success is not yet proven through multiple independent operators.

While the table shows zero franchised outlets, another table indicates that there were two company-owned outlets at the end of 2023. These outlets were operated by two of Red Wagon Club's directors. This suggests that the company has some experience operating the business model directly, which could be beneficial for training and support of new franchisees. However, prospective franchisees should still conduct thorough due diligence to understand the franchisor's strategy and plans for franchise growth.